What should you know about laparoscopic and robotic surgery?

In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon handles long instruments through small abdominal or chest openings while viewing a magnified image. In robotic surgery, the surgeon sits at a console and directs instruments that can provide a different range of movement and visual control. Both approaches still require careful tumour removal, control of bleeding, and assessment of nearby tissue. The choice depends on the cancer site, its size and position, previous operations, your health, and the surgeon's experience. A minimally invasive approach may need to change to an open operation if safety or cancer clearance requires it.

Ask what operation is planned, what the surgeon hopes to remove, and why a particular approach fits your anatomy. Discuss the possibility of conversion to open surgery, expected hospital care, wound restrictions, pain control, and return to work or driving. Tell the team about medicines, allergies, previous abdominal surgery, sleep-apnoea symptoms, and smoking. Read the discharge instructions before the operation so you know how to care for wounds and which activities need to wait. Robotic Cancer Surgery is a related option to discuss when it is offered.

Call the surgical team for increasing wound redness, swelling, drainage, fever, worsening pain, repeated vomiting, or inability to pass urine or wind. Seek urgent help for severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, heavy bleeding, or a painful swollen leg. These signs can occur with complications after any operation and should be judged promptly rather than by the size of the incisions.

Why is minimally invasive surgery suitable for me? What would make you choose laparoscopy, robotics, or open surgery? How will you confirm the tumour has been removed adequately? What risks affect my particular health history? What is the plan if the operation needs to change approach?