Normally, cancer surgery is carried out for the following reasons:
- As a way to reduce the risk of cancer. As a result, a surgeon may decide to prepare for the resection of an organ or large tissue portion to reduce the likelihood of developing cancer.
- Diagnosis/cancer staging determines if cancer is present in the body, and if so, the precise stage of the cancer (cancer size) and the severity and location of the cancer.
- Cancer surgery is labelled the primary treatment for the disease, depending on the stage and severity of the cancer.
- The purpose of debulking is to eliminate as much cancerous tissue as possible.
- Cancer surgery is also considered a primary source of treatment to relieve debilitating symptoms as a result of the cancer.
How do you perform surgery for cancer?
Cancer surgery aims to eradicate all sources of cancer from the body. Dr Umar uses a cutting instrument to remove the tumour and a healthy tissue margin for further analysis. Dr Umar may also remove nearby lymph nodes to check whether the cancer has metastasised to other bodily regions.
What surgical techniques are used to remove traces of cancer from the body?
Various surgical procedures exist to remove cancer from specific body sites.
For example, Dr Umar may decide to perform the following surgical procedures to treat and prevent the spread of cancer:
- Laparoscopic surgery is a less invasive surgical procedure to remove traces of cancer from the body through small incisions made over a specific region of the body.
- Open cancer surgery, through larger incisions, is the more traditional method of removing all parts of the cancer and surrounding tissue. It is often required for larger tumours or tumours that have spread to other areas.
- Each of the various surgical procedures is individualized to the patient and type of tumour, and Dr Umar will discuss these options thoroughly before surgery.
FAQ
1Are there any possible risks of cancer surgery?
Potential risks include the following:
- Pain. However, pain can be managed with prescription medications.
- Risk of infection after surgery
- Limited/poor organ function
- Lethargy
- Haemorrhage/excessive postoperative bleeding
- The formation of blood clots
2When is surgery considered unsafe for cancer?
A surgeon will not pursue cancer surgery when the tumour is in close proximity to a vital organ or delicate tissue. Instead, other forms of treatment may be considered.
3Do you always need surgery to treat cancer?
Over fifty per cent of cancer patients undergo surgery. Surgery can sometimes be combined with additional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.