In this section
Surgery means treating illness by removing body tissue. It is a common treatment for a cancer where a solid tumour or lump is present.
Cancer surgery can be used for a number of purposes, as described below:
Diagnosis
A biopsy is a procedure where the doctor removes a small piece of tissue, which is used to confirm the diagnosis of cancer and to find out about the type of cancer. This is then examined in the laboratory.
Treatment
Where possible, surgery is used to remove the tumour and surrounding tissues that might contain cancer cells. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body that cannot be totally removed by surgery, surgery may still be used to remove the cancer which grew first, this is also known as the primary cancer.
Staging
Staging is the process that doctors use to work out the extent of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Staging is a very important process to ensure that as much information is obtained about the nature of the cancer and whether it is likely to spread. Staging can be performed quickly for some people but sometimes it can take many days. The information from the staging is used to plan the best treatment for the stage of the cancer.
Reconstruction
Surgery can be used to restore:
- A part of the body, such as creating a new bladder.
- Appearance, such as breast reconstruction after removal of a breast
- Breast reconstruction information sheet.
Risk-reducing
Surgery is sometimes used to remove a part of the body that has a significant risk of developing cancer. This is called risk-reducing or prophylactic surgery. For example, a woman may have surgery to remove her breast tissue because she has a very strong family history of breast cancer.
Palliation
If the cancer cannot be completely removed or cured, surgery can sometimes still help by removing a tumour to reduce its effects, such as blockage, discomfort, or other complications.
Depending on the type of cancer that you have, you may be offered a treatment that treats cancer cells throughout the body, such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. Radiotherapy is also used treat cancer.
The information available on this page should not be used as a substitute for advice from a properly qualified medical professional who can advise you about your own individual medical needs. It is not intended to constitute medical advice and is provided for general information purposes only. See our Disclaimer.
