Surgery

Introduction to Surgery

The oldest form of treatment for cancer, surgery provides a great chance for curing for many cancer types, particularly those that have not spread to other parts of the body. Many people with cancer will undergo some kind of surgical procedure. Nowadays, there are less invasive operations performed to remove tumors while leaving as much healthy tissue and function as possible.

Surgery is often combined with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Whether you and your doctor opt for additional cancer treatment depends on your type of cancer and its stage.

How Is Surgery Used In the Treatment of Cancer?

Diagnosis. Doctors may use surgery to remove and/or test all or part of a suspected mass to determine whether it is malignant or benign.

Staging. Staging surgery is performed by the doctor to determine how much cancer tissue exists and how far it may have spread to other parts of the body.

Curative surgery. Curative surgery, also known as primary treatment, is performed when a tumor appears to be confined to one area and may be removed in its entirety. Curative surgery is often used in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Debulking. Sometimes it is not possible to remove the entire tumor, such as when the removal could damage or destroy an organ. In these cases, your physician may perform a debulking surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, then use other treatments to treat the tumor remaining.

Palliative surgery. This type of surgery is used not to cure the disease, but to correct problems of discomfort and disability associated with the cancer. For instance, some cancers located in the abdomen may grow large enough to block the intestine. Surgery may help correct the blockage and restore function.