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Cancer
Published in Jahangir Moini, Matthew Adams, Anthony LoGalbo, Complications of Diabetes Mellitus, 2022
Jahangir Moini, Matthew Adams, Anthony LoGalbo
When surgery will not be curative or there are extreme surgical risks, limited palliative surgery may be performed, such as to resect an area of perforation or relieve an obstruction. The median survival time is only 7 months, however. Electrocoagulation can debulk some obstructive tumors, or the colon can be held open by stents. Chemotherapy has the ability to reduce tumor size and extend life for several months. Newer medications can be used alone or combined with others, and include capecitabine, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. The monoclonal antibodies are sometimes effective, and include bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab. There is no “best” regimen for metastatic colorectal cancer, though some chemotherapy can delay progression. If colon cancer is advanced, a highly experienced person manages the chemotherapy, with access to drugs that are under investigation.
Surgery
Published in John Melford, Pocket Guide to Cancer, 2017
Palliative surgery is used to ease pain, disability, or other complications that arise with advanced cancers. Its aim is to improve the quality of life, not to cure the disease. If a tumor is inaccessible, or if it has invaded surrounding tissue to a large degree, or if it has spread, palliative surgery provides a means of relieving symptoms. For example, if a tumor presses on a nerve, it may be cut back to relieve pain. If one creates a block in the digestive system, it may be cut back to improve function. Surgery also may be used to stop bleeding, or to insert metal rods to protect bones weakened by cancer.
Vulval and vaginal cancer
Published in David M. Luesley, Mark D. Kilby, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 2016
Treatment-related morbidity can be significant. Sexual dysfunction due to vaginal atrophy and damage to the bladder and rectum are not infrequent. Recurrent vaginal cancer can be treated with radical pelvic radiotherapy if recurring after surgery. If disease recurs after radiotherapy, palliative surgery may be possible in selected cases.
A multicenter, descriptive epidemiologic survey of the clinical features of spinal metastatic disease in China
Published in Neurological Research, 2020
Hao-Ran Zhang, Rui-Qi Qiao, Xiong-Gang Yang, Yong-Cheng Hu
The management of spinal metastases requires multidisciplinary collaboration, of which surgery and radiotherapy are the main treatment methods. Surgical treatment can be divided into open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Open surgery includes palliative surgery and radical surgery. Palliative surgery is aimed at alleviating the symptoms of patients and improving the quality of life of patients without pursuing the thoroughness of tumor resection, including laminectomy and vertebra corpectomy. Radical surgery is based on the principle of complete resection of tumor lesions. The goal is to extend the survival time of cancer patients as much as possible, including piecemeal resection and total en bloc spondylectomy. Minimally invasive surgery has the advantages of rapid postoperative recovery, low incidence of complication, and no delay in adjuvant treatment. It is suitable for patients with poor general conditions, including percutaneous vertebroplasty, radiofrequency ablation, and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation.