Surgery plays a significant role in stopping the advancement of various types of cancer. It also helps in cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment. Learn more about the common surgical oncology treatments for cancer patients below.
Types of Surgical Oncology Treatments
Cancer treatment involves various types of surgeries to address different aspects of the disease. Some of these surgical cancer treatments can be combined with other medical oncology treatments to address the disease effectively. Read on to learn more about them.
Curative surgery
It is one of the most common and important forms of surgical intervention. It aims to completely remove a cancerous tumour or growth from the body, generally when the cancer is localized to a specific area. This surgery is often the primary treatment for cancers that have not spread beyond the tumour. In some cases, additional treatments like radiation may be used before or after curative surgery to ensure that all cancer cells are eradicated.
Preventive surgery
It is performed when tissue may develop into cancer but does not yet contain cancerous cells. For example, precancerous polyps in the colon might be removed to prevent them from transforming into colorectal cancer. This type of surgery reduces the risk of cancer developing in the future. To learn more about this procedure, consult our doctors for the best surgical oncology treatment in Dumdum.
Diagnostic surgery
It helps determine whether cells are cancerous. By removing a tissue sample, usually through a biopsy, surgeons can send it to a laboratory for analysis. The results confirm a cancer diagnosis, identify the cancer type, and help establish the stage or extent of the disease.
Staging surgery
It is used to understand the spread of cancer. It helps doctors assess how far cancer has progressed in the body. A common staging procedure is laparoscopy, where a small incision is made to insert a camera to view the inside of the body and possibly take tissue samples.
Debulking surgery
It involves removing part of a tumor but not all of it. This is done when the tumour is too large or located in a sensitive area, and removing it entirely might cause harm to nearby organs. After the surgery, other treatments like chemotherapy or radiation are often used to address the remaining cancer.
- Palliative surgery: It is used for patients with advanced cancer. This surgery doesn’t aim to cure cancer but to address symptoms, reduce discomfort, or minimize complications caused by the disease or its treatments.
- Supportive surgery: It helps improve the effectiveness of other cancer treatments. For example, a catheter might be inserted to facilitate chemotherapy administration.
- Restorative surgery: It is performed after other surgeries, particularly curative surgery, to restore the function or appearance of a body part. For instance, breast reconstruction after mastectomy or surgery for oral cancer may help improve physical appearance and self-esteem.
Conclusion Surgical oncology plays a pivotal role in the treatment of cancer, offering various techniques aimed at removing tumors and improving patient outcomes. Hence, if you or your loved one is suffering from cancer, reach out to our surgical oncologists for the best cancer treatment in Dumdum.