EN
ES
UR
HI
Facing a cancer diagnosis?
Talk with Dr. Murtaza Shakir, board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology, in Katy or Sugar Land. Call (713) 955-9191, or send your details and our team will call you back.
THE SHORT ANSWER
A surgical oncologist is a surgeon who specializes in diagnosing, staging and treating cancer with surgery, including biopsies, tumor removal, lymph node evaluation and operations to relieve symptoms. They work alongside medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists, most often on solid tumors such as breast, colorectal, skin, thyroid, pancreatic and liver cancers.
What Is a Surgical Oncologist?
A surgical oncologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer through surgery. They are trained to remove tumors, perform biopsies, assess how far a cancer has spread and carry out complex operations that may involve removing or reconstructing organs and tissues affected by cancer.
Surgical oncologists work closely with other cancer specialists to build and carry out a coordinated treatment plan, especially for solid tumors that need an operation. Surgery is a local treatment: it targets the part of the body where the tumor is, which is why it is usually combined with other treatments that work throughout the body.
How is this different from a general surgeon? In the United States, the American Board of Surgery offers a separate certificate in Complex General Surgical Oncology. Surgeons must first be certified in general surgery, then complete an accredited surgical oncology fellowship and pass additional exams. The certificate recognizes advanced training in complex cases, rare cancers and cases that need advanced surgical procedures.
What Does a Surgical Oncologist Do?
A surgical oncologist uses surgery at several points in cancer care: to find out whether cancer is present, to learn how advanced it is, to remove it and to relieve symptoms. Their main responsibilities include:
- Diagnosis: performing biopsies or removing a suspicious growth so a pathologist can confirm whether it is cancer and what type.
- Staging: determining how advanced the cancer is by examining nearby lymph nodes or surrounding tissue.
- Tumor removal: surgically removing cancerous tissue, usually with a margin of healthy tissue, often with the goal of complete removal.
- Debulking: removing as much of a tumor as is safely possible when complete removal is not, so other treatments can work on what remains.
- Reconstructive surgery: repairing or rebuilding body parts affected by cancer surgery, at the same operation or later.
- Palliative surgery: relieving problems such as pain, blockages or bleeding in advanced cancer to improve comfort and quality of life.
They also manage care before and after the operation, including infection prevention, pain management and follow-up visits to monitor for recurrence. Read more about pre-operative care at the practice.
When Is Surgery Recommended for Cancer?
Surgery is usually recommended when a solid tumor is confined to one area and can be fully or largely removed, or when tissue is needed to diagnose or stage the cancer. Surgery is often considered when:
- The tumor is localized and can be fully or partially removed
- The cancer has not spread extensively to other organs
- A biopsy or staging procedure is needed to guide treatment
- Surgery can make other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, more effective
- Palliative relief is needed to improve comfort and quality of life in advanced cancer
Not every cancer needs surgery. According to the National Cancer Institute, surgery is not used for leukemia, a cancer of the blood, or generally for cancers that have spread widely. For many solid tumors, though, it is a key part of the plan, and it is most often combined with other treatments.
How Do Surgeons Decide Whether an Operation Is the Right Step?
Surgeons decide by looking at what the cancer is, where it is, how far it has spread and how well you are likely to tolerate an operation. A recommendation is rarely based on a single test.
- The pathology: the biopsy result confirms the cancer type, which shapes which operation, if any, makes sense.
- The imaging: scans show the size of the tumor, its relationship to nearby blood vessels and organs, and whether it appears to have spread.
- Staging: whether lymph nodes or distant organs are involved changes both the goal of surgery and the order of treatments.
- Your overall health: heart and lung health, other medical conditions and your own goals all weigh on whether surgery is safe and worthwhile.
- The team’s plan: the surgeon coordinates with medical and radiation oncologists so surgery happens at the point in treatment where it helps most.
The goal of surgery should be clear before you agree to it: to cure, to remove as much as possible, to stage the cancer or to relieve symptoms. Ask your surgeon which one applies to you.
Have a New Cancer Diagnosis?
Dr. Murtaza Shakir reviews pathology and imaging and explains whether surgery fits your plan. Request a consultation in Katy or Sugar Land.
What Cancers Do Surgical Oncologists Treat?
Surgical oncologists as a specialty treat a wide range of solid tumors. The most common are listed below, with typical operations and their goals:
| Cancer | Common procedures | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Breast cancer | Lumpectomy, mastectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy | Remove the tumor while preserving breast tissue or offering reconstructive options |
| Colorectal cancer | Colectomy (removal of part or all of the colon), rectal resection | Remove the cancer and restore normal bowel function |
| Skin cancer, including melanoma | Excision of cancerous skin lesions, lymph node biopsy | Remove the affected tissue completely and check for spread |
| Thyroid and parathyroid cancer | Partial or total thyroidectomy, lymph node dissection | Remove cancerous tissue while preserving hormone function when possible |
| Pancreatic and liver cancer | Whipple procedure, partial hepatectomy | Remove tumors in these high-risk organs while minimizing complications |
| Esophageal and stomach cancer | Esophagectomy, gastrectomy | Remove the cancerous portion of the digestive tract and reconnect it for digestion |
| Gynecologic cancers | Hysterectomy, removal of ovarian tumors, debulking surgery | Remove cancerous tissue while preserving reproductive or hormonal function when possible |
| Sarcomas | Excision of soft tissue or bone tumors, sometimes with limb-sparing techniques | Remove the tumor while keeping mobility and function |
Which of these a particular surgeon treats varies by training and practice. At Surgical Associates of Southern Texas you can read more about breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer and thyroid and parathyroid cancer.
