Cancer means waging war against the disease within. Every case is different, but usually involves a combination of chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and surgery. It can be a long, treacherous road. However, patients do have alternatives to help them in restoring their body once they've recovered. Consider five medical procedures for restoration that offer hope.
Restorative Breast Surgery
For women who are forced to have a mastectomy, or breast removal, due to breast cancer, it is extremely traumatic. In addition to fighting a life-threatening disease, women must deal with disfigurement. Restorative breast surgery offers women an way to look and feel normal once again. A plastic surgeon rebuilds the breasts through the use of tissues from the body, breast implants, or a combination. In the end, women have the appearance of genuine breasts with a shape and fullness similar to what they originally had.
Reconstructive Surgery for Skin Cancer
When cancerous growths or lesions are removed due to skin cancer, a plastic surgeon will do everything possible to minimize the damage caused by surgery. Scar revision is a typical procedure in which surgeons will attempt to reduce the appearance of scarring by making the affected area blend more easily with the rest of the surrounding skin. Both skin texture and tone can have a better consistency.
Reconstruction After Oral Cancer
A combination of approaches can be used to provide reconstructive options for oral cancer patients. From dentures to creating a prosthesis for the palate of the mouth, it is possible to create a natural appearance that is functional as well.
Reconstruction of the Nose
When cancer affects the nose, it is highly visible and can be extremely disfiguring as well. However, it is possible for skilled plastic surgeons to rebuild the nose. A surgeon can use various methods to close a gap that has been left by surgery, including skin grafting that uses skin taken from other parts of the body.
Reconstruction After Bone Cancer
Bone cancer patients have several options when the removal of bone has greatly affected their lives. Bone grafting and the use of endoprostheses, artificial materials that can be surgically inserted in the body, can provide patients with optimal functioning and a more natural appearance.
Being a cancer survivor doesn't have to mean being disfigured. Many alternatives have been created when it comes to restorative surgery. Each patients needs to consult with specialists to find possible solutions.