Sixty-three-year-old M Mirchandani underwent a minimal access surgery for her uterine cancer in October 2008.

Even though the concept was fairly new at the time, Mirchandani is glad she opted for the laparoscopic procedure as it involved fewer incisions, less pain and reduced hospital stay.

Like Mirchandani, many cancer patients are now being treated with advanced laparoscopic procedures, a concept gradually being accepted in the country.

A team of cancer surgeons specially trained in advanced laparoscopy are standardising these surgeries for selected patients at the Tata Memorial Hospital, considered to be country’s best for cancer treatment.

“At Tata Hospital, we perform these surgeries on select patients with their consent, and counselling. Not all patients can undergo these surgeries. Some can only have conventional open surgeries,” said Dr Rajendra Kerkar, gynaecological oncologist.

Cancers of the rectum, oesophagus, uterus, lung and cervix are largely being treated through the minimal incision methods. “The patients are now very open to such surgeries,” Kerkar added.

As against conventional surgeries, laparoscopic surgeries are done with 3-4 small incisions of about 6-12mm. The surgeries are carried out with special equipment by visualising the target on a monitor.

Dr T B Yuvaraja, consultant laparoscopic uro-onco-surgeon from Kokilaben Ambani Hospital said laparoscopic cancer surgeries are high-end surgeries, so surgeons have to be well-trained.