Key points
- Most present with a lump, bleeding, obstruction or weight loss.
- Every one needs tissue (or diagnostic imaging, for liver cancer) and staging before treatment.
- Neoadjuvant treatment is now standard for many oesophageal, gastric and rectal cancers.
- Only about 15–20% of pancreatic cancers are resectable at diagnosis.
A one-table overview to anchor the detail. Each row will grow into its own chapter.
| Cancer | Key risk factors | Typical presentation | Key test | Main treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breast | Age, BRCA, oestrogen exposure, obesity, alcohol | Lump, nipple change, screening | Triple assessment | Surgery + radiotherapy; endocrine, anti-HER2 or chemotherapy by type |
| Colorectal | Age, FAP/Lynch, IBD, red and processed meat, obesity | Change in bowel habit, rectal bleeding, iron-deficiency anaemia (right side), obstruction | Colonoscopy and biopsy; CT; MRI pelvis for rectal | Colectomy; neoadjuvant treatment for rectal; adjuvant for stage III |
| Stomach | H. pylori, smoking, salted food, CDH1 | Dyspepsia with weight loss, early satiety, anaemia | Endoscopy and biopsy; CT; staging laparoscopy | Perioperative chemotherapy + gastrectomy with D2 nodes |
| Oesophagus | Squamous: smoking, alcohol. Adenocarcinoma: reflux, Barrett’s, obesity | Progressive dysphagia, weight loss | Endoscopy and biopsy; CT, PET-CT, EUS | Neoadjuvant chemo(radio)therapy + oesophagectomy |
| Pancreas | Smoking, chronic pancreatitis, new-onset diabetes, BRCA2 | Painless jaundice, weight loss, back pain | Pancreas-protocol CT; EUS | Whipple’s if resectable, then adjuvant chemotherapy |
| Liver (HCC) | Cirrhosis from hepatitis B or C, alcohol, fatty liver disease | Found on surveillance; decompensation | Multiphase CT or MRI; AFP | Resection, transplant, ablation, TACE or systemic therapy |
| Thyroid | Neck radiation, family history, RET | Neck lump | Ultrasound + FNA | Thyroidectomy ± radioactive iodine |
| Melanoma | UV exposure, fair skin, many moles | A changing mole (ABCDE) | Excision biopsy: Breslow thickness | Wide local excision ± sentinel node biopsy; immunotherapy |
Already on the site
Go deeper with the breast lump, obstructive jaundice and thyroid cheat sheets, and test yourself with the breast, colorectal, upper GI and hepatobiliary questions.
From the book Coming soonThis page follows our surgical oncology book, which is being written now. Once it is published, the matching chapter will be linked here.
Frequently asked questions
Which cancers do general surgeons treat most?
Breast, colorectal, stomach, oesophageal, pancreatic, liver, thyroid and skin cancers, usually as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Further reading
- Brierley JD, et al (eds). TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, 8th edition. UICC, 2017.
- NICE NG12. Suspected cancer: recognition and referral.