Going through a cancer scare is one of the most traumatic experiences most of us will meet within life; and this is the case whatever the results may be. When your doctor suspects cancer you are sure to meet with a flurry of strange medical terms and potential procedures which can be highly unsettling to your sense of mental wellbeing. All kinds of issues will arise that seem to threaten your control, and in order to face these issues from a condition of peace and wellness, it is important to understand exactly what procedures are likely.
Cancer surgery is the oldest type of treatment for cancer and remains an effective procedure for multiple types of cancer. The goals of surgery can vary; from minor surgery, often employed to make the diagnosis to more major surgery, used to remove cancerous tissue. Conventional surgical procedures include the following:
Diagnostic – the most common early detection procedure; a biopsy involves only a small incision in the skin. The surgeon will take a sample of the tissue and send it to the lab for testing.
Staging – an investigative form of surgery used to determine the size of the tumour and the extent of its reach to other organs and lymph nodes.
Curative – also known as primary surgery, the aim is to remove the tumour and surrounding tissue margin. This technique may be combined with chemo- or radio- therapy, or may provide a final solution, as the name suggests.
Debulking – another tumour removal technique, debulking is used when the complete removal of a tumour isn’t possible. The surgery takes out as much of the cancerous tissue as possible and then resorts to chemo- or radio- therapy to treat the remaining problem.
Palliation – palliative surgery aims to relieve the painful effects caused by a tumour. It might relieve pressure that the tumour is causing elsewhere on the body, or help to prevent bleeding, for example.
Reconstruction – after the curative, or tumour removal stage, the body may have cosmetic damage. Reconstructive or cosmetic surgery aims to restore the normal appearance of the patient and boost their sense of wellbeing after going through such physical trauma.
Prevention – in some cases, pre-cancerous conditions are addressed before they have a chance to develop further. Examples may include ovarian or colonic polyps, or a pre-emptive mastectomy.
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