 | Dr. Angela Zhu
is a board-certified Radiation Oncologist with Central Kansas Radiation Oncology, P.A., an attending physician at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, Cancer Center, St. Francis Campus. She is also a clinical assistant Professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, a Member of American Medical Association, American Society of Therapuetic Radiology and Oncology, Southwest Oncology Group and North Central Cancer Treatment Group, and is engaged in patient care and research. She can be contacted at (316) 268-5927, 817 N. Emporia, Wichita, KS 67214. |
Health & Medicine
2002-03-01 17:37:00
Surgery after radiation?
Question: It is possible to have surgery after radiation treatment.
Answer: In some situations, radiotherapy is preferred over surgery. For example, in the case of the cancer of the tongue or voice box, removal of these organs by surgery can significantly affect the patient's quality of life.Radiotherapy can provide similar cancer cure rate compared to surgery while preserve the function of these important organs. Chemotherapy is sometimes used along with radiation treatment to make radiotherapy more effective.Surgery can still be performed if cancer returns later.In other situations, the treatment involves both surgery and radiation treatment. Radiation treatment is given before the surgery to make the cancer smaller so the surgery will be less extensive. An example of this type of treatment is the cancer of the lower rectum, or a tumor of the muscle of the arm or leg. A colostomy or amputation may be necessary to remove the cancer without any treatment before surgery. However, by giving radiation treatment first and sometimes with chemotherapy, the cancer shrinks. Surgery then can remove the cancer and reconnect the bowels so the patient does not have to wear the bag, or in the case of arm or leg, remove only partial muscle and avoid the amputation. With this type of treatment, a short course of approximately five weeks of radiation treatment before the surgery can preserve the function of the organ and improve the quality of the life after the cancer treatment.
