Unresectable (sometimes referred to as inoperable) cancer cannot be completely removed with surgery.
This can be due to a variety of reasons, including tumor size, stage, and location.
Although an unresectable cancer can technically be any stage, it is usually stage III or IV.
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However, some unresectable cancers become resectable after treatment.
Underlying health conditions that increase a person’s risk ofsurgical complicationsmay also be considered.
Tumor Size
In some cases, a tumor may be too large to safely remove through surgery.
For example, a wedge resection is a surgical procedure often used to treat people withearly-stage lung cancer.
In some cancers, resection is no longer a possibility when cancer has reached specificlymph nodes.
Should You Get a Second Opinion?
If you’ve been told a tumor is unresectable, you should feel confident in your diagnosis.
If you have any doubts, talk to another healthcare provider.
Some cancer specialists even encourage this and will refer you to someone else.
A second opinion can confirm your healthcare provider’s opinion or provide a new perspective on different treatment plans.
Treatments
An unresectable tumor is still treatable, and may sometimes become operable after treatment.
Treatment may includeradiation therapy, which uses high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Systemic therapiesi.e., those that target the entire bodyare another unresectable cancer treatment.
Systemic treatments include:
Can Unresectable Cancer Become Resectable?
Summary
Unresectable cancer means that surgery is not a viable treatment option.
In some cases, radiation, chemotherapy and other treatments may change tumors and make surgery possible later on.
If you’ve been diagnosed with unresectable cancer, speak with your healthcare provider about your treatment options.
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