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POST CANCER RECONSTRUCTION
What is Post Cancer Reconstruction?
Post
Cancer Reconstruction is a type of reconstructive plastic
surgery for those who have undergone treatment for cancer
such as head, neck and pelvic cancer, breast cancer, skin
cancer, sarcoma, etc.
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Effects of Post Cancer Reconstruction
Post
Cancer Reconstruction greatly improves a patient’s
appearance and most importantly, the quality of life.
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Candidates for Post Cancer
Reconstruction
The
best candidates for this procedure are those who have
undergone treatment for cancer such as head, neck, pelvis
cancer, sarcoma or breast cancer.
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Your
Consultation
During
the consultation, BHMG’s Board Certified Surgeon will take a
complete medical history of the patient and conduct a
careful examination to evaluate overall health.
Photographs will be taken before and after surgery.
Antibiotics will be prescribed at the time of surgery to
prevent infections. Also, avoid taking drugs containing
aspirin to minimize the possibility of excess bleeding.
The use of an antiseptic soap in the shower the night
before or the morning of the surgery may also be
recommended.
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The Post Cancer Reconstruction Surgery
Procedure
Breast
Cancer
Please
see our
Breast Reconstruction section.
Skin
Cancer
Skin
Cancer Reconstruction options are dependent on the cancer’s
severity and location. This procedure can range from simple
closure to flaps. This includes:
-
Excise and closure.
-
Excision with skin graft: After an excision is made, a
skin graft is used to repair the area excised. A skin
graft is actually a thin piece of skin that is taken
from an area and then placed on a prepared recipient
site.
-
Local Flap: A local tissue rearrangement is used for
defects that are larger. The tissue used is moved from
an area that is adjacent to the wound. This is done
following an excision.
-
Free Flap: A free flap is utilized when there is
insufficient local tissue. A free flap could be a piece
of skin, fat, or muscle which is totally removed from a
donor site. The flap is with an artery and a vein and
when transferred to the recipient site, the artery and
the vein are connected to the vessels in that area.
Trimming and suturing of the flap in place is done.
Sarcoma
Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective or supportive tissue.
These types of tissue include muscle, bone, cartilage, fat
and blood vessels. Severity, size and location of the
cancer are some of the factors which determine the
reconstruction options of the patient. Some of the options
available to the patient are simple closure, use of skin
grafts, and rearrangement of tissue with the use of local
flaps, pedicle flaps, or free flaps.
-
Simple Closure: After an excision has been made, the
area is closed with a suture.
-
Skin Graft: A layer of skin that is thin is taken from
a donor area then positioned on a set recipient site.
-
Local Flap: The rearrangement of tissue that is located
adjacent to the wound.
-
Pedicle Flap: This is the kind of flap wherein tissue
is moved on a vascular pedicle, that is, an artery and a
vein which will be connected to the recipient site’s
artery and vein. This will then be sutures into place
at the recipient site.
-
Free Flap: This is the total removal of a piece of
tissue from the donor site together win an artery and
vein and then connected to the artery and vein at the
recipient site.
Head
and Neck Cancer
Here
are some of the plastic surgery options for patients who had
head and neck cancer:
-
Primary Closure with skin graft: A thin layer of skin
which is taken from the donor area is placed on a
prepared recipient site.
-
Local Flap: The rearrangement of tissue that is located
adjacent to the wound.
-
Pedicle Flap: This is tissue moved on a vascular
pedicle and then is sutured into place at the recipient
site. This is where an artery and a vein will be
connected to an artery and vein located at the recipient
site.
-
Free Flap: use of tissue which is totally removed from
its donor site together with an artery and a vein then
connected to an artery and a vein located at the
recipient site
Pelvic
Cancer
The
following are options for patients who have had pelvic
cancer:
-
Local Flap: The rearrangement of tissue that is located
adjacent to the wound
-
Free Flap: use of tissue which is totally removed from
its donor site together with an artery and a vein then
connected to an artery and a vein located at the
recipient site
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Recovery
The
recovery from Post Cancer Reconstruction surgery differs
from patient to patient, depending on the extent of the
surgery and also the specifics of each patient.
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Risks
It is
the patient's responsibility to notify the surgeon of
important medical information that may greatly affect the
result of the surgery or increase risks in doing the
procedure. Inform the surgeon of any medications that you
are taking, any history of disease or medical complications,
etc. Both risk and risk rates differ from each patient,
depending on a variety of factors.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q:
Who are the best candidates for Post Cancer Reconstruction?
A:
Good
candidates for this surgery are those who have undergone
treatments for cancer such as head, neck, pelvis cancer,
sarcoma or breast cancer.
Q:
What are the risks of undergoing this surgery?
A:
All
surgery has risks and your surgeon will discuss these with
you during your consultation. But risks and risk rates vary
from one patient to another, depending on different
factors.
Q:
What are the different types of procedures available for the
Post Cancer Reconstruction surgery?
A:
There
are several options for Post Cancer Reconstruction surgery.
Skin Cancer Reconstruction options are dependent on the
cancer’s severity and location. This procedure can range
from simple closure to flaps. For sarcoma, some of the
options available to the patient are simple closure, use of
skin grafts, and rearrangement of tissue with the use of
local flaps, pedicle flaps or free flaps. While those who
have undergone head and neck treatments can choose from
primary closure with skin graft, local flaps, pedicle flaps
and free flaps. Pelvic cancer patients can select between
local flaps and free flaps.
Further Reading: Cancer Help Online
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