New Horizon on Cancer Surgery in Iran

After cardiovascular events and trauma, cancer is the third leading cause of death in Iran; Based on Globocan2008, about 70000 cancer cases were diagnosed in Iran and about 40,000 patients were died of cancer in 2008. Due to poor prognosis and low survival rate of cancer patients, improvement of health care infrastructure and is necessary to mitigate burden of cancer in Iran and many other developing countries. I t has been estimated that cancer will take over other causes soon and in 2030 it will rank number one among the causes of death. Due to the importance of attention to cancer, local and international efforts are needed to combat this deadly disease. World Health Organization (WHO) advice individual countries to plan and implement a comprehensive control program. Cancer care needs a multidisciplinary team, including oncosurgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists and radiologists. Multidisciplinary clinics create a collaborative atmosphere among the cancer specialists, leading a drastic and effective decision for individual patient in the joint clinics.As surgery is the cornerstone in the treatment of majority of cancers, oncosurgeons has a critical role in such clinics, leading to better survival for patients with their involvement in the decision and treatment of the patients. It has been shown that hospital volume, skill and attitude of surgeon, new surgical techniques and proper use of adjuvant treatment and other advances in the treatment of patients have led to a positive impact on the patient outcome and improved prognosis of cancer worldwide.. Cancer institute is the scientific pole of cancer care in Islamic Republic of Iran and provides high standard services for cancer patients including diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care. We have inaugurated the fellowship of cancer surgery since 2007 and train general surgeons with the latest techniques and methods introduced in the cancer surgery. In collaboration with other clinical disciplines in our joint clinics, our fellows learn how to manage sophisticated cancer cases. This program offers an invaluable opportunity to general surgeon to get familiar with the management of different types and complicated cancer patients. We believe that this initiative will pave the way for better prognosis and higher quality of life among cancer patients at the regional and national level