Oncological Surgery
According to the World Health Organization, an average of 18 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer every year. Unfortunately, cancer is one of the most risky disease groups in the world and early diagnosis and choosing the right treatment method are of great importance in the fight against this disease.
Developments in cancer treatments have significantly prolonged the life expectancy of patients in the last 5 to 10 years and the success rates of treatment have also started to increase. In addition to treatments, early diagnosis plays a very important role in prolonging the life expectancy of patients. As social awareness has increased, people have started to have cancer screenings more meticulously and early diagnosis has increased the rate of disease elimination.
Oncological surgery, one of the most important treatment options of cancer treatment, is a branch of surgery that focuses on the surgical treatment of tumors, especially cancerous tumors. As Healthis, we see oncological surgery as one of the most important areas of our work and we stand by the patient who will undergo surgical intervention in all steps. We take responsibility for the selection of the right treatment center, the preparation of the patient’s entire story on the basis of medical documents, the most accurate expert opinions on the necessity of surgical intervention, treatment and care processes, and meticulously fulfill our responsibilities to improve the quality of life of our patients.
Wherever you are in the world, we are with you in this challenging period with our experts, consultants, assistant team and facilities. But first, let’s share information about oncologic surgery:
Although the term oncological surgery is often used, surgical oncology is not recognized as a specialty by the GMC (General Medical Council); rather, it is a term that covers a range of disciplines across several specialties. For example, an otolaryngologist with a subspecialty interest in the surgical treatment of head and neck cancer could be said to be a surgical oncologist, similarly a gynaecological oncologist could be considered an oncological surgeon.
Due to the different structures and locations of different cancers, it is almost impossible for a surgeon to specialize in surgery for all types of tumours; however, any surgeon who is fully involved in performing operations to treat cancers and tumours can be considered an oncological surgeon.
Oncologic surgery applications
Surgical oncology essentially involves cutting out the tumor or cancer from a patient in a delicate operation. Once the only option for treating a cancer patient, oncologic surgery has over the last century seen the development of two sister sub-branches in cancer treatment: medical oncology and radiation oncology. For many cancers, drugs and radiation are not enough and are used in combination with surgery. Thanks to modern cancer treatment and advances in cancer research, surgical oncology has also evolved; the oncologic surgeon now often leads multidisciplinary teams and collaborates with radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists and other related specialties to most effectively counter cancer.
How are oncologic surgery procedures performed?
The goals of the surgery may vary and it is important to determine these goals before starting any treatment. In addition, the surgeon’s goals may differ from the patient’s wishes and therefore the patient’s expectations should be determined in advance of the operation. Surgery may be the sole treatment modality in certain cases or may be used as part of a multidisciplinary protocol that includes chemo, immunotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery may be used in combination with another treatment modality to achieve a diagnosis, complete cure of the disease, tumor staging, palliation and mass reduction.
Oncologic surgery application areas
Cells almost everywhere in the body have the potential to mutate and become cancerous or form tumors. Surgical oncology therefore covers a myriad of conditions. It is common for the surgeon to specialize in treating diseases of a specific part of the body with oncological surgery as a subspecialty, rather than specializing in all types of cancer, as this is not very realistic.
Conditions that fall under the category of oncologic surgery are listed below:
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Melanoma
- Pancreatic cancer/tumors
- Sarcoma
- Other types of skin cancer
- Thyroid tumors
Laparoscopic surgery for stomach cancer
For stomach cancer, some factors affect the chances of recovery and treatment options. These are given below:
- The stage of the cancer (whether it is only in the stomach or has spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body).
- The general health of the patient.
Stomach cancer has a better chance of being cured when it is detected early, but stomach cancer can often be diagnosed at an advanced stage. Advanced stomach cancer can also be treated, but cure is less likely.
Depending on the condition being treated, your surgeon will recommend laparoscopic or open surgery to remove part or all of the stomach. Open surgery involves a large single incision. Laparoscopic surgery is much less invasive and is often the preferred method when possible. Laparoscopy involves making many small incisions so that you can use small instruments for surgery. A laparoscope, a specialized instrument containing a very small camera, is used to allow the surgeon to get a detailed view of the treatment area without the need for larger incisions.
Some of the advantages of laparoscopic surgery over traditional methods are listed below:
- Less blood loss
- Less Trauma
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster recovery
- Reduced discomfort
- Reduced risk of infection
- Less scarring
Not all operations can be performed laparoscopically, but our surgeons will recommend it when possible. Laparoscopy has helped many patients achieve a rapid recovery and exceptional long-term benefits using these techniques.
Laparoscopic colon cancer surgery
Colon cancer surgery is an operation that involves removing part (or parts) of the colon. Rarely, a total colectomy, where the entire colon is removed, is needed to treat colon cancer.
There are two ways in which colon surgery can be performed – laparoscopic or open – and the option your surgeon chooses depends on factors such as the size and location of the colon cancer, as well as the surgeon’s experience.
The laparoscopic procedure requires a much smaller incision than an open colectomy, so recovery is usually faster and is often preferred for colon cancer surgery where possible.
Thanks to the laparoscopic surgery method, which is considered less invasive, polyps that cannot be removed during colonoscopy can be removed using laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure, your surgeon inserts camera instruments into your colon to view images on a monitor and performs the surgery through several small incisions in your abdominal wall. During the operation, the surgeon may also take samples from the lymph nodes at the site of the cancer.
Laparoscopic pancreatic cancer surgery
Any surgery on a large organ carries risks. Historical records show a 50% morbidity (serious complications) and 5% mortality. These odds have improved over the last decade, but the pancreas is one of the most difficult organs to operate on. This is because the pancreas nests in a space occupied by other organs and blood vessels, especially the spleen and splenic artery.
Traditionally, pancreatic surgery uses the open method, in which large incisions are used. This approach has the advantage of a relatively clear view and ease of handling the organs. However, large incisions expose the abdominal cavity to air for a long time, increasing the risk of infection. Open surgery can also involve significant tissue trauma, which can result in more pain, longer hospitalization and a longer recovery time.
As an alternative to open surgery, laparoscopic surgery accesses the pancreas through three or four incisions only a few centimeters long. The surgeon has to rely on a camera view of the pancreas, but a skilled surgical team can perform laparoscopic pancreatic surgery in less time than open surgery, with less blood loss, lower morbidity, shorter hospital stay and less risk of death. In short, laparoscopic pancreatic surgery can reduce the risk of some types of pancreatic surgery.
Gallbladder cancer
Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease in which cancer cells are found in the gallbladder tissues. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ located in the upper abdomen just below the liver. The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid produced by the liver to help digest fat. As food is broken down in the stomach and intestines, bile is released from the gallbladder through a tube called the common bile duct, which connects the gallbladder and liver to the first part of the small intestine.
There are 3 main layers of tissue in the gallbladder wall:
- Mucosal (innermost) layer.
- Muscularis (middle or muscular) layer.
- Serosal (outer) layer.
Between these layers is the supporting connective tissue. Primary gallbladder cancer starts in the innermost layer and spreads to the outer layers as it grows.
Gallbladder cancer can be treated with an operation called cholecystectomy, in which part of the gallbladder and surrounding tissues are removed. Nearby lymph nodes may be removed in this operation. A laparoscope is sometimes used to guide the gallbladder surgery. The laparoscope is attached to a video camera and inserted through an incision in the abdomen. The surgical instruments needed to perform the operation are inserted through other incisions.