The number of patients diagnosed with cancer increases each year in Europe and the role of surgeons to diagnose and treat these patients is pivotal. The European Society of Surgical Oncology, ESSO, was founded in 1981 to advance the art, science and practice of surgery for the treatment of cancer. ESSO believes that this should be done by  multidisciplinary collaboration between many specialities where thorough knowledge about cancer, and surgical expertise is necessary.
 
Surgical oncology covers the treatment of solid tumours of the oro-eosophago-gastrointestinal tract, of parenchymal and endocrine organs and of skin, mesenchymal, neurogenic, bone and soft tissues. Surgical oncology also includes prevention, genetic counselling, specific diagnostic and staging procedures, rehabilitation and follow-up care. Surgical oncology is focused on multimodality therapy.
 
Surgical oncology is a recognized surgical subspeciality within the surgical section of UEMS. Examination and assessment for qualification have been developed  by a European Board of Surgery Qualification (EBSQ). The examination in surgical oncology takes place at the annual ESSO or ECCO conference.
 
For appropriate education in surgical oncology, a surgeon must work in a multidisciplinary environment with interaction between surgeons, medical oncologists, radiotherapists, radiologists, pathologists and basic scientists are present. Good cancer care also includes the use of modern, advanced and expensive equipment. Taken together there may be difficulties for surgeons to get an appropriate education in surgical oncology without attending other hospitals.
Many cancer centers and surgical departments within Europe provide good cancer care. However no common criteria to become a teaching unit in surgical oncology have been defined. Furthermore, we do not have a system for validation and accreditation of their teaching capability.
 
Therefore, there is a need for a core curriculum for the specialist training in surgical oncology in Europe. Cancer centers and surgical departments will get a clearer picture of the educational requirements needed to become a recognized center for cancer care.