Surgical Therapies

21.03.2024

SURGERY IN CANCER TREATMENT

Surgical treatments play a critical role in cancer treatment, depending on the stage and type of disease. By physically removing cancerous tissue, surgery can prevent the spread of the disease and sometimes eliminate the disease completely. Surgery is often the most effective treatment, especially for early-stage cancers. Surgery may also be combined with other treatment methods (such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy) to reduce the size of the cancer, thereby increasing the effectiveness of these treatments. Surgery is also used for diagnostic purposes; For example, sampling cancerous tissue through biopsy allows for an accurate diagnosis of the disease. However, the success of surgery depends on the type of cancer, its location, and the patient's general health condition. Thanks to modern surgical techniques, minimally invasive methods and advanced medical equipment, surgical procedures have become safer and have less risk of complications. Therefore, surgery in cancer treatment has an important place in both the treatment and diagnosis processes.

There are various surgical methods used in cancer treatment, and these vary depending on the type, location and stage of the cancer.

Some surgical methods and their features commonly used in cancer treatment:

Curative Surgery: It is used to remove a cancerous tumor or growth from the body. This type of treatment is performed when the cancerous tumor is localized to a specific body area and is often considered primary treatment. Other cancer treatments, such as radiation, may also be used before or after surgery.

Preventive Surgery: It is used to remove tissue that does not contain cancerous cells but may develop into a malignant tumor. For example, colon polyps may be considered precancerous tissue and preventative surgery may be performed to remove them.

Diagnostic Surgery: Helps determine whether cells are cancerous. Diagnostic surgery is used to remove a tissue sample for testing and evaluation. Tissue samples help confirm a diagnosis, determine the type of cancer, or detect the stage of cancer.

Staging Surgery: It is used to reveal the extent of cancer spread in the body. Laparoscopy is an example of surgical staging.

Debulking Surgery: It is used to remove part of the cancerous tumor. It is used when removing the entire tumor could cause damage to an organ or body. Other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation may be used after debulking surgery.

Palliative Surgery: It is used in the treatment of advanced stage cancers. Rather than treating cancer, it works to relieve discomfort or correct other problems caused by cancer treatments.

Supportive Surgery: Similar to palliative surgery, it helps other cancer treatments work effectively rather than curing the cancer. For example, inserting a catheter to assist with chemotherapy is an example of supportive surgery.

Restorative Surgery: It is sometimes used to change or restore a person's appearance or the function of a body part following curative or other surgery. For example, women who have had breast cancer sometimes need breast reconstruction surgery to restore the physical shape of the affected breast(s).

Each of these surgical methods is specifically evaluated and planned depending on the patient's condition and the characteristics of the cancer. Surgical treatment is an important part of cancer treatment and is often used in combination with other treatment methods.

Image 1: In recent years, the place of robotic surgery in cancer surgery has been increasing.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SURGERY?

Surgery used in cancer treatment has various risks. These risks may vary depending on the type of surgery performed, the location and size of the cancer, the patient's general health, and many other factors.

General risks of cancer surgery:

Pain: Post-surgical pain is a common side effect of operations. The severity of pain depends on the extent of the surgery, the area performed, and the person's tolerance for pain.

Infection: There is a risk of infection in the surgical area. It is important for patients to carefully follow post-surgical wound care instructions.

Loss of Organ Function:In some cases, an entire organ may need to be removed to remove the cancer. For example, in case of kidney cancer, a kidney may need to be removed. This can lead to loss of organ function.

Tiredness: Fatigue and difficulty concentrating may be experienced after surgery. This is usually temporary and gets better over time.

Bleeding: There is a risk of bleeding in every surgical procedure. It is important for patients to inform their surgeons about medications that may increase the risk of bleeding.

Blood Clots: The risk of blood clot formation increases in the post-surgical period. This can be a rare but serious condition. To reduce this risk, healthcare teams recommend getting patients out of bed as quickly as possible and using blood-thinning medications.

Image 2: Cancer surgery should be performed by surgical oncologists with sufficient experience, in accordance with certain scientific rules.

Change in Bowel and Bladder Functions: Immediately after surgery, you may experience temporary difficulties with bowel movements or urination. This condition usually improves within a few days, depending on the type of surgery.

Before surgical treatment, it is important for patients to discuss these risks and possible complications with their surgeon in detail. Since each patient's situation is different, risks and surgical decisions should be evaluated on an individual basis.

Surgery in cancer treatment is generally performed in certain situations, depending on the type and stage of the disease and the general health condition of the patient. Surgery is an effective treatment method, especially when the cancer is localized and has not spread to surrounding tissues or distant organs. In this case, surgery is often used to completely remove the cancer and prevent disease progression. Additionally, surgery may sometimes be performed to determine the stage of the cancer, to biopsy cancerous tissue, or to reduce the potential for cancer to spread. In advanced cancers, surgery is often used for palliative purposes along with other treatments. The patient's response to treatment and health status are important factors in determining the suitability of the surgical option. In each case, the decision to undergo surgery is evaluated individually based on the patient's needs and the characteristics of the cancer, and is usually made jointly by an oncologist and surgeon.

Resources:

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/c/cancer-surgery/types.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-surgery/art-20044171

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/surgery