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Season’s greetings and Happy New Year 2019.

As I write this editorial, the year 2018 is coming to an end and it is the dawn of another exciting year. There is a big challenge in 2019 for IJSO and IASO. IASO being the host of the mega scientific event—The 3rd Indian Cancer Congress 2020–2021 to be held in Mumbai.

The year 2018 was a fruitful year for both the journal and the association of Surgical Oncology. The joint meeting was well attended by the editorial board members and executive council members of both organizations. Major decisions were taken in restructuring and improving the working pattern and networking of IJSO journal and IASO website. The Springer representative presented few changes to be incorporated for the progress of the journal which was discussed and will be implemented soon.

Now, we are completing the ninth full year of publication of IJSO which progressed slowly steadily and ethically. The editorial board has put all efforts to take it forward and make it a journal with a difference.

This issue, Vol. 9 issue 4, has a guest editorial on colorectal cancers and many articles on colorectal cancers, the work done in the Indian subcontinent. You are all aware there is a changing trend of increasing incidence of rectal and colon cancers in the Indian subcontinent as per NCRP data and 10 years younger in incidence when compared to the Western population.

Finally, I thank the editorial board, executive committee members of IASO, and Dr. K. Harish, Dr. Arvind S Kapali, Dr. Chintamani, Dr. Sanjeev Misra, and Mr. Suresha J, for their continuous support for bringing out the journal in time. Special thanks to our publishers, team Springer.