Plastic Surgery: A Component in the Comprehensive Care of Cancer Patients
December 1st 2002Plastic surgical reconstruction extends the capabilities of surgical and radiation therapy for cancer patients. Resection defects that are large, involve functional structures, aesthetically sensitive areas, and/or are at increased risk for wound healing complications are successfully reconstructed with a wide variety of techniques. Cancer and the complications of cancer treatment can involve virtually any area of the body, and to address every potential circumstance, the breadth of oncologic reconstruction must be extensive. A multidisciplinary team approach is the optimal method of cancer treatment, and plastic surgical reconstruction has become a critical component of that treatment, with the ability to restore form and function to the involved areas.