Beyond Removal: The Role of Surgical Oncology in a Complete Cancer Treatment Plan

When a patient hears the words ‘you have cancer,’ often both the patient and the family member/friend focus on the surgery involved with that cancer diagnosis. While surgical oncology does include the surgical removal of a tumor, it is often a part of a more comprehensive treatment plan, which commonly involves the use of surgical oncology alongside various other types of therapies to improve outcomes for patients. This article will examine the many facets of the surgical oncology’s role, including the types of surgical procedures in cancer surgery, as well as the role of adjuvant therapy and neoadjuvant therapy, and specifically, the importance of a multidisciplinary cancer team.

Why Is A Cancer Treatment Plan Important?

A comprehensive cancer treatment plan is critical for improving outcomes for patients. A treatment plan for cancer includes multiple interventions for the unique challenges presented through cancer, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies, etc.

The Role of Surgical Oncology in Treatment Plans

Surgical oncology has different roles in the continuum of cancer therapy. It can be the primary modality of treatment or can be used in conjunction with other modalities.

Types of Cancer Surgery

The types of cancer surgery include:

Curative Surgery: This type of surgery is aimed at removing all the cancerous tissue in the hopes of curing the patient. Curative surgery will usually be performed on a localized cancer that has not yet metastasized.

Debulking Surgery: Where the cancer has spread and the surgery cannot totally remove all the cancer but a portion of the tumor may still be resected, the surgery is debulking surgery. This might relieve some of the patient’s symptoms and allow for increased efficacy for any subsequent therapies.

Palliative Surgery: Palliative surgery for cancers that have advanced are directed at alleviating symptoms and improving a patient’s quality of life as opposed to curing the disease, such as removing an obstruction or alleviating pain.

Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapies

Surgical oncology does not operate in a vacuum; rather it generally works in collaboration with other treatment modalities to enhance patient results. Two essential elements of this collaborative effort are neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies.

Neoadjuvant Therapy

Neoadjuvant therapy describes treatment provided before surgery. The primary goal of neoadjuvant therapy is to shrink tumors prior to surgery. This approach can be especially helpful for tumors that are large or tumors that invade surrounding tissues. The tumor itself will be smaller at the time of the surgery, and they will generally be able to provide a more limited surgery, and conserve more healthy tissue.

Neoadjuvant therapy can include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapies. The treatment can depend on what type of cancer it is, and other characteristics of the cancer.

Adjuvant Therapy

Adjuvant therapy is given after surgery to destroy the remaining cancer cells and lower the chance of the cancer returning. This procedure is very necessary especially for aggressive cancer or cancer types with a higher chance of metastasizing. Adjuvant treatments can be chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or immunotherapy, some combination of treatments, depending on types and stage of the cancer.

Adding adjuvant therapy into a cancer treatment plan can increase survival rates, and this supports the value of a holistic approach.

The Role of a Multidisciplinary Cancer Team

Cancer is complicated and therefore requires many specialists working together to treat cancer. An example of a multidisciplinary cancer team is surgical oncologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, pathologist, and supportive care experts. Each contributes to a cancer treatment plan to create an individualized plan of care.

The importance of communication between each member of the team is paramount to ensuring every element of the patient’s care is taken into consideration. Communication means cooperation and collaboration in addressing patient care holistically with respect to the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of the patient.

Conclusion

Surgical oncology is just one part of a total cancer treatment plan that includes more than just removing a tumour. Understanding the different types of cancer surgery; the importance of neoadjuvant and adjuvant types of therapies; and the meaning of a multidisciplinary cancer team can help the patient to weigh treatment options upon diagnosis.

Whether you or someone you love is faced with a finding of cancer it may be time to obtain a comprehensive treatment plan that meets your needs. Contact Amrutha Hospital for treatment and care.