What is minimally invasive cancer surgery?
Focused surgery performed through small incisions using a high definition camera. This can either be done with the surgeon at the bedside or a surgeon controlling the instruments sitting at a robotic console.
What does a surgical oncologist do?
A surgical oncologist is a general surgeon who has spent an additional two years in a fellowship training program specializing in cancer surgery. A surgical oncologist is trained in all aspects of cancer care – radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.
Is a biopsy needed to determine the tumor type before surgery?
Most times a biopsy is necessary to determine the type of cancer to guide therapy. There are times that a biopsy is not possible and the surgery has to be performed anyway. This mostly applies to emergency situations such as bowel blockage or blockage of the bile duct.
Is a CT scan, MRI, and/or PET scan necessary?
Not all scans are necessary to help make a cancer diagnosis. A CT scan and an MRI provide a road map and a PET scan measures cancer activity. Sometimes these tests are complementary to each other.
What are the symptoms of liver cancer?
The symptoms may be non-specific such as stomach pain, indigestion and weight loss. More specific symptoms include jaundice or a mass on the right side of the abdomen.
How do you treat liver cancer?
The most effective treatment is removal by surgery (resection). This can be performed using minimally invasive techniques. Other options include liver transplantation and medical therapy. The treatment often depends on whether the tumor originates from the liver or has come from somewhere else. If surgery is not possible there are other ways of destroying the tumor or making it smaller. These include radiofrequency ablation, embolization and radiation therapy.
What is stomach cancer?
The stomach is the organ that connects the swallowing tube (the esophagus) to the small intestine. Cancer can occur at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach or in the lower part of the stomach. In the United States cancer at the junction is increasing because of the high incidence of obesity and reflux disease.
How is stomach cancer developed and diagnosed?
Stomach cancer can be caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori and is more common in smokers or people that are obese. It is usually diagnosed by passing a camera tube into the stomach (endoscopy) and then performing a biopsy.
How is stomach cancer treated?
Surgical resection offers the best chance for cure but survival is further improved if chemotherapy is given either before or after surgery.
What are the symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
Symptoms are usually very non-specific – unexplained weight loss, bloating, stomach pain, back pain and jaundice. Often by the time someone presents with symptoms the cancer has already advanced.
How do I find out if I have pancreatic cancer?
The most common way pancreas cancer is diagnosed is by a CAT scan or a MRI. Blood tests can also be helpful – a tumor marker CA19-9 is usually elevated. Other tests such as placing a camera in the stomach and performing ultrasound of the pancreas can also detect cancer (endoscopic ultrasound).
Is pancreatic cancer genetic?
A very small percentage of people with pancreas cancer are genetic. Although the cause is not known it is more common in patients with diabetes, smokers or obese people.
Can you live a normal life without a pancreas?
The pancreas serves two purposes – 1) to make enzymes to help absorb food and 2) to make hormones (insulin, glucagon) to help regulate glucose. People can live a normal life without the pancreas but will require insulin and pancreas enzyme supplements.
What is colorectal cancer?
The colon and the rectum are the end of the intestinal tract before food is eliminated. Growths or polyps are quite common in the colon which if left alone can grow into a cancer. The cancer be located in the right side or the left side of the colon. The rectum is the very end of the colon and is often more challenging to manage.
What causes colorectal cancer and can it be prevented?
Obesity, smokers, unhealthy diet and lack of physical exercise have all been associated with higher risk. Family history is important as well – 15% of patients carry a colon cancer gene. Screening by colonoscopy at age 45-50 is the most effective way of preventing colon cancer.
