Health Guide

Health Record provides reliable answers to important health questions. Use this site to learn more about detecting, preventing, and treating a variety of medical conditions.

Costs of Cancer Surgery treatment

Written by Mystic on Monday, August 04, 2008

If you have private health cover and opt to be treated privately:

* You will be able to choose your surgeon.
* Waiting times for the first consultation and subsequent appointments may be shorter.
* You will have a say in where and when you want to be treated.
* A private patient is entitled to free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital.

You can claim some rebates for doctors’ services from Medicare and your insurance may cover some or all of the costs of a range of services including:


* hospital accommodation;
* doctors’ services;
* diagnostic tests;
* operating theatre fees;
* medications;
* prostheses;
* dressings;
* fees for allied health services like physiotherapy.

If the health insurance does not fully cover you for any of these services, you may still have to pay for "gaps."

If you do not have private health cover but choose to be treated privately you will be able to claim your Medicare rebate but will have to pay the balance which can amount to a lot of money.


If you are not privately insured or choose to be treated as a public patient in a public hospital:

* The costs of all your tests and treatments will be covered by Medicare.
* You may not be able to see the doctor of your choice at a public hospital and may see different doctors during your treatment. However they are all part of the same treatment team. During team meetings, your case is discussed with all the members and you will benefit from the advice of several specialists.
* You will not be able to choose your surgeon. However most major operations even if performed by registrars, are supervised by consultants.
* Though it may take longer to be admitted for treatment in a public hospital, it is unusual to have to wait long for a bed if you need urgent treatment for cancer.
* Services like physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social work are available at no charge in public hospitals.
* Some public hospitals provide financial assistance towards the purchase of prostheses or wigs.

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Reconstructive Surgery - Cancer

Written by Mystic on Monday, August 04, 2008

Reconstructive surgery is used to rebuild tissues that have been altered or damaged during surgery for cancer.

Specialists in reconstructive surgery are called plastic surgeons, although general surgeons may perform some reconstructive procedures as well.

There are several different types of reconstructive surgery which may either use tissue from your own body or a prosthesis. For example, the surgeon can move muscle and some skin from the abdomen to build a new breast. In another case, implants or internal prostheses of different shapes and sizes may be inserted inside the chest muscle to build a new breast.

If you need reconstructive surgery, your surgeon will discuss the different methods and recommend what is best for you depending on:

* the part of the body that needs to be reconstructed;
* how much tissue has been removed;
* the quality of the remaining tissue;
* your general health;
* your preference.

The timing of the surgery depends on:

* whether you need further treatment such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or more surgery;
* your general health and body build;
* whether reconstruction is a necessity or a matter of choice.

Before you make any decisions, you need to understand clearly why a particular method has been recommended to you. Do not hesitate to ask questions. Some surgeons use diagrams or photographs to better explain what is involved. Sometimes it may be possible for you to speak with others who have been through the same type of operation.

Using a prostheses

A prosthesis is an artificial body part made of non-reactive material like plastic, teflon or silicone, which can be fitted internally or externally on to the body.

An external prosthesis is shaped like the body part and held in place by clothing or a bandage. For example, a breast prosthesis is held in place by a bra, while an artificial limb is bandaged on to the amputated arm or leg.

An internal prosthesis is surgically implanted inside the body, as for example, during limb sparing surgery

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Some common terms for Cancer Surgery treatment

Written by Mystic on Monday, August 04, 2008

As far as possible, the surgeon tries to remove all the cancer whilst sparing the surrounding tissue.

The suffix -ectomy describes any surgery during which tissue is cut away and removed from the body. For example:

* Mastectomy is the surgical term for the complete removal of breast tissue. (The prefix mast is derived from the Greek for breast.)
* Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. (The prefix hyster- comes from the Greek hysteria for uterus.)
* Laryngectomy describes an operation during which the larynx or voice box is removed. (Larynx is the word for voice box.)

The suffix -ostomy describes surgery that creates an artificial opening in the body. For example:

* Colostomy describes an operation during which one end of the large bowel is removed. The other end is connected to an opening that is created on the surface of the abdomen which is called a stoma.
* When the larynx is removed, food and fluid entering the gullet can enter the lungs. To make breathing safe the surgeon moves the windpipe to the front, near the base of the neck, and creates an artificial opening through it called a tracheostomy.

Listed below are some common terms used to describe how much tissue has been removed:

Conservative or partial surgery removes the cancer whilst sparing most of the surrounding tissue. For example, during a partial mastectomy the surgeon aims to remove the entire tumour without altering the breast shape too much.

Total: the removal of the entire organ, or all the tissue in a particular part of the body. A total prostatectomy indicates the removal of the entire prostate gland.

Sub-total indicates part of an organ is spared. During a sub-total hysterectomy the uterus is removed, but the cervix is left in place.

Radical is sometimes used to describe surgery that is more extensive, reaching out widely to surrounding tissues, and in certain cases, surrounding organs as well. For example, during a radical neck dissection following a laryngectomy the surgeon may remove the thyroid gland, the lymph glands in the neck, as well as extra neck tissue.

An amputation indicates the removal of a limb, or part of a limb. Amputations may be performed in extreme cases for bone cancers in the arm or leg, if other standard treatments are not recommended. Limb sparing surgery is most often the preferred surgical option: the affected part of the bone is removed, and replaced with a specially designed piece of metal, or a bone graft from another part of the body.

If your surgeon uses terms that are unfamiliar do not hesitate to ask him to explain their meaning more clearly. Most surgeons are only too willing to answer your questions and to ensure you understand exactly what is involved in a particular procedure.

Surgery for rehabilitation

The word rehabilitation in relation to cancer surgery means restoring or replacing tissues that are removed, altered or damaged during surgery. Lost tissue can often be rebuilt, through reconstructive surgery, or replaced with a prosthesis.

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How is surgey used to treat cancer?

Written by Mystic on Monday, August 04, 2008

Surgery may be able…

* To cure a cancer by completely removing the cancer cells from the body. Cure is often possible if the cancer is confined to the organ in which it had first arisen and there is no evidence of spread to other tissues and organs.
* To control a cancer by removing part of the tumour. Sometimes the entire tumour cannot be completely removed because it is situated too near delicate structures of the body or because it is too widely spread. The remaining cells could be treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
* To control troublesome symptoms (palliation). Surgery may be able to remove a tumour or part of it which is painful or obstructing a vital organ like the bowel or lung. In this way normal function and comfort can be maintained for an extended period of time, even if the cancer itself is not curable.
* To rebuild tissues that have been altered or damaged due to the effects of cancer or cancer treatments. This is the purpose of reconstructive surgery.

Laser surgery

Sometimes laser surgery may be used to treat superficial cancers. It can also be used to relieve symptoms such as bleeding or an obstruction when the tumour cannot be removed. Laser surgery uses energy from light beams which, on contact with tissue, produce intense heat. The heat breaks up tissue which is then removed from the body.

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How does surgery help to diagnose cancer?

Written by Mystic on Monday, August 04, 2008

A tissue biopsy is a sample of cells, tissue or tumour that is surgically removed from a particular part of the body for examination under a microscope by a histopathologist.

If cancer cells are present the histopathologist will usually be able to diagnose the type of cancer based on the appearance of the cells under the microscope. This provides information on how the cells will behave in the future, where they may spread and their sensitivity to different treatments. Preparation and examination of the specimens can take up to several days, which explains why you may need to wait before you get your results.

Common examples of surgery for taking tissue biopsies include:

Needle biopsies: This technique is used for tumours that are close to the surface of the body, for example breast lumps, as well as tumours deep within the body, as in the pancreas, liver or kidney. A local anaesthetic (see pg 10) is placed on the skin and in the soft tissues under the skin. The tumour is pierced by a very thin needle, through which a small amount of tissue is withdrawn. During needle biopsies of internal organs, X-rays or scans guide the needle and help to ensure it is accurately positioned.

Shave biopsy: a cut is made parallel to the surface of the skin to take off a small sample of tissue under a local anaesthetic. Small skin cancers can be detected and often completely removed in this way.

Incisional biopsy: involves removing part of the tumour for diagnosis, then stitching the area up again.

Excisional biopsy: is used for tumours that are easily reached, as in the skin or lymph nodes. The entire tumour is removed.

Endoscopic biopsy: specially designed long tubes or endoscopes are passed through body passages (like the bowel or gullet). A light source at the end of the tube allows for detailed examination of the tissues inside these organs. Biopsies are taken with instruments which are either attached to the endoscopes or can be introduced through them.

During exploratory surgery, the surgeon checks the location of the disease and takes tissue samples. For example during a laparoscopy which is a surgical examination of the abdominal and pelvic organs performed under general anaesthetic. An instrument called a laparoscope is inserted through a small cut just below the navel, and samples of tissue may be taken for analysis.

A diagnostic laparotomy is a procedure used for the examination of abdominal organs under anaesthetic. The surgeon makes a cut through a part of the abdominal wall. Samples of tissue from the spleen, liver and some lymph nodes may be taken. If necessary all the visible tumour may also be removed at the same time.

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Cancer Surgery

Written by Mystic on Monday, August 04, 2008

What is surgery?

Surgery is a method of treatment that physically removes tissue from specific sites in the body. Cancer cells, tumours and surrounding tissue are cut away using instruments like scalpels or lasers.

Many cancers, especially if detected early, can be successfully treated in this way. The other two main methods of treating cancer are:

* Radiotherapy - High energy radiation is used to destroy cancer cells in a particular part of the body.
* Chemotherapy - Anti-cancer drugs are given as tablets or injections so they can circulate throughout the body. These drugs are capable of killing or damaging cancer cells wherever they may be found.

Surgery is often the treatment of choice for many solid tumours such as cancers of the bowel, breast, head and neck as well as many other solid tumours.

The surgeon uses a small sharp knife called a scalpel to cut away cancer cells or tumours from the body while the patient is under local or general anaesthetic. (See Pg 9). A margin of normal tissue surrounding the cancer is also included and frequently, a sample from the adjoining lymph glands (also called lymph nodes). For example, some lymph glands under the arm are often removed during surgery for breast cancer. Lymph glands are filters for the removal of harmful agents like bacteria and toxins as well as cancer cells.

All the tissue removed is sent to the laboratory to be analysed for the presence of cancer cells. The doctor can determine from the results what further treatments, if any, need to be planned. If the lymph glands are found to be positive (contain cancer cells), the cancer has spread beyond the organ in which it originated.

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