Treatment Pathway: Cancer Surgery at Onco-Life
Cancer surgery is often the most direct way to remove a tumour either as the main treatment (especially in early stages) or as part of a planned sequence (sometimes after chemo or before radiation). For patients and families, surgery can feel like the biggest step. The best way to reduce fear is to understand the pathway clearly what happens before, during, and after.
This page explains the surgical journey at Onco-Life in 6 steps, with typical timeline ranges (no promises).
Important: The exact plan depends on cancer type, stage, location, patient fitness, and whether chemo/radiation is needed before or after surgery.
At a glance: Surgery in 6 steps
Consultation (Meeting the Surgical Oncologist / Surgeon)
What happens
- The surgeon reviews your symptoms, reports, and scans.
- A detailed physical examination is done (site-specific).
- The surgeon explains:
- whether surgery is recommended,
- what type of surgery (open/laparoscopic/robotic where applicable),
- expected benefits and risks,
- and whether surgery should be first or after shrinking treatment (chemo/radiation).
What to bring
- Biopsy/histopathology ± IHC (if available)
- Scan reports + images (CT/MRI/PET-CT as applicable)
- Blood test reports (if available)
- Current medicines list + allergies
- Past medical history (heart disease, diabetes, BP, asthma, blood thinners, etc.)
- Any previous surgery/discharge summaries
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Consultation appointment: same day to 3 days
(depending on availability/urgency)
Diagnosis & staging (Confirm type + decide surgical extent)
What happens
The team confirms:
- exact cancer type and subtype (biopsy + IHC if required)
- stage/extent to decide:
- is surgery feasible?
- is it safe to remove completely?
- are lymph nodes involved?
- is pre-treatment needed to shrink first?
Common pre-surgery tests (planned for safety)
Depending on age and health, you may be advised:
- CBC, LFT, KFT, sugar, electrolytes
- ECG, chest X-ray
- 2D echo / cardiac clearance (if needed)
- anaesthesia assessment
- sometimes pulmonary tests (if lung-related surgery or breathing issues)
- cross-matching blood (for selected surgeries)
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Staging confirmation + fitness work-up: 3 to 10 days
- If additional biopsy/IHC or scan is required: 5 to 14 days (varies)
Tumour Board plan (Agreeing on the safest sequence)
What happens
A Tumour Board aligns the entire journey so surgery fits correctly:
- Surgical Oncology
- Medical Oncology (chemo)
- Radiation Oncology (radiation)
- Radiology and Pathology inputs when needed
Key decisions
- Is surgery best first or after chemo/radiation?
- Extent of surgery and lymph node management
- Whether a stoma/temporary diversion might be needed (GI cases)
- Reconstruction needs (breast/head-neck cases)
- Post-surgery plan: radiation/chemo/hormonal/targeted therapy or observation
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Tumour Board plan finalization: 2 to 7 days after reports are complete
Treatment start (Pre-op preparation → Surgery → Hospital stay)
Surgery doesn’t start on operation day—it starts with safe preparation.
Step 4A: Pre-operative preparation
What happens
- Pre-anaesthesia check (PAC)
- Consent and counselling (what to expect, what can go wrong, how recovery looks)
- Medication planning:
- blood thinners may need timing adjustments
- diabetes medicines may be adjusted
- Nutrition optimization (especially if weight loss/anaemia exists)
- Sometimes “prehab” is suggested: breathing exercises, walking, protein intake
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Pre-op clearance and scheduling: 3 to 10 days
(May be longer for complex surgeries or if medical optimization is required.)
Step 4B: Admission and surgery day
What happens
- You may be admitted same day or 1 day prior (depends on case)
- Surgery is performed under anaesthesia
- Post-op monitoring begins immediately (pain control, vitals, fluids, wound)
What patients should know (simple)
- You will not feel pain during surgery.
- Pain control is planned after surgery (medicines, sometimes epidural/regional blocks).
- The first 24–48 hours are focused on stability, pain control, and early movement as appropriate.
Step 4C: Hospital stay (recovery in hospital)
What happens
- Monitoring for bleeding/infection
- Gradual diet progression (fluids → soft → normal as allowed)
- Early mobilization to reduce clot risk
- Wound care and drain management (if drains are placed)
- Physiotherapy/breathing exercises for some surgeries
Typical length of stay (safe range)
- Minor procedures: 1–2 days
- Moderate surgeries: 3–7 days
- Major/complex surgeries: 5–10 days
(Varies depending on surgery type and recovery.)
Monitoring (What happens after surgery)
Monitoring continues after discharge.
Monitoring includes
- Wound checks and dressing guidance
- Drain care (if present) + removal plan
- Pain control plan + constipation prevention
- Mobility and breathing exercises guidance
- Watching for early complications
Important: Final surgical histopathology
After surgery, the removed tissue is examined in detail. This report can change the next steps because it may tell:
- margins (clear or not)
- lymph node involvement
- grade and deeper features
- exact staging after surgery
This “final report” often decides whether you need:
- radiation,
- chemotherapy,
- hormonal therapy,
- targeted therapy,
- or only follow-up.
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Surgical histopathology report: 5 to 12 days (varies by lab and complexity)
- First post-op follow-up: commonly 7 to 14 days after discharge (doctor-specific)
Recovery & follow-up (Back to life, safely)
Recovery goals
- regain strength and nutrition
- return to walking and daily activity gradually
- manage fatigue and pain safely
- monitor for swelling (lymphedema in some cancers)
- plan the next phase if needed (chemo/radiation)
Typical recovery timeline (safe range)
- Basic recovery for routine daily activities: 2 to 6 weeks
- Full recovery for major surgeries: 6 to 12 weeks
(Some surgeries require longer rehabilitation depending on body area.)
Follow-up plan
- Regular follow-ups as advised
- If adjuvant therapy is planned (chemo/radiation after surgery), it usually starts once the surgeon confirms healing is adequate.
When to go to Casualty immediately after surgery
Go to Casualty if:
- High fever with chills
- Increasing redness/swelling/pus from wound
- Sudden heavy bleeding from wound/drain
- Severe breathlessness or chest pain
- Persistent vomiting with inability to take fluids
- Severe abdominal swelling/pain (especially with no passing gas/stool)
- Sudden leg swelling/pain (possible clot)
- Confusion/fainting
“Typical timeline” summary (safe ranges, no promises)
- Step 1 (Consultation): 0–3 days
- Step 2 (Staging + fitness work-up): 3–14 days
- Step 3 (Tumour Board plan): 2–7 days
- Step 4 (Pre-op prep + surgery + stay):
- Scheduling/clearance: 3–10 days
- Hospital stay: 1–10 days (depends on surgery)
Patient reassurance
Surgery is a planned process—not a single event. Most complications are preventable or manageable when:
- fitness is optimized before surgery,
- recovery steps are followed,
- and warning signs are acted on early.
If you feel unsure at any stage, ask for a simple explanation of:
- what surgery is planned,
- expected hospital stay,
- what you can eat/do after discharge,
- and which symptoms require urgent action.
Explore More Treatment Pathway
If you have any questions regarding Cancer Surgery, book an appointment with our expert cancer surgeons. We also recommend you to read: