Surgical oncology: possibilities and roles of multimodal treatment, follow-up schemes and prognosis of cancer

1. Big picture

Cancer treatment is often multimodal, meaning that surgery is combined with one or more of: radiotherapy, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, interventional radiology, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and palliative/supportive care. Many patients receive combined treatment rather than one isolated modality, and the choice depends on tumour type, stage, biology, patient fitness, and treatment aim. ([Cancer.gov][1])

The surgical oncologist must answer:

What is the cancer?
How far has it spread?
Is it resectable?
Is the patient operable?
Is the aim curative, neoadjuvant, adjuvant, palliative, or supportive?
What follow-up is needed a