MCh in Surgical Oncology: Admissions, Medical colleges, fees, eligibility criteria details

MCh Surgical Oncology or Master of Chirurgiae in Surgical Oncology also known as MCh in Surgical Oncology is a super speciality level course for doctors in India that they do after completion of their postgraduate medical degree course. The duration of this super speciality course is 3 years, and it focuses on the diagnosis and surgical management of all types of cancer, in order to improve the procedure outcome and chances of survival.

The course is a full-time course pursued at various recognized medical colleges across the country. Some of the top medical colleges offering this course include All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttrakhand, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa.

Admission to this course is done through the NEET-SS Entrance exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations, followed by counselling based on the scores of the exam that is conducted by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities.

The fee for pursuing MCh (Surgical Oncology) varies from college to college and may range from Rs.7 thousand to Rs. 94 lakhs.

After completion of their respective course, doctors can either join the job market or can pursue certificate courses and Fellowship programmes recognized by NMC and NBE. Candidates can take reputed jobs at positions as Senior residents, Consultants, etc. with an approximate salary range of Rs 26 lakhs to Rs. 87 lakhs per annum.

What is MCh in Surgical Oncology?

Master of Chirurgiae in Surgical Oncology, also known as MCh (Surgical Oncology) or MCh in (Surgical Oncology) is a three-year super speciality programme that candidates can pursue after completing a postgraduate degree.

MCh Surgical Oncology focuses on the diagnosis and surgical management of all types of cancer, in order to improve the procedure outcome and chances of survival. It aims to enable candidates to develop their knowledge and extend and advance their practice to achieve competence in Surgical Oncology, providing candidates with breadth and depth of experience. Specialty areas include Endoscopic Laser Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Thyroid Surgery, etc.

The Competency-Based Postgraduate Training Programme governs the education and training of MCh in Surgical Oncology.

The postgraduate students must gain ample knowledge and experience in the diagnosis, and treatment of patients with acute, serious, and life-threatening medical and surgical diseases.

PG education intends to create specialists who can contribute to high-quality health care and advances in science through research and training.

The required training done by a postgraduate specialist in the field of Surgical oncology would help the specialist recognize the community’s health needs. The student should be competent to handle medical problems effectively and should be aware of the recent advances in their speciality.

The candidate is also expected to know the principles of research methodology and modes of the consulting library. The candidate should regularly attend conferences, workshops and CMEs to upgrade her/ his knowledge.

Course Highlights

Here are some of the course highlights of MCh in Surgical Oncology

Name of Course	MCh in Surgical Oncology
Level	Doctorate
Duration of Course	Three years
Course Mode	Full Time
Minimum Academic Requirement	Candidates must have a postgraduate medical Degree in MS/DNB (General Surgery) obtained from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (Now NMC)/NBE, this feeder qualification mentioned here is as of 2022. For any further changes to the prerequisite requirement please refer to the NBE website.
Admission Process / Entrance Process / Entrance Modalities	Entrance Exam (NEET-SS) INI CET for various AIIMS, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bengaluru Counselling by DGHS/MCC/State Authorities
Course Fees	Rs.7 thousand to Rs. 94 lakhs
Average Salary	Rs 26 lakhs to Rs.87 lakhs per annum

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for MCh in Surgical Oncology are defined as the set of rules or minimum prerequisites that aspirants must meet to be eligible for admission, which includes:

Name of Super Specialty course	Course Type	Prior Eligibility Requirement
Surgical Oncology	MCh	MS/DNB (General Surgery)

Note:

· The feeder qualification for MCh Surgical Oncology is defined by the NBE and is subject to changes by the NBE.

· The feeder qualification mentioned here is as of 2022.

· For any changes, please refer to the NBE website.

• The prior entry qualifications shall be strictly by Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, and its amendments notified by the NMC and any clarification issued from NMC in this regard.
• The candidate must have obtained permanent registration with any State Medical Council to be eligible for admission.
• The medical college's recognition cut-off dates for the Postgraduate Degree courses shall be as prescribed by the Medical Council of India (now NMC).

