Can Patients Taking Chemotherapy Have Surgery?

In modern medicine, multidisciplinary teamwork (i.e., surgeons, oncologists, gastroenterologists, and radiologists) is the best way to decide on patient treatment. Sometimes, it may be necessary to shrink some tumors with chemotherapy before surgery to control them and then perform surgery. Some cancers can be operated directly without the need for chemotherapy. The multidisciplinary team should decide whether to give chemotherapy before or after surgery, and a treatment plan should be determined accordingly.

Preoperative chemotherapy treatment does not interfere with the surgery of the patients. However, during chemotherapy, we face serious problems such as delayed healing of tissues and wounds, suppression of the immune system, and risk of infection. Surgery is usually performed after a 4-6 week waiting period after chemotherapy to minimize these side effects and allow the tissues to heal themselves. Unless there are emergencies, performing surgery while the patient receives chemotherapy is not an appropriate and correct option.