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Types of Treatment - Surgery

Surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment. It is local treatment to remove cancer in tumor form as well as to locate and remove nearby lymph nodes. It is frequently used in combination with other types of cancer treatment.

Types of Treatment

Types of Cancer Surgery

Preventive or prophalactic surgery is used to remove potentially precancerous growths which have a high probability of becoming cancerous if untreated. An example of this type surgery is breast removal prior to the development of breast cancer in those women at very high risk for occurrence of breast cancer.

Diagnostic surgery is a procedure in which the surgeon removes tumor for examination to determine if the tumor is cancerous.

This Type of Surgery May Be Performed By

Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) in which a needle is inserted into the tumor and some of the tumor is drawn out for inspection under a microscope to determine if the tumor is cancerous.

Incisional or Excisional Biopsy in which a patient is placed under either local or general anesthesia, a small incision is made in the skin, and the surgeon removes either a piece of the tumor (incisional) or the entire tumor (excisional). The tumor is then examined under the microscope by a pathologist to determine if the tumor is cancerous.

Curative

Curative surgery involves total removal of the cancerous tumor. Often this type of surgery is followed by radiation and/or chemotherapy treatment.

Supportive

Supportive surgery is used to assist with other cancer treatments. Central venous catheter insertion is one example.

Restorative

Restorative surgery returns the body to normal or near normal appearance or function. Breast reconstruction is a common type of restorative surgery.

Palliative

Palliative surgery is used to relieve painful symptoms or other problems that develop from advanced cancer.

What is Involved in Surgery?

Historically, surgery is the first and oldest method of cancer treatment, and in many cases can offer the greatest chances for a cure. Technically defined, surgery is local treatment to remove the tumor. Tissue around the tumor and nearby lymph nodes may also be removed during the operation.

Why Surgery?

Surgery is used to accomplish a variety of goals. Preventative or prophylactic surgery is meant to remove potentially precancerous growths, which may become malignant if untreated. Sometimes, people with increased risks of cancer may have organs removed; for instance, women with a strong family history of breast cancer may choose to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy. Diagnostic surgery is used to obtain a tissue sample for further laboratory testing. Staging surgery explores the progression of a disease. Curative surgery involves the complete removal of a tumor, and is one of the most successful treatments for cancer. Restorative or reconstructive surgery is used to restore a person's appearance or bodily function; examples of this type of surgery include breast reconstruction or the installation of prostheses.

What are the Side Effects?

The side effects of surgery depend on the location of the tumor, the type of operation, the patient's general health, and other factors. Although patients are often uncomfortable during the first few days after surgery, this pain can be controlled with medicine. Patients should feel free to discuss pain relief with the doctor or nurse. It is also common for patients to feel tired or weak for a while. The length of time it takes to recover from an operation varies for each patient.