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Most excision surgical procedures aim at preserving body functions as far as possible.

However, satisfactory cancer surgery involves a number of necessary mutilations.

Thus, reconstruction surgery becomes a very important phase in the rehabilitation of cured patients.

Occasionally, the reconstructive surgery can be carried out at the same time as the excision procedure:

• Restoring the digestive continuity (intestine, oesophagus),

• Reconstructing a functional bladder by enterocystoplasty immediately radical cystectomy

• Laryngeal reconstruction with immediate speech prosthesis

• Mammary reconstruction simultaneous as mastectomy,

• Testicular prosthesis simultaneous as orchidectomy,

• Ocular prosthesis immediately after enucleation.

In certain cases, reconstruction is delayed until the completion of adjuvant treatment:

• Mammary reconstruction after adjuvant chemotherapy (and/or radiotherapy) (Example 1, Example 2),

• Excision and osseous reconstruction after chemotherapy for a bone tumour

• Orbit or mandible reconstruction (Epithesis) after excision and radiotherapy of facial tumours.

Finally, certain reconstructions aim at repairing treatment sequelae

• Mandible reconstruction after osteoradionecrosis (see chapter on radiotherapy),

• Complex reconstruction after extensive Head and Neck surgery.

The contribution of ortheses and prostheses, which are well adapted to the patient, together with vascular microsurgery techniques, and the use of free or pedicled flaps have all considerably increased the potential correction of deformities imposed by cancer or its treatment.

However, it should be clear that despite progress, the results are not a restitutio ad integrum. For this reason, and to avoid the disappointment induced by an imperfect result, many surgeons advise delaying mammary reconstruction until such times as all other treatments are concluded. Thus, all adjuvant treatments can be administered at full dose without paying attention to potential damage to the aesthetic surgery.

And finally, it should be clearly accepted that an imperfect result is always better than no correction at all.