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Tumor Debulking Surgery

Cancer treatment methodology varies depending on the particulars of each individual case, but the various options for treating cancer remain the same--chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. In certain types of cancer, tumor debulking is a preferred solution. When combined with rigorous application of other cancer-fighting treatments, tumor debulking offers the best shot at forcing cancer into remission.

  1. Tumor Debulking

    • According to the National Cancer Institute, tumor debulking consists of a surgical procedure designed to remove as much of the existing tumor as is reasonably possible. This is contrasted with standard surgical procedures to combat cancer, which consist of removing the whole tumor or the diseased organ in its entirety.

    When is Tumor Debulking Required?

    • Tumor debulking become the default option for surgical treatment where the tumor has spread to such an extent that removing it all would be either impracticable or life threatening. Even when the tumor is not large, if the bulk of the tumor is concealed in an inaccessible location (as within the brain), tumor debulking might be the only feasible alternative.

    Advantages

    • The primary advantage to tumor debulking is that although an incomplete treatment method, it still allows for some reduction in the size of the tumor. This can buy the patient more time before the tumor regrows to its original size, and it can also buttress the effects of chemo and radiation therapy as there are fewer cancer cells to eliminate.

    Goal

    • With certain conditions such as ovarian cancer, tumor debulking has grown to a precision art. The goal in tumor debulking with cases of ovarian cancer is to excise a sufficient amount of the tumor so that the remaining cancerous tissue is no larger than one centimeter in size--an impressively small amount.

    Considerations

    • Keep in mind that tumor debulking is not a stand alone procedure. In order to be fully effective, it will have to be combined with other cancer treatments. The details of the procedure itself, such as whether the surgery can be performed on an in or outpatient basis, will have to be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific surgery site and other factors such as the patient's need for constant monitoring post-operation.

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