Quality of cancer surgery: challenges and controversies

It is generally accepted that the quality of cancer surgery delivered to a patient impacts the patient's overall prognosis significantly. Often, the fact that all surgery and surgeons are not equal is not considered. Furthermore, it should not be assumed that surgeons who perform a particular operation frequently perform it better. Using breast cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer as examples, this article illustrates that proper surgical education and training are paramount in assuring that both the selection and delivery of a particular procedure is appropriate in the management of cancer.