christymike Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Can someone explain to me why some cancers are inoperable? I have never been able to understand that. My dad is but i dont understand why.. and he dont either. Thanks Blessings to you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carleen Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Christy, There are many possible reasons why it may not be operable. One reason can be placement. Often a tumor resides at an area that is too risky to operate on. I know that there are people on this site that have had tumors that were surrounding the heart or major arteries of the heart. Sometimes you can shrink the tumors with chemo and or radiation enough to make surgery and option at a later date. Another reason may be because of spread of the disease. My husband's cancer is throughout his right lung, the mediastatin chest cavity, the lymph nodes up his esophogus and into his neck, and under his arms. He also has 4 mets in his liver. Surgery to any one of those areas would not provide enough benefits to outweigh the risks of surgery. If you have surgery, they go in with the intent of getting it all out. If they can not, then often they say you are inoperable. There are other possible scenarios, such as lack of overall health and strength, and some reasons that I am not even aware of. Hope that helps some. Carleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea B. Posted July 26, 2003 Share Posted July 26, 2003 Christy, My mom was considered inoperable, because the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes. So for this reason, even if they went in and took out the cancer in her lung it would still be present in her lymph nodes. Also, they said that surgery would require quite a bit of time for my mom to recover from (past health issues) and that would delay the start of radiation and chemo. They didn't want to postpone this. If it makes you feel any better, the doctor we saw at the Swedish Cancer Institute said there are new studies coming out that the combination of chemo and radiation can sometimes be as successful as surgery. He wanted us to know that just because my mom can't have surgery we shouldn't lose hope. All the best to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted July 26, 2003 Share Posted July 26, 2003 My husband is also inoperable because of the tumor being so close to the major veins and in the mediastinum. The surgeon said they would not be able to get a "clean field" around the tumor and may actually spread it and make it worse by operating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christymike Posted July 26, 2003 Author Share Posted July 26, 2003 Thanks everyone.. I understand now. So does that mean without sugery that it will always be there? Or what exactly is remission... Good to hear about the combination of chemo and radition being promising that is what my dad had. God bless you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sophia88 Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 Very well stated Katie B....love that definition of survivor.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 I have a good friend who is a 29-year survivor of colon cancer mets to the liver, who said, "A survivor is one who didn't die on the spot when they heard they had cancer." This lady went on to found a cancer support system here in Houston that is now in its 13th year. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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