SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CANCER

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When someone has cancer, they often need to have surgery. The surgery can be simple, as in the removal of a small tumor, or, complex if the tumor has grown to involve nearby organs, tissues, and glands.

In some cases, more than one procedure is required. The first procedure is a biopsy that reveals the presence of cancer cells. This may be done by removing samples of tissue, or using a hollow needle to obtain a cell sample.

Tests are done to determine the size, spread, and type of cancer. These may include blood, tissue tests, and X-rays. Surgery may be scheduled to remove as much of the affected tissue as possible.

Sometimes surgery can completely cure cancer. This is more likely when the tumor is at an early stage. When it is not possible to remove all the area affected with cancer, other types of treatment may then be used. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy used alone, or in combination, are most common.

Palliative surgery is another kind of cancer treatment. It can relieve pain and other symptoms caused by the tumor. It can improve the quality of life and help the patient continue to perform their daily tasks. This kind of surgery does not cure the cancer, and may not even prolong life. Its goal is to ease and relieve discomfort.