Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTumor SizeTumor LocationTumor SpreadTreatmentsCan Tumors Become Resectable?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Tumor Size
Tumor Location
Tumor Spread
Treatments
Can Tumors Become Resectable?
Unresectable (sometimes referred to as inoperable) cancer cannot be completely removed with surgery. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including tumor size, stage, and location. Although an unresectable cancer can technically be any stage, it is usually stage III or IV.
Surgery often offers the best chance of a cure, so it can be discouraging to find out it isn’t an option. However, some unresectable cancers become resectable after treatment.
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Why a Cancer May Be Unresectable
Several factors influence whether a tumor is unresectable, including the size, location, and spread of the cancer. Underlying health conditions that increase a person’s risk ofsurgical complicationsmay also be considered.
In some cases, a tumor may be too large to safely remove through surgery. In others, surgery cannot be done because removing the tumor would take too much of the organ it has invaded along with it.
For example, a wedge resection is a surgical procedure often used to treat people withearly-stage lung cancer. However, if a tumor is 2 centimeters (cm) or larger, this procedure is no longer a viable option because it would require removing too much of the lung.
A tumor may be intertwined with blood vessels and other vital structures in the body that would make it dangerous to remove. For example, the brainstem helps control breathing, heart function, and other essential operations.A brain tumor in this region, such as aglioma, often can’t be removed because it would interfere with these critical functions.
Whether atumor hasmetastasized(spread) is a key factor in whether a cancer is unresectable. For example, surgery to remove aprimary tumorfound in the lung will not eliminate cancer that has spread from that area to other parts of the body.
In some cancers, resection is no longer a possibility when cancer has reached specificlymph nodes. These small structures are part of a network that cycles fluid throughout the body, and once cancer has invaded them it can travel and spread more easily.
Should You Get a Second Opinion?If you’ve been told a tumor is unresectable, you should feel confident in your diagnosis. If you have any doubts, talk to another healthcare provider. Some cancer specialists even encourage this and will refer you to someone else. A second opinion can confirm your healthcare provider’s opinion or provide a new perspective on different treatment plans.
Should You Get a Second Opinion?
If you’ve been told a tumor is unresectable, you should feel confident in your diagnosis. If you have any doubts, talk to another healthcare provider. Some cancer specialists even encourage this and will refer you to someone else. A second opinion can confirm your healthcare provider’s opinion or provide a new perspective on different treatment plans.
An unresectable tumor is still treatable, and may sometimes become operable after treatment.
Treatment may includeradiation therapy, which uses high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Systemic therapies—i.e., those that target the entire body—are another unresectable cancer treatment. They can help prolong a person’s life and improve their symptoms, and may also be used in hopes of making surgery possible in the future.
Systemic treatments include:
Can Unresectable Cancer Become Resectable?
Summary
Unresectable cancer means that surgery is not a viable treatment option. This may be due to the size or location of a tumor, but it also occurs when a cancer has spread from its original site.
In some cases, radiation, chemotherapy and other treatments may change tumors and make surgery possible later on. If you’ve been diagnosed with unresectable cancer, speak with your healthcare provider about your treatment options.
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