Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
The people in the operation theatre, and what each one does | CION Cancer Clinics
During cancer surgery the room usually holds a lead surgeon, one or more assistant surgeons, an anaesthetist, a scrub nurse, a circulating nurse and a theatre technician. Other specialists may join for part of the operation. Each person looks after a different part of your safety. This page explains who they are, who leads at each stage, and what to ask about the team before the day. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Who is in the theatre during cancer surgery?
- What does each person around the table do?
- Who leads at each stage of the operation?
- Who else might come into the theatre?
- How is the surgeon's job different from the anaesthetist's?
- What do families wrongly assume about the theatre team?
- What should you ask about the team beforehand?
- Common questions about the theatre team
The short answer
Who is in the theatre during cancer surgery?
A cancer operation usually has a team of several people in the room. At the centre are the lead surgeon, one or more assistant surgeons, the anaesthetist, a scrub nurse, a circulating nurse and a theatre technician. Others come in for particular tasks and then leave.
Everyone has one clear job
Each person is responsible for a different part of your safety. The surgeon looks after the operation. The anaesthetist looks after your breathing, heart, pain and sleep. The nurses look after the instruments, the count and the sterile area. Nobody is there just to watch.
You will meet some of them before you sleep
Most people meet the anaesthetist and a nurse first. The surgeon may come in before or after you are asleep. Everyone wears a cap and mask, so it is fine to ask who someone is. They will tell you their name and role.
The core team
What does each person around the table do?
Titles differ a little between hospitals. The jobs are much the same everywhere.
Lead surgeon
The surgical oncologist responsible for your operation. They make the decisions during it, do the key steps and speak to the family afterwards.
Assistant surgeons
Surgeons who hold tissue back, control bleeding, and help open and close the wound. In a teaching hospital, some are surgeons in training.
Anaesthetist
A doctor who puts you to sleep, keeps you asleep and safe, gives pain relief and blood if needed, and wakes you at the end.
Often helped by
- An anaesthesia technician
- A second anaesthetist on long cases
Scrub nurse
Gowned and gloved at the table. Hands each instrument to the surgeon and keeps count of every swab and needle.
Circulating nurse
Not gowned for the table. Fetches supplies, labels the tissue for the lab, keeps the records and runs the safety checklist.
Theatre technician
Sets up the table, lights and machines, helps position you safely and keeps the equipment running.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistThrough the operation
Who leads at each stage of the operation?
Before you sleep
The circulating nurse and the anaesthetist lead. They confirm your name, operation, side, allergies and consent, and connect the monitors.
Putting you to sleep
The anaesthetist and their technician take charge. The surgeons usually wait until you are fully asleep and positioned before they scrub in.
The operation
The lead surgeon directs the work, with the assistants and scrub nurse at the table. The anaesthetist watches your body the whole time and speaks up about any change.
Closing and waking
The nurses complete the count. The wound is closed, often by an assistant. The anaesthetist then wakes you and hands you over to the recovery nurse.
Other people you may hear about
Who else might come into the theatre?
Some operations need extra specialists for part of the time. They join for their task and leave when it is done. Your surgeon will usually tell you beforehand if another team is planned.
A second surgical team
A plastic surgeon may join to rebuild a breast, cover a wound with a flap of tissue, or repair the face or neck. A urologist, gynaecologist, chest or vascular surgeon may join when the cancer is close to an organ in their area.
People working away from the room
A pathologist may examine tissue in the lab during the operation and phone the result through. A blood bank team prepares blood if it might be needed. A radiographer may bring an X-ray machine in to check a position or look for a marker.
Doctors and nurses in training
In teaching hospitals, trainee surgeons, anaesthetists and nursing students may be present. They work under close supervision. If you have a concern about trainees or students being present, tell your surgeon before the day.
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Two different doctors
How is the surgeon's job different from the anaesthetist's?
Surgeon
Anaesthetist
Plans and carries out the operation on the cancer
Plans how you sleep, breathe and stay safe during it
Explains the operation, its risks and other options
Explains the anaesthetic, its risks and pain relief
Works at the wound
Stays at the head end with the monitors and machine
Updates the family about what was done
Decides when you are safe to leave recovery
Commonly believed
What do families wrongly assume about the theatre team?
