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EN Surgery
Surgery Overview
About 60% of patients will undergo some type of surgery to treat their cancer. In some cases, surgery is the only treatment required. It may also be combined with chemotherapy or radiation as part of an overall treatment plan. Cancer surgery is an operation or procedure to take out a tumor and possibly some nearby tissue. It is the oldest kind of cancer treatment, and it still works well to treat many types of cancer today. You might have surgery to remove a tumor, help your body work the way it used to, or relieve side effects. You might also need surgery to find out If you have cancer or where the cancer is located? and If it has spread or is affecting other organs in the body.Surgery Types
There are several types of cancer surgery:
● Curative surgeryCurative surgery simply involves removal of a cancerous tumor. It works best on localized cancers that haven't yet spread to other parts of the body, and is often followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy to make sure all cancerous cells have been removed.
● Preventive surgery
Preventive surgery is used to keep cancer from occurring. Many colon cancers can be prevented by removing precancerous polyps before they become malignant. Women at high risk for breast cancer due to family history or genetic mutations may decide to have their breasts removed to prevent cancer from occurring. Preventive surgery is also known as prophylactic surgery.
● Reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery returns the body to normal or near-normal appearance or function following cancer treatment. The most common is breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy (breast removal). Facial reconstruction and testicular implants are other examples of reconstructive surgery.
● Curative surgery● Staging surgery
Staging surgery determines the extent of cancer. Staging surgery can sometimes be done without an incision by using an endoscope to view the suspicious area and take a tissue sample. For abdominal tumors, a laparoscope is used to view the area, a procedure that involves a small incision in the abdominal cavity done under general anesthesia.
● Supportive surgery
Supportive surgery is used to help with other cancer treatments. For example, some chemotherapy devices require a port (connecting device) to be inserted under the skin.
● Palliative surgery
Palliative surgery is used to improve a patient’s quality of life by easing pain or other symptoms caused by advanced or untreatable cancer. Palliative surgery is not a cure or anti-cancer treatment.
● Minimally invasive surgery
Minimally invasive surgery employs advanced techniques to remove tumors through tiny incisions. Minimally invasive procedures can also be performed by robotic arms controlled by surgeons.
Surgical techniques
Cancer surgery is often a major surgery. That's why researchers continue to work on ways to reduce surgery's overall effects on the body.● Open surgery techniques
In an "open surgery," 1 large cut (incision) is often needed. Recovery from an open surgery can take a while. Be sure to talk about the expected recovery time period with doctor before having your operation.
● Minimally invasive surgery techniques
Sometimes, the surgeon may have an option to use a less invasive surgical technique for your surgery. "Minimally invasive surgery" uses smaller incisions compared to an open surgery. This approach also uses a camera, small instruments, and other equipment. The benefit of minimally invasive surgery is a faster recovery time with less pain.
● Laparoscopic surgery techniques
During laparoscopic surgery, the doctor makes several small cuts in the skin. They insert a thin, lighted tube with a camera through one of the incisions. They place small instruments through the other cuts to do the operation. There are different types of laparoscopic surgery, depending on the area where it is done. Your doctor may also use a robot to do this type of surgery. They control the instruments that are on robotic arms.● Laser surgery techniques
A narrow beam of high-intensity light is used to destroy tissue.
● Cryosurgery techniques
Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and kill abnormal cells.
● Mohs surgery techniques
This type of surgery is done to treat skin cancer. It is also called microscopically controlled surgery. One thin layer of the cancer is removed at a time. They look at each layer under a microscope, and keep taking layers until every cell in the layer looks normal.● Endoscopy techniques
This type of surgery takes samples of tissues for your doctor or a pathologist to look at. Endoscopies are used to look at tissue within organs, like your colon, bladder, or elsewhere in the body. It uses a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera on the tip. Your doctor puts the tube into your body through your mouth, nose, or other opening. They can also use a tiny instrument to take samples of tissue.
New surgery techniques are being developed on a regular basis. Ask your doctor what all your surgical options are and how they compare to each other in terms of treatment effectiveness, side effects, recovery time, and cost.