ABSTRACT
The surgeon has to be knowledgeable of the natural history, etiology, and epidemiology of some tumors and play a major role in the prevention and early detection of some cancers. Major prophylactic surgery in the absence of a proven malignancy is very controversial in some cases, i.e., bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy in GI tumors, or elective regional lymphadenectomy for cutaneous melanoma. Fiberoptic equipment added a great deal of advantage to the endoscopic examination. Cancer surgery can be classified as: potentially curative surgery, palliative surgery, and emergency surgery. All cancer patients must be closely observed by the surgeon or a designated oncologist, e.g., medical oncologist, pediatric oncologist, or radiotherapist. Radioactive iodine is the most frequently used agent in the management of patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas. A successful cancer program is usually approved by the American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer, and certifies that such hospitals take on a special care of their cancer patients.
