Surgery

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Surgery - Peter Mac Cancer Centre

Cancer surgery is a treatment for many cancers. Peter Mac has a surgical program designed to help most cancer patients, including those with more common cancers such as bowel cancer and those with the rarer cancers such as sarcoma and oesophageal cancer.

Peter Mac's 21st Century laproscopic theatre sheds a green light throughout.

What is surgery?

Cancer surgery can be done for different reasons. Surgery can be done to remove all of the cancer, some of the cancer,or to remove other tissues that may be affected by cancer. Reasons for cancer surgery can include:

Diagnosing cancer: a small amount of tissue may be removed so it can be looked at under the microscope. Staging of cancer: to discover the extent of cancer in the body. Treatment of cancer: for some cancers ‘curative’ surgery can be the main treatment, especially if the cancer has not spread. This type of surgery can also be done after other treatments such as chemotherapy. Debulking of cancer: this type of surgery removes as much of the tumour as possible. This can help to make other treatments more effective, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy To improve quality of life: This type of surgery is used when cancer has advanced. It is not to cure the cancer, For example, surgery can be used if there is bowel blockage or it can be used to reduce symptoms such as pain. Cancer prevention: This type of surgery removes tissues that do not have cancer and is called ‘prophylactic’. It can be used when people have a genetic condition that leads to ‘pre-cancerous’ cells such as bowel polyps or when there is a strong family history of cancer and the person carries a gene that makes their risk to develop cancer higher such as some breast cancers. Reconstructive surgery: This type of surgery is done to rebuild or restore the body shape, for example breast reconstruction after cancer treatment. Restorative surgery: This type of surgery can be used to restore the function of a body part after cancer treatment.

What types of surgery are at Peter Mac?

At Peter Mac, we operate on all cancers, except brain tumours and bone tumours.

What is multi-disciplinary care?

During your cancer treatment you will be cared for by a multi-disciplinary team, which is a team of experts who plan the best treatment for you. They will work closely together to ensure you receive the best available treatment. Your team may consist of:

surgical oncologists specialist nurse coordinators or practitioners other doctors who are undertaking specialist training and research in medical oncology and haematology pharmacists allied health professionals such as dietician, physiotherapist, social worker, clinical psychologist pastoral carer.

Your case will be discussed with the team before your operation. Feel free to ask your team any questions. Let them know if you have any concerns about your treatment and how you are feeling.

What is multi-modality treatment?

Multi-modality treatment refers to when patients undergo more than one form of treatment for their cancer. Some cancer patients can undergo another form of treatment, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy either before or after surgery.

Planning your surgery

All patients who are going to have surgery are asked to complete a ‘Health Assessment Questionnaire’ to assess you general health before your operation.

What happens next?

All people having major surgery are required to go to a pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic before their operation. Some people having minor surgery may need to go to the pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic before their operation if they have other health issues that the nurse and doctor need to speak to them about.

Does everyone go to a pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic?

Not everyone needs to go to a pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic. If you are having minor surgery and your answers to the questions on the health assessment questionnaire indicate your general health is good; or if you have had the minor procedure before, you may not need to attend a pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic (PAC) appointment before your operation.

If you do not need to go to a pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic:

At the time of your usual appointment you will have a discussion with your treatment team about the what is going to happen to you. Any questions you have will be answered by the team and you will be given information and instructions about your surgery and what to do on the day of your surgery.

What is a pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic(PAC)?

This appointment is to provide you with vital information about your surgery and to help prevent delays or postponements of your surgery. You may see up to 3 health professionals at this appointment so allow up to 3 hours for this.

What happens at a pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic (PAC)?

You will be asked to fill out a health assessment questionnaire if you have not already done so A nurse and doctor and / or anaesthetist will speak with you about the information you have provided on your health questionnaire If you require blood tests, X-rays or other tests, these can be arranged at this appointment You will have an opportunity to ask any questions about your care Referrals can be made to other Peter Mac support services and health professionals such as Social Work You will receive information about your surgery and anaesthetic You will be given written instructions about:

1. fasting (how long to go without food and drink, smoking or chewing gum) 2. which medications you should take prior to surgery.

What should I bring to the pre-admission clinic or pre-anaesthetic clinic?

your current medications or lists of these any recent X-Rays, tests or scans all relevant health cards.

Planning to go home

You may need to make plans for after you surgery, for example how are you going to get home from hospital? If you have sedation or a general anaesthetic, you will need a responsible adult to accompany you home and stay with you overnight We recommend that you let your GP or local doctor know the date of your surgery Your GP or local doctor will be informed of the results of your surgery.

If you have any questions about your surgery please speak with your treatment team. For more information about what to bring with you when you come to Peter Mac for surgery, please see the Peter Mac patient guide.

Contact us:

The Surgical Oncology Department provides services at East Melbourne.

Surgical Oncology

Level 2, West Wing St Andrew’s Place, East Melbourne 3002 Telephone: (03) 9656 1110 Fax: (03) 9654 8457