The Department of Surgical Oncology at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC), Lahore offers comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and management of both adult and paediatric cancer patients. Our surgeons work in close collaboration with medical and radiation oncologists to ensure that a multidisciplinary approach is followed for each patient at the Hospital. Pain specialists, stoma and tissue care nurses, dieticians and psychologists are also available to provide multidimensional care to our patients.
Our surgeons provide comprehensive and state-of-the-art surgical care for adult and paediatric patients with upper and lower gastrointestinal, hepato-pancreato-biliary, breast, neuro, orthopaedics, thoracic, endocrine, maxillofacial/head and neck, gynaecology and uro-oncology disorders.
The specialty of Gastrointestinal Surgery has established itself nationally and regionally as a renowned area for minimally invasive, otherwise known as laparoscopic or keyhole surgery. Our surgeons are the pioneers of minimally invasive cancer surgery in Pakistan. This specialty currently offers minimally invasive oesophageal and gastric resections, rectal resections and colectomies. We have a fully established, dedicated hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery service too. Liver, biliary and pancreatic resections including Whipple procedure is also being done with minimally invasive approach.
The specialty of Head and Neck Surgery provides extensive treatment in all areas including the resection of all head and neck cancers as well as free tissue transfer reconstruction. Apart from oncology, maxillofacial trauma and correction of skeleto-dental deformities is also offered. We also provide Restorative dentistry including exodontia service to our cancer patients as well as employees.
Under the umbrella of Breast and Oncoplastic Surgery, we perform more than 120 surgical procedures a month. Our surgeons perform sentinel lymph node biopsies, wire-localised and sono-marked lumpectomies, mastectomies, axillary lymph node dissection, oncoplastic reconstruction (implants as well as flaps) in addition to all conventional surgical procedures.
The specialty of Gynae-oncological Surgery offers all conventional oncological procedures. In addition, minimally invasive fertility preserving surgeries and hysterectomies are also performed. Complex resections requiring the removal of rectum and bladder along with uterus are also offered to our patients.
The specialty of Uro-oncology Surgery conducts procedures for benign and malignant conditions of the kidney, bladder and prostate. Our surgeons perform endoscopic removal of bladder and prostate tumours as well as stones. Partial and radical nephrectomy and cystectomy are done with open and laparoscopic approach.
The Orthopaedic service provides resection of musculoskeletal tumours and soft tissue sarcomas. Current concepts of limb salvage with free tissue transfer and alloplastic prosthesis is offered to all indicated patients. All the major trauma and pathological fractures are managed on site.
The specialty of Neurosurgery offers surgery for primary and secondary intracranial tumours to adults as well as paediatric patients. The resection is precise and according to the current standard of care with the help of neuro-navigation system.
Paediatric surgery covers almost all malignancies in paediatric patients while conducting Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings with our paediatric oncologists
We offer minimally invasive resections of lung tumours as well as helping the Upper GI surgeons in Esophagectomies.
The Department of Surgical Oncology is the only unit in Pakistan to be accredited by the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan (CPSP) for subspecialty training in surgical oncology.
The training opportunities at SKMCH&RC include the following:
Our training programmes feature a strong academic focus with daily teaching sessions, weekly MDTs, monthly Morbidity and Mortality meeting etc. Our trainees are evaluated every four to six months to discuss their training needs, progress and improvement opportunities. Training is structured with objective assessments and is supervised within the department during various rotations.
