Understanding outcomes in cancer surgery through time structured patient records.

To discuss the importance of time and to introduce the concept of the time structured electronic patient record (EPR) in surgical oncology. An essay based upon the NC Misra Oration given to the Indian Association for Surgical Oncology National Conference in Lucknow, September 2011. The time structured EPR offers new insights into the contributions of multidisciplinary cancer therapeutic inputs to clinical outcomes. Indian surgical oncologists are well placed to lead in the application of modern information technology concepts to improve our understanding of cancer.