Cancer Surgery
If you’re like most people, you have a lot of questions about cancer surgery, from “Why do chemo before surgery?” to “Why does cancer sometimes spread after surgery?” The goals, benefits and risks of cancer surgery vary widely. But it’s common for our doctors to recommend it to help prevent, diagnose or treat your cancer. Rest assured, we’ll be there to guide the way, supporting you with all the details you need to feel confident about your treatment decisions. We’ll make sure you’re fully informed, so you’ll feel less anxious if cancer surgery is part of your care plan.
Cancer Surgery
Surgery is often a highly effective treatment option, especially if your cancer hasn’t spread. Your care team will talk with you about what to expect before, during and after surgery. You’ll learn about benefits and risks, recovery times, healing processes and home care, and more.
The type of cancer surgery you have depends on your condition and treatment goals, which your care team will discuss with you. Common types of cancer surgery include:
If your cancer hasn’t spread and your surgeon can remove a tumor without damaging surrounding tissues, then curative surgery is an option. Your doctor might also recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy before or after the procedure to shrink tumors so they’re easier to remove.
Debulking surgery is an option if your cancer has spread or if operating on tumors is likely to damage critical organs and tissues. During debulking surgery, your surgeon will remove as much of the tumor as possible without harming other tissues. We often combine debulking surgery with radiation or chemotherapy to treat remaining cancer cells.
We typically recommend a biopsy if you have symptoms of cancer. To biopsy or test cancer, surgeons remove a small tissue sample that specialists can examine under a microscope to look for cancer cells.
Palliative surgery focuses on relieving your pain and easing the side effects that can affect your ability to function and your quality of life. For example, your surgeon may remove a tumor pressing against other organs since it causes pain or affects your ability to swallow.
Preventive surgery removes tissues that are likely to become cancerous in the future. For example, surgeons may remove pre-cancerous polyps (growths) on your colon to prevent colon cancer from developing.
Some people choose prophylactic surgery if they have inherited genes that increase their cancer risk. For example, women with a strong breast cancer family history who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation may opt to have their breasts removed (double mastectomy) to prevent breast cancer.
Restorative surgery can help restore appearances and function after major or disfiguring cancer surgery. Surgeons may recommend breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy or plastic and reconstructive surgery after tumor removal in areas such as your mouth, chin and jaw.
When diagnosing cancer, doctors review imaging tests, lab results and other information to determine your cancer stage. Staging surgery also gives your doctor a closer look at your cancer and can guide treatment decisions.
Your doctors may recommend surgery to support other treatments, such as breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery or easing the effects of frequent IV chemotherapy sessions. For example, your doctor may recommend a surgically implanted medicine-delivery device so you won’t require frequent needle sticks and providers can easily deliver medicine or draw blood.
Other examples include:
- Surgery to drain fluids: After any surgery, blood and fluids can accumulate causing infection risks and other complications. If you have post-operative fluid buildup, your doctor may recommend surgically implanting a fluid-draining device under your skin to promote healing and lower your risk for infection.
- Surgery to assist with waste removal: Certain types of surgery affect how your body removes waste from the bladder or bowel. An ostomy surgery creates an opening from an area inside the body to the outside to support waste removal.
Depending on your treatment goals, your surgeon may recommend robotic-assisted surgery or other minimally invasive procedures. These approaches involve smaller cuts, less discomfort and faster post-operative recovery.
Financing Cancer Surgery
Many people who have cancer worry about managing the costs of cancer care. That’s why our support teams, social workers and financial counselors are ready to help you navigate the process and find the financial resources you need.
Does Medicaid Cover Cancer Surgery?
Many types of cancer surgery are covered by Medicaid, a joint state and federally funded program for qualifying people with limited income. Current laws and guidelines can change, and each state has different eligibility rules. Consult your Medicaid coordinators or ask your care team about referrals to financial assistance before treatment.