A surgical oncologist performs surgery on patients who have cancer. As a surgical oncologist, your job duties are to diagnose cancer with biopsy tests, provide cancer treatment, and work with your patients through their rehabilitation. Tissue removal and tumor removal during surgery are also your responsibilities, ensuring that you remove as much cancerous tissue as possible. You need strong communication and interpersonal skills, as you work with patients from diagnosis through treatment and remission. You must answer patient questions and counsel your patients about treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.