For most solid cancers that are found early enough, an operation is often the main way to remove the disease completely. But cancer surgery is different from routine surgery: how much tissue is removed, which lymph nodes are taken, and whether chemotherapy or radiotherapy comes before or after all change the result. That is why families in Varanasi increasingly ask for a surgical oncologist (a cancer surgeon) rather than a general surgeon. This page explains what surgical oncology is, who needs it and what to expect at ZenHeal Cancer Hospital, Varanasi.

Free OPD with cancer specialists at ZenHeal Cancer Hospital, Varanasi. Call +91 99307 09000 or WhatsApp +91 98803 78899 for a same-day appointment.

What is surgical oncology?

Surgical oncology is the branch of surgery devoted to cancer. A surgical oncologist completes general surgery training and then a super-speciality degree such as an MCh in Surgical Oncology. The training focuses on three things that decide long-term results:

  • Clear margins: removing the tumour with a rim of healthy tissue around it, so that no cancer cells are left at the edges.
  • Lymph nodes: removing and examining the right group of nodes, which shows whether the cancer has spread and guides further treatment.
  • Sequencing: deciding with the medical and radiation oncologists whether surgery should come first, or whether chemotherapy or radiotherapy should shrink the tumour beforehand.

Who needs cancer surgery?

Surgery is considered when the biopsy confirms cancer and the scans show that the tumour can be removed safely. Your surgeon may advise an operation:

  • as the main treatment for an early cancer;
  • after chemotherapy or radiotherapy has shrunk a larger tumour;
  • to take a biopsy or stage the cancer when other tests are not enough;
  • to relieve a problem such as a blocked bowel, even when cure is not the aim;
  • to rebuild a part of the body after a tumour is removed (reconstruction).

Cancer surgery at ZenHeal Cancer Hospital, Varanasi

Cancer operations at our Varanasi hospital are led by Dr. Pritesh Rajeev Singh, surgical oncologist (MBBS, Grant Medical College, Mumbai; MS General Surgery, RIMS Ranchi; MCh Surgical Oncology, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati; F.MAS, D.MAS) with more than 15 years of experience. He has worked as a senior consultant at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, Patna, and as an assistant professor at the State Cancer Institute, Agartala. He operates on cancers of the stomach, bowel, food pipe and breast, on locally advanced tumours that need complex surgery, and on reconstruction after cancer surgery. Mouth and breast cancer operations are done at this hospital.

Gynaecological cancer surgery is part of this service. Gynaecological cancer operations at ZenHeal Varanasi, including hysterectomy for uterine cancer, are done by Dr. Pritesh Rajeev Singh, surgical oncologist (MCh Surgical Oncology), and Dr. Maithili Thakur. ZenHeal Varanasi is a 100-bed cancer-only hospital with a 10-bed ICU and 24×7 emergency support, so patients who need close monitoring after a major operation stay under the same team.

Have reports already? Share them on WhatsApp +91 98803 78899 or upload them for a free report review. If the patient cannot travel yet, a video consult with an oncologist costs ₹1,000.

Before surgery: tests and fitness

  1. Confirming the diagnosis. A biopsy report is needed before most cancer operations. If your biopsy was done elsewhere, bring the report and, if possible, the slides and blocks.
  2. Staging scans. CT, MRI or PET-CT show the size of the tumour and whether it has spread, which decides whether surgery is the right first step.
  3. Fitness for anaesthesia. Blood tests, ECG and sometimes heart or lung tests. Tell the team about diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease and every medicine you take, especially blood thinners.
  4. Plan and estimate. The surgeon explains the operation, its risks and the expected hospital stay, and the counsellor explains the cost and paperwork.

Stopping tobacco, gutkha and alcohol before surgery helps wounds heal and lowers chest infections. Eating well in the weeks before the operation matters too.

After surgery: recovery and next steps

After the operation, patients recover in the ward or, when closer monitoring is needed, in the ICU. Pain control, early walking, breathing exercises and nutrition all help recovery. The removed tissue goes for histopathology, and this final report is one of the most important documents in cancer care: it confirms the cancer type, the margins and the lymph node status. The surgeon and oncologists review it together and decide whether chemotherapy, radiotherapy or simple follow-up comes next. ZenHeal Cancer Hospital offers both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so the next step is planned by the same team. Follow-up check-ups continue for five years so that recurrence or late side effects are caught early.

For a detailed, family-friendly walk-through from biopsy to recovery, read the cancer surgery in Varanasi family guide on ZenOnco.io.

Cost, Ayushman Bharat and financial help

The cost depends on the type and stage of cancer and the treatment the doctor recommends, so we do not quote a fixed price before the patient is seen. After the OPD consultation, the doctor explains the plan and our patient counsellor explains the costs before anything is booked.

  • Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) is accepted. Bring the Ayushman card and Aadhaar; the help desk checks eligibility and explains what the scheme covers for this treatment before admission.
  • Private cashless insurance is accepted. Bring the insurance e-card and photo ID.
  • NGO support: our NGO, Love Heals Cancer, supports patients who need financial help to complete treatment.

Our step-by-step Hindi guide explains the paperwork: आयुष्मान कार्ड से कैंसर का इलाज.

Reaching ZenHeal Cancer Hospital in Varanasi

The hospital is on Dafi Highway at the Amara Bypass, opposite Aryan International School Road, about 4 km (around 13 minutes) from BHU, 9 km from Banaras (Manduadih) railway station and 20 km from Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction. Families also come from Mirzapur, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Bhadohi and other Purvanchal districts. More about the hospital, its doctors and facilities is on our Varanasi hospital page and on ZenHeal Cancer Hospital Varanasi on ZenOnco.io.

Questions to ask before cancer surgery

  • Is surgery the right first step, or should chemotherapy or radiotherapy come first?
  • What exactly will be removed, and will lymph nodes be removed too?
  • How long will the hospital stay and the recovery at home be?
  • Will I need reconstruction, a feeding tube or a stoma, even for a short time?
  • What does the final histopathology report need to show to avoid further treatment?

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Address: ZenHeal Cancer Hospital, Dafi Highway, Opposite Aryan International School Road, Amara Bypass, Dafi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221011 · Get directions