Overview
The Department of Surgical Oncology at Sree Mookambika Cancer Centre provides comprehensive surgical management for a wide spectrum of cancers. The department is equipped with modern operating theatres and advanced surgical technologies, enabling precise tumor removal while preserving organ function whenever possible. The surgical oncology team works closely with specialists from Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Pathology, and Critical Care, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment. Each patient’s treatment plan is carefully designed through tumor board discussions to achieve the best possible clinical outcomes.
Dr Chandra Mohan K
MS,MCh ( Surgical Oncology)
Advanced Surgical Technologies
The department utilizes modern surgical techniques and advanced equipment to ensure safer procedures, faster recovery, and improved patient outcomes.
Key technologies and facilities include:
• 3D Laparoscopic Surgery for enhanced visualization and precision in minimally invasive cancer surgeries
• HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) for selected abdominal cancers with peritoneal spread
• Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery for cancers involving the lungs and chest cavity
• Advanced Endoscopic Procedures for diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal and respiratory cancers
• Colonoscopy for early detection, diagnosis, and management of colorectal cancers
• Bronchoscopy for evaluation and diagnosis of lung and airway tumors
These advanced techniques help reduce surgical trauma, minimize blood loss, shorten hospital stay, and promote faster recovery for patients.
Surgical Services
The department performs a wide range of cancer surgeries including:
• Breast Cancer Surgery
• Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery (Esophagus, Stomach, Colon, Rectum)
• Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Cancer Surgery
• Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
• Thoracic Cancer Surgery (Lung and Mediastinal tumors)
• Gynecological Cancer Surgery
• Soft Tissue and Bone Tumor Surgery
The surgical team emphasizes oncologically safe procedures combined with functional and cosmetic outcomes, ensuring both effective cancer control and improved quality of life for patients.
Minimally Invasive Cancer Surgery
Whenever appropriate, minimally invasive surgical techniques are employed to treat cancer. These procedures use small incisions and advanced imaging systems such as 3D laparoscopy, allowing surgeons to perform complex cancer operations with greater precision.
Benefits include:
• Reduced postoperative pain
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster recovery
• Lower risk of complications
• Better cosmetic results
Key Advanced Procedures
• HIPEC (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) for selected abdominal cancers with peritoneal spread, combining cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
• PTBD Stenting (Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage) for the management of biliary obstruction in hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers, improving bile drainage and patient comfort.
• POEM (Per Oral Endoscopic Myotomy) – a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure used in selected esophageal disorders and related oncological conditions.
• Advanced Endoscopic Surgeries and Resections for early gastrointestinal cancers, enabling precise tumor removal with minimal surgical trauma.
• Frozen Section Pathology Services during surgery, allowing rapid intraoperative tissue diagnosis and margin assessment, thereby improving surgical precision and treatment outcomes.
• Sentinel node biopsies & Oncoplastic Breast Surgeries, combining cancer surgery with reconstructive techniques to achieve optimal oncological safety while preserving breast shape and cosmetic outcomes.
• Minimally Access Surgeries for Urological Cancers, including laparoscopic procedures for cancers of the kidney, bladder, and prostate.
• Groin Dissections with Retroperitoneal Surgeries for cancers involving lymph node spread in the pelvic and retroperitoneal regions.
• Advanced Microvascular Free Flap Surgery for complex cancer reconstruction, particularly in head and neck cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, and breast cancers. This specialized technique involves transferring tissue along with its blood supply from another part of the body to reconstruct surgical defects, restoring both function and appearance. Microvascular reconstruction helps improve speech, swallowing, limb function, and cosmetic outcomes, significantly enhancing the quality of life following major tumor removal surgeries.
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy with Indocyanine Green (ICG) Fluorescence Imaging for Breast Cancer and Endometrial Cancer, performed using an advanced ICG Gamma Camera integrated with 3D Laparoscopic technology. This technique enables precise identification of sentinel lymph nodes, allowing accurate staging of cancer while avoiding extensive lymph node removal. The procedure reduces surgical morbidity, minimizes complications such as lymphedema, and promotes faster recovery while maintaining high oncological safety.
These advanced procedures reflect the centre’s commitment to modern surgical oncology practices, improved patient safety, and better functional and cosmetic outcomes.
Onco-Pathology and Frozen Section Services
Accurate pathological diagnosis is essential for effective cancer treatment. At Sree Mookambika Cancer Centre, the Onco-Pathology services provide comprehensive histopathological evaluation of tumors to ensure precise diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning. The department works closely with the oncology team to support multidisciplinary cancer care.
The centre also offers intraoperative frozen section analysis, which enables rapid pathological examination of tissues during surgery. This allows surgeons to assess tumor margins and confirm diagnosis in real time, helping guide immediate surgical decisions. The availability of frozen section services significantly improves surgical precision, treatment outcomes, and overall quality of patient care.
Pain and Palliative Surgical Procedures
The Department of Surgical Oncology at Sree Mookambika Cancer Centre also provides pain-relieving and palliative surgical procedures for patients with advanced cancers where the focus is on improving quality of life. These procedures aim to relieve symptoms such as pain, obstruction, bleeding, or difficulty in eating and breathing, allowing patients to live more comfortably.
Palliative surgical interventions may include procedures to relieve intestinal obstruction, biliary obstruction, airway compromise, tumor-related pain, and other distressing symptoms. These surgeries are performed as part of a multidisciplinary approach involving surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, and palliative care specialists, ensuring compassionate, patient-centered care.
Multidisciplinary Cancer Care
All cancer cases are reviewed through a multidisciplinary tumor board, where experts from different oncology specialties collaborate to determine the most appropriate treatment strategy for each patient.
This integrated approach ensures that surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are optimally coordinated to achieve the best treatment outcomes.
Pain and Palliative Care
The Pain and Palliative Care Department at Sree Mookambika Cancer Centre focuses on improving the quality of life for patients facing cancer and other serious illnesses. The department provides comprehensive care aimed at relieving pain, controlling symptoms, and offering emotional, psychological, and social support to patients and their families.
Palliative care is an essential part of cancer management and can be provided at any stage of the disease, alongside active treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery.
Services
The department offers a range of services designed to support patients throughout their cancer journey.
• Cancer Pain Management using modern pharmacological and interventional techniques
• Symptom Control including management of nausea, breathlessness, fatigue, and other treatment-related symptoms
• End-of-Life Care focused on comfort, dignity, and compassionate support
• Psychological and Emotional Support for patients and families
• Nutritional Guidance and Supportive Care
• Counselling and Family Support Services
Multidisciplinary Support
The Pain and Palliative Care team works closely with specialists from Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Nursing, and Rehabilitation Services to provide coordinated and holistic care.
This integrated approach ensures that patients receive physical relief, emotional comfort, and compassionate support throughout their treatment journey.
Patient-Centered Approach
At Sree Mookambika Cancer Centre, palliative care emphasizes dignity, comfort, and compassionate care, helping patients maintain the best possible quality of life during and after cancer treatment.
