Lake Charles Surgical Oncology
Tumor & Mass Removal Procedures for Cancer Surgery
Surgical oncology at Lake Charles Memorial involves the surgical removal of tumors and masses in the breast, lung, prostate and colon. Surgery is used to diagnose, stage and treat cancer, and certain cancer-related symptoms. At Lake Charles Memorial, our experienced surgeons have performed many procedures and will discuss the surgical options that are best suited to your individual needs.
With cancer, whether a patient is a candidate for surgery depends on factors such as the type, size, location, grade and stage of the tumor, as well as general health factors such as age, physical fitness, and other medical co-morbidities. For many patients, surgery will be combined with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or hormone therapy. Early in the treatment planning process, we plan for and proactively manage any side effects from surgery. Our cancer navigator, nutritionists, rehabilitation therapists and clinicians work together with your surgical oncologist to support your healing and quality of life.
Image-Guided Stereotactic Breast Cancer Biopsy
During this procedure, a needle is guided to the best location with the help of 3D stereotactic imaging technology. A small metal clip may be put into the breast to mark where the biopsy sample was taken in case the tissue is cancerous and more surgery is needed. An image-guided biopsy can be done using a fine needle, core needle, or vacuum-assisted biopsy, depending on the amount of tissue that needs to be removed.
Sentinel Node Breast Cancer Biopsy
This surgery evaluates nearby lymph nodes for cancer cells by injecting a dye and/or a radioactive tracer into the area of the cancer which travels to the lymph nodes, arriving at the sentinel nodes first. The surgeon removes the sentinel lymph nodes. The pathologist examines them for cancer cells. If the sentinel lymph nodes are cancer-free, there is a good possibility that the remaining lymph nodes will also be free of cancer and no further surgery will be needed. If the sentinel lymph nodes show evidence of cancer, then the surgeon may perform an axillary lymph node dissection.
Breast-conserving Lumpectomy
This breast conservation surgery removes the tumor as well as a small, clear (cancer-free) margin of healthy tissue around it. Most of the breast remains. For invasive cancer, follow-up radiation therapy to the remaining breast tissue is generally recommended. A lumpectomy may also be called a partial mastectomy.
Minimally Invasive Lung Cancer Surgery
Today, with better technology, thoracic surgeons often can use minimally invasive techniques. During minimally invasive thoracic surgery, a thin tube with a camera gives the surgeon a view into the chest without having to make a large incision or spread the ribs. He or she inserts specialized tools through other small incisions to perform the operation.
Early in the treatment planning process, we plan for and proactively manage any side effects from surgery. Our cancer navigator, nutritionists, rehabilitation therapists, and clinicians work together with your surgical oncologist to support your healing and quality of life.
Minimally Invasive Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Lake Charles Memorial offers transanal minimally invasive techniques (TAMIS) for the excision of rectal tumors that avoids conventional pelvic resectional surgery along with its risks and side effects. This surgery uses ordinary laparoscopic instruments to achieve high-quality local excision.
Robotic-Assisted Prostate Cancer Surgery
Miniaturized robotic instruments are passed through several small keyhole incisions in the patient’s abdomen to allow the surgeon to remove the prostate and nearby tissues with great precision. This is much less invasive than a conventional radical retropubic prostatectomy, which involves an abdominal incision that extends from the belly button to the pubic bone. A three-dimensional endoscope and imaging equipment magnify delicate structures surrounding the prostate gland (e.g., nerves, blood vessels and muscles), allowing optimal preservation of these vital structures. The prostate is eventually removed through one of the keyhole incisions.
