An Oncology Team Dedicated to Surgery for Cancer in the Sacramento Region
Surgery is often a first-line treatment used to cure or treat symptoms of the disease by removing all or part of the cancer. Oftentimes, surgery is the best chance to cure cancer. This is especially the case with early stage cancers that have not spread to other tissues or parts of the body.
If you are searching for personalized cancer treatment, you can trust the expertise of our oncology team at Dignity Health Cancer Institute of Greater Sacramento. We have surgeons, doctors, and the largest team of nurse navigators in the region, and everyone is committed to your care. Find a Doctor or call (844) 600-1824 to learn more about innovate diagnostic and treatments.
Do you need surgery to remove cancer?
The goal of cancer surgery is to remove all cancer cells from your body. Your doctor may also recommend surgery even if only part of the cancer can be removed to improve the success of other treatments, such as radiation therapy, in attacking cancer cells.
Other reasons you might need cancer surgery are:
- Prevention: Some people choose to remove an organ or body tissues without a cancer diagnosis if they are at high risk for developing cancer in the future. This is called prophylactic cancer treatment or surgery. For instance, a woman at high risk for breast cancer may decide to have a prophylactic double mastectomy to significantly lower her risk of breast cancer.
- Diagnosis: In some cases, a doctor confirms a tumor as malignant or benign after surgically removing and testing it.
- Staging: Tests done on the tissue removed during surgery can reveal the size of a tumor or whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
- Palliative care: Surgery may be used to reduce symptoms of advanced cancer, such as pain from a tumor pressing on a nerve.
Advanced Surgical Options at Dignity Health
In addition to performing traditional cancer procedures, Dignity Health surgeons specialize in newer, cutting-edge options that can improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Just some of these specialties include:
- Robotic Surgery: This highly sophisticated technology allows our surgeons to perform a variety of cancer surgeries with better precision and less incision. Common robotic procedures we perform include cystectomy (bladder cancer), prostatectomy (prostate cancer), colectomy (colorectal cancer), lung wedge resection (lung cancer) and partial nephrectomy (kidney cancer). For patients, that often means significantly less pain and scarring, fewer complications and faster recovery.
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS): The most common procedure for lung cancer is called a lobectomy, which removes sections of the lung. Traditional open lobectomy involves large incisions to open the chest wall. Because VATS only uses a few small incisions, patients can often enjoy a smoother and quicker recovery.
What to Expect with Cancer Surgery at Dignity Health
Your cancer surgery will be done in a Dignity Health hospital with general anesthesia. The type and size of the cancer will determine how invasive the procedure will be. Minimally invasive surgery may be an option for a small tumor or growth of cancer cells, but large or several tumors will require a more traditional open procedure with a larger incision. Regardless of the surgical approach, your surgeon, oncologist, and nurse navigators at Dignity Health will help you through the entire process.
Recovery After Your Surgery
Your recovery after cancer surgery will depend on how invasive the surgery is and whether you need other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. You may be able to recover at home immediately, or you may need to spend several days in the hospital to heal.
Your care team will give you specific instructions for follow-up appointments and information about long-term screening to monitor for cancer recurrence.