Main Menu
Treatment
Using Surgery as a Cancer Treatment
Using Surgery as a Cancer TreatmentWatching Byron Darden glide across the rink, you can tell: he owns the ice. As a former professional figure skaterand coach to Olympic-level skaters, Byron is a master figure skater.“It's a great mind training sport, it's a great mental and emotional training ground. We all have something in ourlives that we've had to be disciplined about, and if we can draw on that discipline, it will help us get throughthings such as this.”-Byron, PatientFor Byron, “this,” was prostate cancer. When he was diagnosed eight months ago, he was given various treatmentoptions, and chose to have surgery.“I felt really prepared going into the surgery; I felt grounded in knowing this was what I had chosen – this waswhat I needed to do; and I’m going to make it work the best way that I can.”-Byron, PatientOf all treatments for cancer, surgery is the oldest. But today’s procedures have improved over those just a fewdecades ago. Advances such as so-called minimally invasive surgery, which is used to treat certain cancers, can beeasier on patients.“The recovery with minimally invasive surgery is usually quicker than with, with big cuts. You’ll have small, littlepuncture incisions with a little bit of numbness there. And usually, people tolerate their scars well, they heal-upnicely.”-Dr. Deborah Axelrod, MD, Surgical OncologistRegardless of the type of surgery, here are some questions to ask your healthcare team beforehand: Will I need tostay in the hospital – or will I be going home the same day? How long will my recovery be? What type of scar will Ihave – and how many? And will I have numbness where the cut was made? – and how long will it last?After surgery, your care team will prescribe medication to control pain. Though you shouldn’t use it any longer thannecessary, don’t be afraid to take it as directed.“I always tell my patients – there are no prizes for suffering. I don’t want a person to suffer, because it actuallyends up being detrimental to their care.”-Dr. Marleen Meyers, MD, OncologistYou will have bandages over the sites where the surgery was done. Find out when it’s okay to remove them – andhow to care for the wounds.Alert your care team if you have: excessive bleeding or bruising; swelling; fever or chills, which can be signs ofinfection; shortness of breath; traces of blood in your urine; or pain that’s not decreasing over time. You may feeltired for a few days or weeks after surgery. If so, that’s normal.“Everybody heals differently. You know, some people get up and go; and some people take a longer time toPage 1 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCON1002498 EN UsingSurgeryAsACancerTreatment.pdf© The Wellness NetworkUsing Surgery as a Cancer Treatmentheal.”- Dr. Deborah Axelrod, MD, Surgical OncologistFor some cancers, your best chance at a good outcome is having surgery done as soon as possible afterdiagnosis. In other cases, it may be okay to wait – and have your healthcare provider keep an eye on the cancer.Still other cancers are treated by shrinking the tumor before doing surgery to remove it.“We call that ‘Neo-Adjuvant Therapy,’ or Chemotherapy or Radiation therapy up-front.”- Dr. DeborahAxelrod, MD, Surgical OncologistAnd sometimes additional treatment is given after surgery. Known as Adjuvant Therapy, it aims to kill cancercells that surgery didn’t remove to keep the cancer from coming back.While adjuvant therapy can be an effective part of treatment, it’s not guaranteed to work and may have sideeffects. Whether it’s right for you depends on the type and stage of your cancer, the odds of the therapy helping,and your wishes about how aggressively to treat the cancer. Discuss the pros and cons with your provider.Byron and his health care team decided he didn’t need any other treatment after his surgery.“I’ve been very fortunate. There is no sign of cancer in my body, as a result.”-Byron, PatientByron says the drive and determination it took to become a professional skater taught him a lot aboutovercoming life’s challenges – but this experience has also taught him about facing fear.“And that’s the one thing I would say to just about anybody: Yeah, you’re going to be fearful, you’re goingto be – scared, to make that choice. And, yet, you’ve been given a choice, and it’s a choice to live, and to behealthy. And I would deal with the fear, just to have – that.”-Byron, PatientPage 2 of 2This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCON1002498 EN UsingSurgeryAsACancerTreatment.pdf© The Wellness Network
Featured in
This video will inform a patient what radiation therapy is and how it is generally used to kill cancer cells.
Watch this video to learn how the cancer treatment Immunotherapy uses your body's own immune system to fight the disease.
This video will give the patient an idea of what Neutropenia is, and learn some ways to protect him/herself from infection.
Watch this to learn answers to common concerns about skin cancer surgery.
