Cancer Surgery

Surgery is one of the most common types of treatment, and it could be part of your treatment plan. It’s important to consider the stage of cancer, location and size of the tumor, size of your breasts, characteristics of your cancer, your genetic risk factors and personal preference. Often your choices include:

• Lumpectomy – taking out the cancer and leaving most of the breast
• Mastectomy – removing the whole breast
• Mastectomy with reconstruction – removing the whole breast and then creating a breast shape using an implant or tissue from another part of the body

No matter which option you choose, our surgeons deliver the best care and are committed to providing the latest breast surgical options, including hidden scar surgery, Breast Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT), and Magseed technology.

Sanford Health offers surgeons specialized in the treatment of colon cancer. Sanford Surgery’s colon and rectal specialists diagnose and treat disorders and disease of the colorectal system. Also known as proctologists, we provide a variety of treatments and procedures to help you reduce painful conditions and get back to everyday life.

Our gynecological surgeons are experts in surgical treatments for uterine, ovarian, cervical, peritoneal, vaginal and vulvar cancers. Often these surgeries can be performed through minimally invasive procedures, also called laparoscopic surgery.

This means our surgeons perform procedures through just a few small incisions. This leads to less pain, minimal scarring and quicker recoveries for you.

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.

You will need to take steps to prevent infection after surgery. Your treatment team will give you detailed instructions on how to care for the area where you had your operation. They will also tell you how to spot an infection. If you do develop an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to clear it up right away.

Talk to your oncologist about other possible risks, including bleeding and tissue damage. 

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.