How Does a Surgical Oncologist Work With the Rest of the Cancer Team?
A surgical oncologist is one member of a multidisciplinary team, and the plan works best when each specialist knows what the others are doing. The team often includes:
- Medical oncologists, who manage chemotherapy and other systemic therapies
- Radiation oncologists, who plan and deliver radiation treatment
- Pathologists, who confirm the cancer type and stage from biopsy and surgical tissue
- Rehabilitation specialists, who help restore strength and physical function after surgery
Patients usually meet their surgical oncologist early, often soon after diagnosis, and continue to see them for follow-up to check for recurrence and support recovery. At Surgical Associates of Southern Texas, the surgeon coordinates with these specialists so care stays connected from diagnosis through recovery. Learn more about surgical oncology at the practice.
Which Symptoms Need Urgent Care?
Most cancer evaluations are planned visits, but some symptoms need same-day or emergency care whether or not you already have a diagnosis. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for:
- Vomiting with a swollen belly and inability to pass gas or stool, which can signal a blocked bowel
- Heavy bleeding, vomiting blood, or black or bloody stools
- Severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain
- Trouble breathing or chest pain
After cancer surgery, call your surgical team promptly for fever, increasing redness, swelling or drainage at the incision, or pain that is getting worse instead of better. New yellowing of the skin or eyes should be checked promptly, and right away if it comes with fever or abdominal pain. Unexplained weight loss or a new lump deserves a prompt appointment rather than waiting.
How Can Patients in Katy, Sugar Land and Houston See a Surgical Oncologist?
Patients from across the Houston area can schedule a consultation at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas, with offices in Katy and Sugar Land. Dr. Murtaza Shakir is a board-certified General Surgeon and is board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology.
To make the first visit as useful as possible, bring:
- Your biopsy and pathology reports
- Imaging reports and, if possible, the images on disc or by electronic link
- Names of any oncologists or other doctors already involved in your care
- A list of medications, prior surgeries and medical conditions
The surgeon will review your records, examine you and explain whether surgery has a role in your treatment, what the goal would be and what recovery involves. Read more about general surgery, call (713) 955-9191 or request an appointment.
Questions to Ask Your Surgeon About Cancer Surgery
- What type and stage of cancer do I have, and do you need more tests to be sure?
- Is the goal of surgery to cure the cancer, stage it, debulk it or relieve symptoms?
- Should I have chemotherapy or radiation before or after surgery?
- What exactly will be removed, and will lymph nodes be checked?
- How long is the hospital stay and recovery, and what limits will I have?
- Which other specialists will be involved, and who coordinates my care?
- What follow-up will I need to watch for recurrence?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a surgical oncologist the same as an oncologist?
Not exactly. An oncologist is any doctor who treats cancer. A medical oncologist treats it with chemotherapy and other drugs, a radiation oncologist with radiation, and a surgical oncologist with surgery. They often work together on the same patient.
Do I need a surgical oncologist or a general surgeon?
It depends on the cancer and how complex the operation is. Some surgeons are certified in both general surgery and complex general surgical oncology. Your referring doctor and the surgeon can help decide who is best suited for your case.
Does every cancer need surgery?
No. Blood cancers such as leukemia are not treated with surgery, and cancers that have spread widely are usually treated in other ways. For many solid tumors that are confined to one area, surgery is a central part of treatment.
Will I need chemotherapy or radiation if I have surgery?
Often, yes. Surgery is sometimes the only treatment needed, but it is most often combined with other treatments. Your cancer team will explain the order and purpose of each step.
When should I see a surgical oncologist?
Usually soon after a cancer diagnosis or when imaging finds a suspicious mass. Early input helps the team decide whether surgery should come first or after other treatment. See surgical oncology for more.
Key Takeaway
A surgical oncologist diagnoses, stages and removes cancer with surgery and relieves symptoms when cure is not possible, working alongside medical and radiation oncologists. Surgery is most useful for solid tumors that are confined to one area, and the decision depends on the cancer type, stage and your overall health.
Sources and Further Reading
- Surgery to Treat Cancer, National Cancer Institute
- Cancer Surgery, American Cancer Society
- Complex General Surgical Oncology, American Board of Surgery
- A to Z List of Cancer Types, National Cancer Institute
This article is general education, not personal medical advice. For severe abdominal pain, fever with abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, seek emergency care.
Meet the Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir is a board-certified General Surgeon and is board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology. He earned his medical degree at Aga Khan University, completed General Surgery residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and a two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He sees patients at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas in Katy and Sugar Land.
Related Reading and Care
Schedule a Surgical Oncology Consultation
Bring your pathology and imaging to our Katy or Sugar Land office and learn whether surgery has a role in your treatment.
This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For severe abdominal pain or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated October 16, 2026.