Admission Process

The admission process contains a few steps to be followed in order for the candidates for admission to MCh in Surgical Oncology. Candidates can view the complete admission process for MCh in Surgical Oncology mentioned below:

• The NEET-SS or National Eligibility Entrance Test for Super speciality courses is a national-level master’s level examination conducted by the NBE for admission to DM/MCh/DrNB Courses.
• Qualifying Criteria-Candidates placed at the 50th percentile or above shall be declared as qualified in the NEET-SS in their respective speciality.
• The following Medical institutions are not covered under centralized admissions for DM/MCh courses through NEET-SS:

1. AIIMS, New Delhi and other AIIMS

2. PGIMER, Chandigarh

3. JIPMER, Puducherry

4. NIMHANS, Bengaluru

• Candidates from all eligible feeder speciality subjects shall be required to appear in the question paper of the respective group if they are willing to opt for a super-speciality course in any of the super-speciality courses covered in that group.
• A candidate can opt for appearing in the question papers of as many groups for which his/her Postgraduate speciality qualification is an eligible feeder qualification.
• By appearing in the question paper of a group and on qualifying for the examination, a candidate shall be eligible to exercise his/her choices in the counselling only for those super-speciality subjects covered in the said group for which his/ her broad speciality is an eligible feeder qualification.

Fee Structure

The fee structure for MCh in Surgical Oncology varies from college to college. The fee is generally less for Government Institutes and more for private institutes. The average fee structure for MCh in Surgical Oncology is from Rs.7 thousand to Rs. 94 lakhs per year.

Colleges offering MCh in Surgical Oncology

There are various medical colleges across India that offer courses for pursuing MCh in (Surgical Oncology).

As per National Medical Commission (NMC) website, the following medical colleges are offering MCh in (Surgical Oncology) courses for the academic year 2022-23.

Sl.No.	Course Name	State	Name and Address of Medical College / Medical Institution	Annual Intake (Seats)
1	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Uttar Pradesh	Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow	2
2	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Uttar Pradesh	King George Medical University, Lucknow	6
3	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Uttar Pradesh	Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi	5
4	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Uttarakhand	All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh	26
5	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Telangana	Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad	5
6	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Tamil Nadu	Madras Medical College, Chennai	2
7	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Tamil Nadu	Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai	6
8	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Tamil Nadu	Regional centre for Cancer Research and treatment, Adyar, Chennai	9
9	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Rajasthan	All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur	4
10	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Pondicherry	Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry	3
11	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Orissa	Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, Cuttack	2
12	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Orissa	All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar	4
13	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Maharashtra	Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,Mumbai
14	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Maharashtra	Tata Memorial centre, Mumbai	24
15	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Madhya Pradesh	Sri Aurobindo Medical College and Post Graduate Institute , Indore	4
16	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Kerala	Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvanthapuram	6
17	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Karnataka	Vydehi Institute Of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bangalore	5
18	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Karnataka	Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore	11
19	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Karnataka	St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore	1
20	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Gujarat	B J Medical College, Ahmedabad	10
21	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Delhi	All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi	15
22	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Bihar	All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna	2
23	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Assam	Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute (Regional Cancer Centre), Guwahati	3
24	M.Ch - Surgical Oncology	Andhra Pradesh	Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) , Tirupati	2

Syllabus

An MCh in Surgical Oncology is a three years specialization course that provides training in the stream of Surgical Oncology.

As of 02/03/2023 the competency-based curriculum for MCh in Surgical Oncology course is not available on NMC's official Website. However, the course content of the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum represented here can be used for reference and an idea of what the Syllabus of the MCh in Surgical Oncology course will contain:

PART ONE:

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF CANCER

1. The Cancer Genome

2. Mechanisms of Genomic Instability

3. Epigenetics of Cancer

4. Telomeres, Telomerase, and Cancer

5. Cell Signaling Growth Factors and Their Receptors

6. Cell Cycle

7. Mechanisms of Cell Death

8. Cancer Metabolism

9. Angiogenesis

10. Invasion and Metastasis

11. Cancer Stem Cells

12. Biology of Personalized Cancer Medicine

PART TWO:

ETIOLOGY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CANCER

Section 1: Etiology of Cancer

13. Tobacco

14. Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes

15. DNA Viruses

16. RNA Viruses

17. Inflammation

18. Chemical Factors

19. Physical Factors

20. Dietary Factors

21. Obesity and Physical Activity

Section 2: Epidemiology of Cancer

22. Epidemiologic Methods

23. Global Cancer Incidence and Mortality

24. Trends in cancer Mortality

PART THREE:

PRINCIPLES OF CANCER TREATMENT

25. Surgical Oncology: General Issues

26. Surgical Oncology Laparoscopic

27. Radiation Oncology

28. Medical Oncology

29. Assessment of Clinical Response

30. Cancer Immunotherapy

31. Health Services Research and Economics of Cancer Care

PART FOUR:

PHARMACOLOGY OF CANCER THERAPEUTICS

Section 1: Chemotherapy Agents

32. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

33. Pharmacogenomics

34. Alkylating Agents

35. Platinum Analogs

36. Antimetabolites

37. Topoisomerase Interacting Agents

38. Ant microtubule Agents

39. Targeted Therapy with Small Molecule Kinase Inhibitors

40. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors and Demethylating Agents

