Cancer Surgery

Most insurance plans help pay for cancer treatment surgery. You should talk to your insurance company directly to learn more.

The cost of your surgery depends on:

• If you need to stay overnight or for multiple days in the hospital
• The number of specialists your operation requires
• The type of anesthesia you need (local, regional or general)
• The type of surgery
• Where you get the surgery
• Where you live

Whenever possible, you’ll undergo minimally invasive surgery. Our surgeons make as few cuts as possible to limit your pain and recovery time. Rather than making one large cut, Sanford surgeons often make a few smaller ones. In these cuts, they insert specialized tools to remove the tumor.

After surgery, you will feel pain where the surgeon operated. Your oncologist and nurses will help you manage your pain. If you think your pain is not well managed, talk to your doctor right away about your options.

手术后你需要采取措施防止感染。你的治疗团队会给你详细的指导，告诉你如何护理手术部位。它们还会告诉你如何发现感染。如果你确实感染了，你的医生会给你开抗生素，让它马上消失。

和你的肿瘤医生谈谈其他可能的风险，包括出血和组织损伤。

After surgery, you may develop:

• Fatigue
• Infection
• Lymphedema (fluid buildup under the skin)
• Nausea
• Pain
• Swelling

You will get specific instructions from your care team on after-surgery care. This will include:

• Activities to avoid
• Follow-up appointments
• Next steps with treatment
• Nutrition
• Pain control
• Recovery time
• Signs of infection
• Wound care

Several factors affect recovery time after surgery. If you went under general anesthesia, it will take more time than if you had local or regional anesthesia. The more extensive the operation, the longer the recovery time. Another factor is how active you need to be at your job.

Your doctor can tell you how long it will take to recover. Talk to your employer about taking medical leave or if working from home after surgery is possible. Your health insurance may cover your costs during your medical leave.

A surgeon certified in complex general surgical oncology has extra training to meet the needs of patients with cancer. These surgeons provide cancer care services from diagnosis to treatment to rehabilitation. They are also active in cancer research to ensure their patients get the most up to date care.

These surgeons specialize in helping patients with complex presentations of cancer, those with rare or unusual cancers and anyone who needs a complex general surgical procedure.