Cervical cancer surgery has many side effects, and the most crucial among them is a chance of infection and a loss of fertility. It is important to keep in mind that different surgical procedures have different kinds of risks. For instance, a cone biopsy is a lot less extensive surgical procedure compared to a radical hysterectomy. Thus, the former has fewer complications.
Doctors suggest surgery only when the benefits considerably outweigh all the risks. But if you are preparing for surgery for cervical cancer, you need to ask the surgeon about the kind of side effects that are commonly associated with the particular procedure you are considering and if there are ways to avoid or reduce them. The doctor will take measures to mitigate the risks of the surgery.
Side effects of surgery for cervical cancer
All surgical procedures come with complications. Those for cervical cancer surgery are:
- Pain at the incision sites
- Infection
- Blood loss
- Damage to the intestines or bladder
Surgeons might recommend that you do not engage in sexual activity while recovering. However, it is unlikely for you to experience a long-term sexual side-effect. Women undergoing a radical hysterectomy can continue to reach orgasm and feel sexual pleasure.
Women with more extensive kinds of cervical cancer surgery (salpingo oophorectomies, pelvic exenteration, and total and simple hysterectomies) cannot conceive. As such procedures lead to uterus removal, it means that patients cannot conceive. But women who go through conization surgery, laser surgery, trachelectomy, or cryosurgery can still conceive after their treatment.
Importance of selecting an experienced and skilled surgeon
An experienced medical team will help you manage most of the risks associated with this surgery. Top surgical oncologists who specialize in gynecological procedures will look for the right ways to treat the condition. In addition to that, surgeons working at the reputed cancer centers are treating more cancer patients. They will have more experience to understand individual patients’ requirements and are more likely to have access to better surgical technologies and techniques.
At BLK-Max Cancer Centre, there are several specialist surgeons for the female reproductive organs. The surgeons have a high degree of expertise and experience which leads to positive outcomes for patients more often than not. Moreover, the hospital has several highly advanced technologies, along with the high-end robotic da Vinci® Surgical System. It allows the surgical oncologists to get the desired results when it comes to the patient’s quality of life, complication rates, and survival rates.
The bottom line
There are risks associated with any kind of surgical procedure, and cervical cancer is no exception. Thus, it is important to talk to the surgeon about the possible risks and the precautions taken to deal with those risks.