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The specialized discipline of surgical oncology involves treating
cancer through the removal of tumors and tissues. The oldest and
most common form of cancer treatment, surgery can involve the simple
removal of a small tumor, which offers the greatest chance for
a cure especially if the cancer has not yet spread to other parts
of the body.
When the cancer has grown into nearby organs, tissues and glands,
surgery can become more complex and require other types of supportive
treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation
therapy.
At the Leon Hess Cancer Center, cancer surgery also can take any
of these other forms:
- Preventive surgery to remove nonmalignant body tissue before
it is likely to become malignant.
- Diagnostic surgery, usually performed through a biopsy, to
obtain a tissue sample to determine whether it is cancerous.
- Staging surgery to evaluate the extent, size and type of cancer.
- Palliative surgery to relieve pain and other complications
caused by advanced cancer.
Additional information on the different types of cancer surgery is
available from the National
Cancer Institute, National
Comprehensive Cancer Network and American
Cancer Society.
In recent years, groundbreaking advances in laparoscopic surgery
are revolutionizing the arena of cancer surgery, where small-incision
techniques are proving effective in elevating survival rates and
improving the quality of life for cancer patients
The
Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center has
been on the leading edge of this emerging field. Compared to
conventional open surgery, the minimally invasive approach preserves
much more surrounding normal tissue, and results in smaller incisions,
a reduction in pain and complications, a shorter hospital stay
and recovery time, and a quicker start to any subsequent forms
of treatment.
Monmouth Medical Center’s operating rooms are equipped with
a unique “telemedicine” system that allows timely collaboration
among specialists — before, during and after surgery.
Four new operating rooms dedicated to minimally invasive surgery
serve as the hub of the system, which connects these ORs via audio
and video to the departments of Pathology, Radiology and Emergency,
as well as the Intensive Care Unit, the hospital auditorium, Department
of Surgery and the Internet.
This new “360-degree concept” of operating room connectivity
is believed to be the most comprehensive of its kind — involving
the most number of departments and areas crucial to surgical collaboration — found
in any hospital in the United States.
Unlike traditional operating rooms cluttered with bulky mobile
carts and a tangle of monitor cables, these state-of-the-art ORs
are equipped with built-in flat screen monitors and pull-down laparoscopic
accessory modules to accommodate any type of surgery that uses
a television screen.
The surgical treatment of cancer requires highly skilled surgeons
whose expertise spans the spectrum of specialized care. They include
general surgeons, thoracic surgeons, otolaryngologists (ears, nose
and throat specialists), breast surgeons, colorectal surgeons,
gynecologists, neurosurgeons and urologists.
In taking the Leon Hess Cancer Center’s team approach to
care, they work closely with medical oncologists and radiation
oncologists to ensure patients receive the most effective treatment — whether
it involves one or more cancer therapies, given simultaneously
or concurrently.
In addition, our surgeons are supported by highly skilled nurses
and other allied health professionals in both outpatient and inpatient
settings to provide individualized care that meets the medical,
physical and psychological needs of patients before, during and
after treatment.
Our surgeons remain at the forefront of cancer
research by participating in numerous national clinical trials
of promising new and experimental cancer treatments that involve
surgery.
Treating cancer through surgery is best explored by taking an
in-depth look at the surgical specialties offered through the Leon
Hess Cancer Center.
It is important to remember that determining a treatment plan
is based upon various factors, including the stage, location and
extent of the cancer. Patients are strongly encouraged to explore
all their treatment options and discuss them with their physicians
before making this decision.
Additional information on surgical oncology and the different
forms of cancer surgery is available from the National
Cancer Institute, National
Comprehensive Cancer Network and American
Cancer Society.
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