41. Proteasome Inhibitors

42. Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors

43. Miscellaneous Chemotherapeutic Agents

Section 2: Bio therapeutics

44. Interferons

45. Interleukin Therapy

46. Antisense Agents

47. Ant angiogenesis Agents

48. Monoclonal Antibodies

49. Endocrine Manipulation

PART FIVE:

CANCER PREVENTION

50. Preventive Cancer Vaccine

51. Tobacco Dependence and its Treatment

52. Role of Surgery in Cancer Prevention

53. Principles of Cancer Risk Reduction Intervention

54. Retinoids, Carotenoids, and Other Micronutrients in Cancer Prevention

55. Drugs and Nutritional Extracts for Cancer Risk Reduction (Chemoprevention)

PART SIX:

CANCER SCREENING

56. Principles of Cancer Screening

57. Early Detection Using Proteomics

58. Screening for Gastrointestinal Cancer

59. Screening for Gynecologic Cancer

60. Screening for Breast Cancer

61. Screening for Prostate Cancer

62. Screening for Lung Cancer

63. Genetic Counseling

PART SEVEN:

SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES IN CANCER MANAGEMENT

64. Vascular Access and Specialized

65. Interventional Radiology

66. Functional Imaging

67. Molecular Imaging

68. Photodynamic Therapy

69. Biomarkers

PART EIGHT:

PRACTICE OF ONCOLOGY

70. Design and Analysis of Clinical Trails

Section 1: Cancer of the Head and Neck

71. Molecular Biology of Head and neck Cancers

72. Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

73. Rehabilitation after Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

Section 2: Cancer of the Thoracic Cancer

74. Molecular Biology of Lungs Cancer

75. Non – Small Cell Lung Cancer

76. Small Cell and Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Lungs

77. Neoplasms of the Mediastinum

Section 3: Cancer of the Gastrointestinal Tract

78. Molecular Biology of the Esophagus and Stomach

79. Cancer of the Esophagus

80. Cancer of the Stomach

81. Molecular Biology of Pancreas Cancer

82. Cancer of the Pancreas

83. Molecular Biology of Liver Cancer

84. Cancer of the Liver

85. Cancer of the Biliary Tree

86. Cancer of the Small Intestine

87.Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

88. Molecular Biology of Colorectal Cancer

89. Cancer of the colon

90. Cancer of the Rectum

91. Cancer of the Anal Region

Section 4: Cancer of the Genitourinary System

92. Molecular Biology of Kidney Cancer

93. Cancer of the Kidney

94. Molecular Biology of Bladder Cancer

95. Cancer of the Bladder, Ureter, and Renal pelvis

96. Molecular Biology of Prostate Cancer

97. Cancer of the Prostate

98. Cancer of the Urethra and Penis

99. Cancer of the Testis

Section 5: Gynecology Cancers

100. Molecular Biology of Gynecologic Cancers

101. Cancer of the Cervix, Vagina, and Vulva

102. Cancer of the Uterine Body

103. Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasms

104. Ovarian Cancer, Fallopian Tube Carcinoma, and peritoneal Carcinoma

Section 6: Cancer of the Breast

105 Molecular Biology of Breast Cancer

106 Malignant Tumors of the Breast

Section 7: Cancer of the Endocrine System

107. Molecular Biology of Endocrine Tumors

108. Thyroid Tumors

109. Parathyroid Tumors

110. Adrenal Tumors

111. Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

112. Neuroendocrine (Carcinoid) Tumors and the Carcinoid Syndrome

113 Multiple Endocrine Neoplasias

Section 8: Sarcomas of Soft Tissue and Bone

114. Molecular Biology of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

115. Soft Tissue Sarcoma

116. Sarcomas of Bone

Section 9: Cancer of the skin

117. Cancer of the skin

118. Molecular Biology of Cutaneous Melanoma

119. Cutaneous Melanoma.

Section10: Neoplasms of the Central Nervous System

120. Molecular Biology of Central Nervous System Tumors

121. Neoplasms of the Central Nervous System.

Section 11: Cancers of Childhood

122. Molecular Biology of Childhood Cancers

123. Solid Tumors of Childhood

124. Leukemia and Lymphomas of Childhood

Section 12: Lymphomas in Adults

125. Molecular Biology of Lymphomas

126. Hodgkin Lymphoma

127. Non –Hodgkin Lymphomas

128. Cutaneous Lymphomas

129. Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Section 13: Leukemias and plasma cell Tumors

