Surgery Cancer Treatment

This is one of the oldest methods of cancer treatment. It has been known to effectively remove several forms of cancer. This is more effective during initial stages.
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Surgery can be done keeping several goals in mind-

(i) Preventive: This is done to remove cancer-prone tissues before a cancer is even discovered. Entire organs may b removed depending on family history.

(ii) Diagnostic: A sample of the tissue is taken to ascertain whether it has a cancerous tumor. The tissues are then carefully studied under a microscope.

(iii) Staging: This helps determine the extent of cancer and how the long the patient has.

(iv) Curative: Tumors are removed pertaining to a particular area. These might be used along with other therapies, such as chemical or radiation.

(v) Cytoreductive (debulking) – This is partial curative surgery where doctors remove parts of the tumor they can. Other parts of the tumor are removed by radiation and chemical therapy.

(vi) Palliative: In very terminal cases, this is done to reduce pain.

(vii) Supportive: This is done to assist other therapies being carried out.

(viii) Restorative: This is done after another type of surgery to restore organ function affected by tumor or therapy.

There are several techniques whereby surgery is performed –

(i) Laser Surgery: This aims precisely at the location of the tumor and gives highly concentrated doses.

(ii) Cryosurgery: Cells are frozen to stop their functioning and then killed sue to inactivity.

(iii) Electrosurgery: Electric current is passed through the tumor to kill the tumor. It has proven effective for skin or mouth cancer.

(iv) Moh’s Surgery: Used when stage treatment has not been done and there is no idea as to the spread of the cancer. One type of cancerous layer is removed at a time. If the next layer seems normal, surgery is terminated.