Surgical oncology · 24 procedures

Cancer surgery in Dhaka

Oncologic resection by a surgeon holding MS in Surgical Oncology — a Master of Surgery devoted entirely to cancer, taken beyond general surgery.

In plain language

Why cancer surgery is different

Removing a cancer is not the same as removing a lump. How much healthy tissue is taken around it, and whether the surrounding lymph nodes are cleared, affects whether the disease returns. That planning happens before the operation, from imaging and biopsy — not on the day.

This is what a surgical oncology qualification is for. MS (Surgical Oncology) is a separate Master of Surgery covering staging, radical resection and how surgery fits alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

It also means being honest about when surgery is not the first step. For some cancers, treatment begins with chemotherapy or radiotherapy and an operation comes later — or not at all.

How it works

From first visit to follow-up

  1. 01

    First consultation

    History, examination, and review of anything you already have. Bring every report and film.

  2. 02

    Diagnostics and staging

    Imaging and biopsy establish what it is and how far it has gone. Nothing is planned before this.

  3. 03

    The surgical plan

    Approach, extent, risks, likely recovery and expected cost — agreed before a date is booked.

  4. 04

    Surgery and follow-up

    The operation, then a written discharge plan and continuing follow-up.

Common questions

Questions patients ask

Anything not covered here, the chamber team can answer by phone.

01 Does every cancer need surgery?

No. For some cancers treatment begins with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and for some, surgery is not the right treatment at all. What is appropriate depends on the type and the stage, which is why staging comes first.

Treatment
02 What does staging mean?

Staging describes how far a cancer has spread — how deep into the organ, whether nearby lymph nodes are involved, and whether it has travelled elsewhere. It is established from imaging and biopsy, and it determines the plan.

Staging
03 Can cancer operations be done by keyhole?

Some can. Laparoscopic gastrectomy, colectomy, anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection are part of this practice. Suitability depends on the tumour’s size, position and stage.

Approach
04 What should I bring to the first visit?

Every previous prescription, all reports, and the actual films from any ultrasound, CT, MRI, endoscopy or biopsy — not only the printed summaries. It often means a decision can be reached in one visit.

Preparation
05 আমার রিপোর্টে ক্যান্সার লেখা আছে, এখন কী করব?

প্রথমে আতঙ্কিত হবেন না। রিপোর্ট, ফিল্ম ও আগের প্রেসক্রিপশন নিয়ে একজন সার্জিক্যাল অনকোলজিস্টকে দেখান। স্টেজ নির্ণয় না করে চিকিৎসার সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া যায় না — এবং অনেক ক্ষেত্রেই সময়মতো চিকিৎসা শুরু করলে ফল ভালো হয়।

পরবর্তী পদক্ষেপ

Next step

Bring your reports to a consultation

Often one visit is enough to know whether an operation is needed at all.

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