130. Molecular Biology of Acute Leukemias

131. Management of Acute Leukemias

132. Molecular Biology of Chronic

133. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

134. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemias

135. Myelodysplastic Syndromes

136. Plasma Cell Neoplasms

137. Cancer of Unknown Primary Site

138. Benign and Malignant Mesothelioma

139. Peritoneal Surface Malignancy

140. Intraocular Melanoma

Section 15: Immunosuppression- Related Malignancies

141. AIDS-Related Malignancies

142. Transplantation –Related Malignancies

Section 16: Oncologic Emergencies

143. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

144. Increased Intracranial Pressure

145. Spinal Cord Compression

146. Metabolic Emergencies

Section 17: Treatment of Metastatic Cancer

147. Metastatic Cancer to the Brain

148. Metastatic Cancer to the Lung

149. Metastatic Cancer to the Liver

150. Metastatic Cancer to the Bone

151. Malignant Effusions of the Pleura and the Pericardium

152. Malignant Ascites

153. Para neoplastic Syndromes

Section 18: Stem Cell Transplantation

154. Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

155. Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Section 19: Management of Adverse Effects of Treatment

156. Infections in the Cancer Patient

157. Leukopenia and Thrombocytopenia

158. Cancer-Associated Thrombosis

159. Diarrhoea and Constipation

160. Diarrhoea and Constipation

161. Oral Complication

162. Pulmonary Toxicity

163. Cardiac Toxicity

164. Hair Loss

165. Gonadal Dysfunction

166. Fatigue

167. Second Primary Cancer

168. Neurocognitive Effects

169. Cancer Survivorship

Section 20: Supportive Care and Quality of Life

170. Management of Cancer Pain

171. Nutritional Support

172. Sexual Problems

173. Psychological Issues in Cancer

174. Communicating News to the Cancer

175. Specialized Care of the Terminally III

176. Community Resources

177. Rehabilitation of the Cancer Patient

Section 21: Societal Issues in Oncology

178. Regulatory Issues

179. Health Disparities Cancer

180. Cancer Information on the Internet

Section 22: Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies

181. Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies in Cancer care

The postgraduates will be sensitized to regulations under different

statutory Councils, such as the Medical Council of the India Act, The Code of

Medical Ethics, Transplantation of Human Organs Act, etc. They will also be

familiarized with other legislation /Acts, that affect the practice of Clinical

Medicine (like the Consumer Protection Act, The Drugs and Cosmetics Act,

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, The Narcotics and Psychotropic

Substances Control Act, etc.)

Career Options

After completing an MCh in Surgical Oncology, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector.

In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.

While in the Private sector, the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant (Surgical Oncology), Visiting Consultant (Surgical Oncology), Junior Consultant (Surgical Oncology), Senior Consultant (Surgical Oncology), Assistant Professor (Surgical Oncology), Associate Professor (Surgical Oncology).

Courses After MCh in Surgical Oncology Course

MCh in Surgical Oncology is a specialization course that can be pursued after finishing a Postgraduate medical course. After pursuing a specialization MCh in Surgical Oncology, a candidate could also pursue certificate courses and Fellowship programs recognized by NMC and NBE, where MCh in Surgical Oncology is a feeder qualification.

These include fellowships in:

· Fellowship in Onco-Surgery

· Fellowship in Surgical Oncology

· Complex General Surgical Oncology (CGSO) Fellowship

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) –MCh in Surgical OncologyCourse

• Question: What is the full form of an MCh?

Answer: The full form of an MCh is Master of Chirurgiae.

• Question: What is an MCh in Surgical Oncology?

Answer: MCh Surgical Oncology or Master of Chirurgiae in Surgical Oncology also known as MCh in Surgical Oncology is a super speciality level course for doctors in India that they do after completion of their postgraduate medical degree course.

• Question: What is the duration of an MCh in Surgical Oncology?

Answer: MCh in Surgical Oncology is a super speciality programme of three years.

• Question: What is the eligibility of an MCh in Surgical Oncology?

Answer: The candidates must have a postgraduate medical Degree in MS/DNB (General Surgery) obtained from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (Now NMC)/NBE, this feeder qualification mentioned here is as of 2022. For any further changes to the prerequisite requirement please refer to the NBE website.

• Question: What is the scope of an MCh in Surgical Oncology?

Answer: MCh in Surgical Oncology offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects.

• Question: What is the average salary for an MCh in Surgical oncology candidate?

Answer: The MCh in Surgical Oncology candidate’s average salary is between Rs. 26 lakhs to Rs. 87 lakhs per annum depending on the experience.

• Question: Can you teach after completing an MCh Course?

Answer: Yes, the candidate can teach in a medical college/hospital after completing an MCh course.