Cancer Related Surgeries

Head and neck cancers generally spread to lymph glands in the neck making it essential to remove this section for managing cancer. Today, selective or modified neck dissection is done so that the appearance and shoulder function is well preserved. It, however, causes some swelling of the face which comes down in two to three months, more so in patients undergoing post-surgery radiation therapy. In some cases, radical neck dissection, extended radical neck dissection, or selective neck dissection may be advised based on the severity of cancer. 

Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland which regulates the body’s energy production. Thyroidectomy in most cases is performed to treat cancerous tumors. Thyroidectomy surgeries are typically performed by creating an incision to gain access to remove all or parts of the gland as required. This surgery requires the patient to be under general anaesthesia. Post treatment patients can go home within a day or two. 

Parathyroid glands regulate the amount of calcium in the blood. When calcium levels are low, they release parathyroid hormone (PTH), which takes calcium from your bones. Parathyroidectomy refers to a type of surgery done to remove these glands to treat the disease affecting these glands. This surgery might be used for patients whose body is producing too much calcium – a condition known as hypercalcemia. Depending on the severity of the disease a traditional or minimally invasive surgery is recommended. 

Parotidectomy is the removal of part or all of the parotid gland – the major and largest of the salivary gland in the body. Parotidectomy may be performed on patients who suffer from inflammatory conditions, certain infectious processes, congenital malformations, benign, or malignant neoplasms. Based on the diagnosis and treatment plan, a superficial parotidectomy, Total parotidectomy, or Radical parotidectomy may be advised. 

Lumpectomy is a surgery conducted to remove the cancerous tumor and other abnormal tissue from the patient’s breast. This procedure is usually performed using general anaesthesia and involves making an incision on the breast to remove the tumor. A lumpectomy is recommended for patients where the tumor is relatively small compared to the breast size or in cases where cancer affects only one area of the breast. Lumpectomy surgeries leave a part of the natural breast intact and is, hence, known as breast-conserving surgery.  

Mastectomy is a surgery to remove all breast tissue from a breast as a way to treat or prevent breast cancer. Usually performed under general anaesthesia, an elliptical incision is made around the patient’s breast to remove the breast tissue. Patients are provided with the option to undergo breast reconstruction surgery in the cases of mastectomy.