Hope for a better outcome in cancer treatment was recently rekindled as Apollo hospitals made advances in surgical oncology. Over the years, surgical oncology commonly known as cancer surgery, a branch of cancer medicine that deals with the removal of cancerous growths in an organ has remained a challenge in most countries including Nigeria.
According to experts, cancers amenable to surgical treatment are called solid organ cancers and distinct from those involving the blood or bone marrow elements, leukemias or blood cancer, or lymphatic glands, lymphomas.
Solid organ cancers include cancer of the the mouth, throat, voice box, intestinal system, liver and pancreas, genitourinary organs, breast, brain and bones.
Commenting on the recent advances made by Apollo Hospitals, India, a Surgical Oncologist, Dr. Ajit Pai who noted the importance of surgery in cancer treatment said in almost all the cancers, surgical intervention is necessary to obtain a diagnosis as well as cure the patient.
Pai who listed some of the advances to include, organ preservation surgery, minimally invasive surgery and robotic cancer surgery explained that the field is continuously evolving and some of the latest advances have been incorporated into practice and services at Apollo hospitals.
Pai who spoke extensively on each of the surgeries said previously, cancer surgery was mutilating and associated with functional and cosmetic defects. Modern cancer treatment uses radiation and chemotherapy to shrink tumours, so that a less mutilating but equally effective operation can be performed.”
He said with organ preservation surgery in rectal cancers, almost half the patients would normally require complete removal with a permanent bag to drain intestinal contents, colostomy, “now we are able to shrink tumours with radiation, such that the majority of patients are able to have a normal intestinal passage without need for a bag.”
“Breast cancer is another tumour wherein the majority of women do not need complete removal of the breast. Chemotherapy can be used to shrink the tumour followed by removal of the lump and the nodes in the armpit, preserving the form and function of the breast. This is especially important as we see more women with cancers at a young age.”
On minimally invasive surgery, he explained that until recently, cancer surgery was always open using large incisions adding that numerous studies have shown that ‘keyhole’ surgery using laparoscopic techniques is equally effective, has similar cure rates, less painful and has a quicker return to normal activities than open surgery.
“We offer minimally invasive surgery for cancers of the foodpipe, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, large intestine, colon, and rectum and for gynaecologic cancers involving the uterus and cervix. On robotic surgery, Pai said: “The surgeon performs ‘key hole’ surgery sitting at a console, which has controls to manipulate the robotic instruments inside the patient. The Robot is completely under the surgeons’ control at all times.”
Continuing he further explained that the advantages of robotic technology include highly magnified 3D vision and instruments, which are able to reach the narrowest of spaces to clear the cancer. “This results in a more radical cancer operation with better preservation of nerves and other critical structures. The benefits to the patient include less blood loss, shorter length of stay, quicker return of normal function and less pain as compared to laparoscopy and open surgery. Agency report
