Cancer surgery attempts
to remove localized tumors completely or reduce the size of large
tumors so that follow-up treatment by radiation or chemotherapy
will be more effective. The surgery may be done as a diagnostic
(staging) process as well as a treatment process, and these two
processes may take place simultaneously. For that reason, the
surgeon may remove the primary tumor, some normal tissue surrounding
the tumor (to make sure that s/he gets it all, and also to compare
the cancer cells with the healthy cells to aid in diagnosis),
the lymph nodes near the primary tumor (to detect and guard against
the spread of individual cancer cells that may have already lodged
in these lymph nodes), and any organs in the body that may already
be affected by the cancer.
Sometimes the surgeon will
take out not only the lymph nodes adjacent to the tumor but all
the lymph nodes in the region. This may be done to check the
spread of cancer or to determine whether the cancer has spread
further than the clinical diagnostic tests have shown.
In addition to curative
surgery, surgery may also be performed as a preventive measure
(to remove precancerous conditions) and/or a palliative measure
(to reduce pain and other symptoms). If curative
surgical procedures cause any disfigurement or deformity, reconstructive
surgery may be done to repair the damage.
Questions to ask prior to surgery
Exactly what will the
operation involve, and what do they hope to achieve with the
operation?
Is there a less radical
procedure that can be done?
Will the operation deform
the patient in any way or cause psychological problems, and if
so, how will these problems be dealt with?
What risks are involved?
What will happen if surgery
is postponed or not done at all?
Are there any treatment
alternatives that don't involve surgery?
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