The Department of Surgical Oncology, Kasturba Medical College was established in 1992 and is one of the earliest Surgical Oncology departments in this part of the state. The department has grown strength to strength, abreast with latest developments and moving towards the goal of adequate cancer surgery along with function/organ preservation in tune with the internationally accepted treatment standards and guidelines. It is an internationally acclaimed centre for cancer treatment and research, catering to the needs of people of the state of Karnataka and adjoining parts of Kerala and Goa. The department has several innovative and pioneering works in cancer control, treatment, research and training to its credit. The department provides a thorough surgical care, starting with establishing the diagnosis, through comprehensive staging of the tumour, oncologically sound surgery and high standards of post-operative care. The department is located in the Shirdi Sai Baba Cancer Centre and Research block and is a part of Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre (MCCCC) with full-fledged departments of Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Paediatric Oncology, Palliative Medicine and Nuclear Medicine and supported by allied services such as Plastic surgery, Critical care medicine, Anaesthesiology, Pathology, Radiology, Microbiology, Nutrition and Transfusion Medicine.

On an average, 900 major oncological surgeries are performed by the department in a year.  The spectrum of surgeries includes basic, advanced and supra major complex resections and reconstructions. Routine operations include procedures for head and neck (including Thyroid and Salivary Gland tumors), breast and gynecological cancers (Ovary, Cervix and Endometrial cancers).  Major procedures performed are all types of Esophageal cancer surgeries, Hepato-pancreatico-biliary cancer surgeries (Liver, Bile duct and Pancreatic tumors), upper and lower Gastrointestinal cancer surgeries (Stomach, Colon and Rectal Cancers), Thoracic cancer surgeries (Lung, Trachea, Mediastinal neoplasms Including Thymus gland tumor), Limb salvage surgery (Bone and soft tissue tumors), Hyper-thermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) and Pelvic exenterations etc. Minimally invasive cancer surgeries include advanced laparoscopic and thoracoscopic (VATS-Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery) surgeries.