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Preventive surgery involves removing abnormal
tissue or lesions before they develop into cancer. Many cancers, such as colon cancer, can
be prevented by identifying and removing precancerous lesions like polyps before they become
malignant.
In this type of medical procedure, a specialist removes tissue that does not yet contain
cancer cells but has a high risk of becoming cancerous in the future. Preventive surgery is
also known as prophylactic surgery and is recommended in selected high-risk
individuals.
For example, in some cases and with the patient’s informed consent, doctors may recommend
removal of the ovaries to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women with a strong family
history of the disease. Research shows that women whose mother or sister has had ovarian
cancer have a higher-than-average risk of developing the disease. This procedure is known as
prophylactic oophorectomy, which involves the removal of both ovaries.
Preventive surgery can significantly reduce cancer risk and is considered after careful
evaluation, counseling, and genetic or family history assessment.