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Cancer Treatments

This is an overview of some of the more common cancer treatments available to patients. Please consult with your doctor regarding the best cancer treatment for your special needs.

Cancer Surgery
Surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment. Advances is surgical procedures allow doctors to operate on a larger number of individual situations. Some surgery is done to diagnose the type of cancer and help determine the extent of the cancer. For many types of cancer, especially when the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body, surgery offers the best chance for a cure. Today, less invasive surgery allows doctors to remove tumors while saving as much normal function as possible. There are several surgical goals and options available.

* Preventive cancer surgery removes body tissue that in not cancerous but if left alone could turn into cancer.
* Diagnostic surgery helps the doctor know the extent of cancer surgery treatment that will be needed.
* Staging surgery is a cancer treatment used to determine a more accurate assessment of how far the cancer has spread.
* Curative surgery is the removal of a tumor when it looks to be restricted to one area.
* Supportive surgery is used with advanced cases to treat complications with the disease.
* Debulking surgery involves the removal of a portion of a tumor near an organ. Then the rest of the tumor is treated with radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
* Restorative surgery is used to restore the function of an organ or improve the appearance of the patient. Breast reconstruction would be a good example of this type of cancer treatment.
* Laser surgery is a special technique using laser technology as a tool to replace the traditional scalpel and other surgical instruments.

Be sure your doctor is certified by the American Board of Surgery. Next, here are some of the questions to ask your doctor about your specific cancer treatment if he or she is recommending using surgical techniques:

1. Why are you recommending this surgery?

2. What are my chances for success?

3. Am I healthy enough to handle the stress of the surgery?

4. How many operations like this have you performed?

5. Ask the doctor to explain the procedure in detail.

6. Ask about any risks or potential side effects.

7. How long will take to recover from the operation?

8. How will I be affected by the surgery?

9. Will I need blood transfusions?

10. How long does the surgical operation take?

11. Do I have a choice not to have the surgery?

12. If I decide not to have surgery what is going to happen to me?

13. Are there other options?

14. Should I get a second opinion?

15. How much time do I have to think about it before giving you a firm answer?

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