Will there be any special care needed after the surgery?
Who will provide instructions for the special care, if needed?
Are there procedures or testing needed prior to the surgery?
Who will notify me of the surgery schedule?
When will I find out the results of the surgery?
Whom do I call if I have further questions about my surgery?
Do you have any written information about the surgery and/or recommendations of where I can find more information about this surgery?
Visit www.sprypub.com/CancerOrganizer to download.
Practical Considerations Related to Surgery
Depending on the type of surgery or procedure that you are having, there are several things to consider.
Preparing for Surgery
• In the days or weeks before the surgery, you may be scheduled for pre-operative testing and to meet with the anesthesiologist.
• The day before surgery, there may be special diet instructions or bowel preparation (particularly for abdominal surgeries or bowel surgery).
• Usually after midnight the night before surgery, you will be instructed not to have anything to eat or drink. Be sure to ask whether you should take medications or not.
• Who is going to take you and bring you home after surgery or hospital stay?
• Have you taken care of work issues?
Preparing for Post-Surgery/Recovery
Before leaving the facility where you had your operation (whether it is the outpatient surgery center, the doctor’s office, or the hospital), be sure you are clear about instructions, such as:
• How do you care for your wound or drains at home?
• What you should expect the wound to look like and what concerns should prompt you to call in. Whom should you call if you have a question or problem?
• Are there any activity restrictions (driving, working, lifting, etc.)?
• Any dietary restrictions?
• What medications should you take, including pain medications?
• When will you have a follow-up appointment?
• Will you need assistance at home after surgery? Is there a family member or friend to assist you, or will you need a nurse or nurse’s aide visit for a short while?
Does Surgery Cause Cancer to Spread?
A common myth is that cancer will spread if it is exposed to air during surgery. This is not true. Some people may believe this fable because they feel worse after surgery than they did before the surgery, but it is normal to feel worse immediately following surgery. It doesn’t indicate that your cancer is spreading.
Another reason to consider spread is that more cancer may be found during surgery than was originally expected from the pre-op scans and X-rays. This can happen and it’s not related to the surgery. The cancer was already there, but just did not show up on the tests.
In most cases, surgery does not cause cancer to spread, although there are some situations when that can happen. Surgeons with a lot of experience are very careful to avoid those situations. If you are concerned, be sure to discuss it with your physician.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. There are three main categories of radiation therapy—external beam, internal radiation, and systemic radiation. About half of all cancer patients receive some type of radiation therapy sometime during the course of their treatment.
External-Beam Radiation Therapy
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