Oncological surgery refers to surgical interventions to treat cancer.
Tumor surgery is often used in visceral surgery. However, it is frequently used for prostate cancer, hysterectomy (gynecological oncology) or tumors in the head and neck area (oral and maxillofacial surgery).
Demographic changes in society and increasingly unhealthy lifestyles are responsible for the increase in cancer cases and operations.
A tumor can develop in any organ or part of the body. Cancers can spread from the originally affected organ to other tissues. For this reason, different medical specialties are often involved in the diagnosis and treatment.
Experts from different clinics often work together to discuss a patient's cancer in tumor conferences or tumor boards. Together they determine the best possible therapy for the respective patient.
These specialists who carry out cancer therapies include
In most cases, the family doctor or general practitioner suspects cancer and refers the patient to a radiologist. The radiologist can make an exact diagnosis using an imaging procedure.
Based on the diagnosis, further examinations follow, such as taking a tissue sample. Only once the exact type of tumor has been determined can the oncology specialists decide on the form of treatment.
Oncological surgery describes complex procedures and cannot be performed for every cancer. Even if the surgical removal of a tumor is usually the most promising therapy, this is not always possible. The decision for a surgical procedure depends on the type of cancer and the individual tumor
Oncological surgery only makes sense if the tumor is limited and doctors can remove it completely. This is followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy to treat the diseased tissue.
Many tumors overgrow surrounding tissue and important structures such as lymph channels or blood vessels. They are therefore no longer localized, but diffuse. In this situation, surgery to remove the tumor is not possible.
In such cases, therapies are often used to shrink the tumor (chemotherapy, radiotherapy). Oncological surgery may follow.
In some cases, doctors can neither remove a tumor nor treat it successfully. A cure is then not possible.
Palliative therapy can significantly prolong the patient's life. Palliative medicine specializes in alleviating the symptoms of cancer and maintaining the patient's quality of life .
Ultimately, the focus is on the patient and their wishes are given high priority. A stressful operation or conservative therapy is not always desirable, especially at an advanced age.
The type of tumor determines not only whether oncological surgery is possible, but also which technique is used.
In oncological surgery, conventional, minimally invasive and laparoscopic operations are possible.
In 75 percent of cases of stomach cancer, a complete removal of the stomach is necessary. To do this, doctors have to open up the abdominal cavity.
Malignant tumors of the esophagus also require removal of the esophagus and opening of the chest and abdomen. Oncological surgery often requires the removal of the adjacent lymph nodes.
A minimally invasive procedure in oncological surgery is, for example, partial pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer. In this case, doctors can remove the affected part of the pancreas as part of a laparoscopic procedure.
Da Vinci prostatectomy for prostate cancer is also a minimally invasive procedure. Robotic arms controlled by a surgeon make precise, tremor-free incisions.
Modern procedures in cancer treatment include
So that the doctor can see the area to be operated on better, the patient concerned is given a preparation in tablet form in advance. This must be taken and marks the tissue with fluorescence.
After doctors have surgically removed a tumor, further cancer therapy measures take effect.
These include chemotherapy or radiotherapy to eliminate the disease or prevent a recurrence of the tumor.
Some oncological surgery procedures are radical and leave visible changes to the body. This is the case, for example, after a mastectomy, the removal of the breast .
Reconstructive surgery can be used after such an operation. Doctors use autologous fat tissue to remodel the breast so that the patient can cope better with the removal.
Aftercare includes regular monitoring by means of blood tests and radiological examinations of the affected part of the body. This allows doctors to notice even the smallest changes and take action.
Further therapies, such as rehabilitation treatment or support from a psycho-oncologist, depend on the individual case.
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