NH ENG _Mac2022

SPECIAL FEATURE
DR TAN CHIH KIANG
Consultant Clinical Oncologist, MBBS (IMU), MCO (UM)
Tung Shin Hospital
Other
Specialised
Cancer
Surgeries
• Cryosurgery: uses extremely
cold temperatures to kill
cancer cells; often used for
skin cancer and cervical
cancer
• Laser surgery: uses beams
of light energy instead of
instruments to remove
very small cancers (without
damaging surrounding
tissue), shrink or destroy
tumours, or activate drugs
to kill cancer cells; ideal for
areas that are difficult to
reach (skin, cervix, rectum,
and larynx)
7. Reconstructive Surgery
Another type of surgery in cancer care
is reconstructive surgery, which is used
to improve the way a person looks
after a major cancer surgery. It also
helps restore the function of an organ
or body part after surgery. Examples
include breast reconstruction after
mastectomy (surgical removal of the
whole breast) or the use of tissue flaps
from other parts of the body, bone
grafts, or prosthetic (metal or plastic)
materials after surgery for head and
neck cancers.
8. Preventive Surgery
Another form of surgery in cancer
management is preventive surgery. The
surgery removes body tissues or parts
that are likely to become cancer, even
though there are no signs of cancer
at the time of surgery. Sometimes the
whole organ is removed when a person
has a medical condition that puts them
at very high risk of having cancer. For
instance, a woman with a strong family
history of breast cancer may have
inherited a breast cancer gene (e.g.
BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene). Due to the
high risk of developing breast cancer,
doctors may recommend removing
the breasts before the cancer has
developed.
• Electrosurgery: uses electrical
current to kill cancer cells;
used for skin cancer and oral
cancer
• Microscopically controlled
surgery: layers of skin are
removed and examined
microscopically until
cancerous cells cannot be
detected; useful when cancer
affects delicate parts of the
body, such as the eye
Source: stanfordhealthcare.org
34 Natural Health * March 2022 VOL 126