Oncosurgery & Chemotherapy
Oncosurgery, also known as oncological surgery, is a specialized field within surgery focused on the removal of cancerous tumors and tissues while preserving surrounding healthy tissue to the greatest extent possible. This type of surgery is performed by surgical oncologists, who have specialized training and expertise in the treatment of cancer through surgical interventions.
Key Aspects of Oncosurgery:
- Tumor Removal: The primary goal of Oncosurgery is to remove cancerous tumors from the body. Surgical oncologists employ various techniques to excise tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues and organs.
- Precision Surgery: Advances in imaging technology and surgical techniques have allowed for more precise and targeted surgical procedures. This includes techniques such as minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, and image-guided surgery, which enable surgeons to visualize the tumor and surrounding structures with greater clarity and accuracy.
- Lymph Node Dissection: In many cases, cancer can spread to nearby lymph nodes, so surgical oncologists may also perform lymph node dissection to remove affected lymph nodes and assess the extent of cancer spread.
- Margin Assessment: Surgical oncologists carefully assess the margins of the removed tissue to ensure that all cancerous cells have been excised. Negative margins indicate that no cancer cells are present at the edges of the surgical specimen, reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.
- Reconstructive Surgery: In cases where extensive tissue removal is necessary, such as mastectomy for breast cancer or limb-sparing surgery for sarcoma, surgical oncologists may perform reconstructive surgery to restore function and appearance to the affected area.
Chemotherapy, on the other hand, is a systemic treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing and dividing. Unlike surgery, which targets a specific area of the body, chemotherapy circulates throughout the body, reaching cancer cells wherever they may be located. Chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with surgery, radiation therapy, or other treatments as part of a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care.
Key Aspects of Chemotherapy:
- Types of Chemotherapy: There are many different types of chemotherapy drugs, each with its own mechanisms of action and side effects. Chemotherapy drugs may be administered orally, intravenously, or through other routes, depending on the specific treatment regimen and the type of cancer being treated.
- Combination Therapy: Chemotherapy is often given in combination with other cancer treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy, to maximize effectiveness and improve outcomes. Combination chemotherapy regimens may involve two or more drugs with different modes of action.
- Neoadjuvant vs. Adjuvant Therapy: Chemotherapy may be given before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) to shrink tumors and make them easier to remove, or after surgery (adjuvant therapy) to kill any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.
- Side Effects: Chemotherapy can cause a range of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, and increased susceptibility to infections. However, advances in supportive care and the development of targeted therapies have helped to mitigate many of these side effects and improve patients' quality of life during treatment.
- Monitoring and Management: Patients undergoing chemotherapy require close monitoring by healthcare providers to assess treatment response, manage side effects, and adjust treatment as needed. Supportive care measures, such as anti-nausea medications, growth factors, and nutritional support, may also be provided to help patients cope with treatment-related side effects.
In summary, Oncosurgery and chemotherapy are integral components of cancer treatment that work together to remove tumors, kill cancer cells, and improve patient outcomes. These treatments are often used in combination with other therapies as part of a comprehensive approach to cancer care.