Types of surgery
There are several different types of surgical procedures that may be done to treat cancer. The kind of procedure done varies with the:
- type and location of cancer
- size of the tumour
- stage of cancer
- goals of treatment
- person's general health and preferences
Surgery usually involves cutting into the skin (incision) to gain access to tissue or organs. The table below describes some surgical techniques.
Surgical procedures
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biopsy | removes a sample of tissue |
cryosurgery | uses extremely cold temperatures to freeze and destroy tumour cells |
electrosurgery | high-frequency electrical current is used to destroy cancer cells - radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
- a new procedure in which a special needle-thin probe heats and destroys abnormal tissues
- the probe is inserted into a tumour
- very thin prongs are extended into the tumour
- the prongs deliver a high-frequency electrical current and heat to the tumour tissue
- the position of the probe and the treatment is monitored with an ultrasound or CT scan
|
endoscopic | hollow, tube-like instrument with a lighted (fiberoptic) end allows the doctor to look inside organs and take tissue samples |
laparoscopic surgery | a long, flexible tube is placed through small incisions into the body used to view structures or organs inside the body or remove tissue |
laser surgery | a laser beam destroys tumour cells |
microscopically controlled surgery or Mohs surgery | used to remove cancerous tissue in layers which are examined under a microscope |
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