This is not usually an overwhelming problem. In most cases, your oncologist or the general physician who diagnosed your cancer will recommend someone whom he or she knows and has worked with before. In other cases, you may know of a surgeon personally or by reputation and can either use him or her directly as the surgeon or as a source of information.
If you want to make the choice yourself, it is a good idea to get information from the local medical society about doctors who are Board-certified in surgery. While certification by the American Board of Surgery does not necessarily mean outstanding performance, it does have implications about a surgeon's level of knowledge and adherence to certain standards.
Most reputable surgeons are also Fellows of the American College of Surgeons, which can also help you with names of surgeons practicing in your community. Write to American College of Surgeons, 55 E. Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611 or telephone (312) 644-4050.
When the procedure you are facing is minor or has to do with one of the more common forms of cancer, chances are that the operation can be performed successfully by most surgeons. But if your oncologist says your disease is out of the ordinary or if the operation you need is a major or complex one, it is usually best to seek out the services of an experienced surgeon working in a sizable hospital or other medical institution. His or her experience is an important asset, but more important is that the specialists, sophisticated equipment and advanced techniques that may be needed to react to problems during and after an operation are available only at large medical centers.
