What is the difference between open and minimally invasive surgery?

There are two general approaches to cancer surgery:

• In open surgery, the surgeon makes one large cut to remove the tumor, some healthy tissue, and sometimes nearby lymph nodes.
• In minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon makes a few small cuts instead of one large one. A long, thin tube with a tiny camera (a laparoscope) is inserted through one cut, and special tools go through the others to remove the tumor and some healthy tissue.

Because minimally invasive surgery uses smaller cuts, it usually takes less time to recover from than open surgery. Your surgeon can explain which approach fits your situation.