"The anaesthetist puts me to sleep and then leaves."
An anaesthetist, or a doctor they supervise, stays with you for the whole operation. On a long case they may hand over for a break, and the person who takes over is fully told what is happening.
"A trainee will do my operation instead of the surgeon."
Trainees learn by doing parts of operations, with the responsible surgeon present and directing. The lead surgeon remains responsible for everything that happens. You can ask who will do which part.
"More people in the room means something is wrong."
Big cancer operations simply need more hands. A second team joining is usually part of the plan made days earlier, such as rebuilding a breast after removing it.
"Theatre staff talk casually, so they are not paying attention."
Calm talk during routine parts is normal. At the checks and at critical steps, the room goes quiet and everyone focuses on the task.
Before the day
What should you ask about the team beforehand?
You have a right to know who is responsible for your care. Asking about the team is a normal part of preparing, and it does not offend a good surgeon.
Useful questions
Ask who the lead surgeon will be, and whether they will be in the room for the whole operation. Ask whether another surgical team is planned, and whether trainees will take part. Ask the anaesthetist how pain will be managed afterwards, and who the family should speak to on the day.
You do not need every name
You do not need to learn every name. What helps is knowing the two doctors who carry most of the responsibility, the surgeon and the anaesthetist, and the ward nurse who will be your link before and after. Write their names down, or ask the family to. On a stressful day, that short list is far easier to hold on to.
What this page cannot tell you
Team size and roles change with the operation and the hospital. This page cannot tell you exactly who will be in your theatre. Your surgical team can, and they will expect the question.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about the theatre team
Will my own surgeon actually be in the room?
The surgeon named on your consent form is responsible for your operation. On a long operation, parts such as opening and closing may be done by an assistant while the lead surgeon is close by. If it matters to you that your surgeon does particular steps, ask them directly before the day.
Can I ask for a female doctor or nurse?
You can ask, and many hospitals will try. It is not always possible for every role in theatre, especially on an emergency or a specialist operation. Raise it with the ward nurse and the surgeon early, so there is time to plan, rather than on the morning itself.
How do I know who is who when everyone wears masks?
Ask. Each person should tell you their name and role. Some hospitals write names on caps or display a board with the day's team. You are awake for only a few minutes in theatre, so most people remember just the anaesthetist and the nurse holding their hand.
Is a family member allowed to watch the operation?
No. Only the theatre team and people with a task are allowed in, to keep the area sterile and the team focused. This applies even if a family member is a doctor. The surgeon will speak to the family afterwards and answer their questions.
Why did a different anaesthetist come to see me?
The anaesthetist at your check before surgery is not always the one on duty for your operation. Your notes are passed on, and the new anaesthetist will go over the key points again with you. Tell them anything important, even if you have said it before.
Who is in charge if something goes wrong?
The lead surgeon is in charge of the operation and the anaesthetist is in charge of keeping you alive and stable. In a sudden problem, they work together and call for extra help at once. Every team practises for emergencies, so each person already knows their part.
Does a bigger team mean a higher bill?
It can. A second surgeon, a longer anaesthetic or extra blood may add to the cost. Ask the billing desk for an estimate that includes the planned team. Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS and cashless insurance often cover these charges when they are part of the approved operation.
Who will talk to the family after the operation?
Usually the lead surgeon, or a senior member of the surgical team. They explain what was done and how it went, and when the family can see the patient. Agree beforehand on one or two people who will receive the update, so the news is not passed around wrongly.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- NHS — General anaesthesia
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
- Cancer.Net — What to know about cancer surgery
- American Cancer Society — Cancer surgery
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
What Happens in the Operating TheatreThe checks and steps the team carries outAnaesthesia for Cancer SurgeryMore on the anaesthetist's side of the operationWhen and How the Surgeon Will Update the FamilyWhat the surgeon tells the family afterwardsChoosing a Surgeon and a CentreQuestions to ask about the team and the hospital
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