Reducing Burden, Improving Outcomes
Cytoreductive Surgery at Athenaa

What is Cytoreductive Surgery

Debulking surgery, also known as cytoreductive surgery, is a cornerstone of treatment for advanced gynecologic cancers, especially ovarian cancer. Its goal is to surgically remove as much of the visible tumor as possible to enhance the effectiveness of subsequent therapies like chemotherapy or HIPEC.

There are two types - primary cytoreductive surgery (performed before chemotherapy), interval cytoreductive surgery (done after a few cycles of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor first). The choice depends on disease extent, your overall health, and multidisciplinary team assessment.

Cytoreductive surgery maybe be recommended for advanced-stage gynecological cancer, especially ovarian cancer, cancer that has spread within the abdominal cavity, those fit enough for major surgery and can tolerate the recovery process, and cancers sensitive to chemotherapy.

How the Procedure
is Performed

At Apollo Athenaa, every surgical step is carefully planned and performed by experienced surgeons with a focus on safety, precision, and recovery.

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia.
The surgeon explores the abdomen and pelvis to identify and remove all visible tumor deposits.
This may include removing the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, omentum (the fatty layer that drapes over the intestines), and, if needed, affected areas of the bowel, diaphragm, or peritoneum.
The goal is to achieve “optimal debulking”, meaning no visible tumor or only small residuals (<1 cm).

Recovery

Healing at Apollo Athenaa is supported through structured post-operative care,
counselling, and rehabilitation support.

Hospital Stay

Usually 5–10 days, depending on the complexity of the surgery.

Early Recovery

Includes pain control, wound care, early mobilization, and nutritional support.

Treatment Readiness

Most patients are ready for adjuvant chemotherapy within 3–6 weeks after surgery.

Complete Healing

Full recovery typically takes 4–6 weeks, varying with surgical extent and overall health.

Key
Advantages

At Apollo Athenaa, surgery is thoughtfully planned with a personalized approach, ensuring safety, precision, and optimal outcomes.

Enhanced Response

Improves chemotherapy effectiveness by reducing overall tumor burden.

Survival Benefit

Increases overall survival and progression-free survival in eligible patients.

Expanded Access

Enables treatment of tumor sites that were previously difficult or inoperable.

Accurate Staging

Provides clearer staging information to guide future treatment decisions.

Continuum of Care

At Apollo Athenaa, our teams remain involved at every stage, ensuring that recovery is not only physical, but also emotional and empowering. Each woman is supported through

Post-operative support includes pain management and early mobilization with physiotherapy support.

Adjuvant therapy planning (chemotherapy or targeted therapy) begins during recovery

Long-term follow-up and survivorship support ensures continuity of care.

Psychological and emotional support, including counselling and patient education, to help women cope with treatment and recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cytoreductive surgery?

01

Cytoreductive surgery is a procedure aimed at removing as much visible cancer as possible from the body. It is commonly used in advanced cancers, especially ovarian and certain abdominal cancers, to reduce tumor burden.

Why is cytoreductive surgery recommended?

02

By reducing the amount of cancer present, this surgery improves the effectiveness of chemotherapy and can help achieve better survival outcomes in selected patients.

Who is a candidate for cytoreductive surgery?

03

Candidates are carefully selected based on cancer type, spread of disease, overall health, and response to previous treatments. Detailed imaging and evaluation are done before recommending surgery.

Is cytoreductive surgery a major operation?

04

Yes. It is often a complex surgery that may involve removing disease from multiple organs. Because of this, it is performed by experienced surgical teams in specialized centres.

What is recovery like after cytoreductive surgery?

05

Recovery varies depending on the extent of surgery. Hospital stay may range from several days to a few weeks. Full recovery can take several weeks, supported by pain control, nutrition, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation.

Will I still need chemotherapy after surgery?

06

In most cases, yes. Chemotherapy or targeted therapy is usually recommended after surgery to treat microscopic disease and reduce the risk of recurrence.

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Reducing Burden, Improving OutcomesCytoreductive Surgery at Athenaa

Reducing Burden, Improving Outcomes
Cytoreductive Surgery at Athenaa