How is Surgery Used in Cancer Treatment?

Surgery is used in several ways to help cancer patients. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), it is the oldest form of cancer treatment. It provides the best chance to stop many types of cancer, and it also plays a part in diagnosing, staging, and supporting cancer treatment.

Having surgery for cancer is different for every patient, depending on the type of surgery, the type of cancer, and the patient's health. For some people, surgery is a major medical procedure with life-changing side effects. For others, surgery is quick and has few side effects.

What are the different types of surgery used in cancer treatment?

Several types of surgery are helpful to people with cancer. Some surgeries are used in combination with other types of treatment. The following is a list of these surgeries with a brief explanation of their goals:

• Curative Surgery 
  Curative surgery removes the cancerous tumor or growth from the body. Surgeons use curative surgery when the cancer tumor is local to a specific area of the body. This type of treatment is often considered the primary treatment. However, other types of cancer treatments, such as radiation, may be used before or after the surgery.
• Preventive Surgery 
  Preventive surgery is used to remove tissue that does not contain cancer cells, but may develop into a malignant tumor. For example, polyps in the colon may be considered precancer tissue and preventive surgery may be performed to remove them.
• Diagnostic Surgery 
  Diagnostic surgery helps to determine whether cells are cancerous. Diagnostic surgery is used to remove a tissue sample for testing and evaluation (in a laboratory by a pathologist). The tissue samples help to confirm a diagnosis, identify the type of cancer, or determine the stage of the cancer.
• Staging Surgery 
  Staging surgery works to uncover the extent of cancer, or the extent of the disease in the body. Laparoscopy (a viewing tube with a lens or camera is inserted through a small incision to examine the inside of the body and to remove tissue samples) is an example of a surgical staging procedure.
• Debulking Surgery 
  Debulking surgery removes a portion, though not all, of a cancer tumor. It is used in certain situations when removing an entire tumor may cause damage to an organ or the body. Other types of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation, may be used after debulking surgery is performed.
• Palliative Surgery 
  Palliative surgery is used to treat cancer at advanced stages. It does not work to cure cancer, but to relieve discomfort or to correct other problems cancer or cancer treatment may have created.
• Supportive Surgery 
  Supportive surgery is similar to palliative surgery because it does not work to cure cancer. Instead, it helps other cancer treatments work effectively. An example of supportive surgery is the insertion of a catheter to help with chemotherapy.
• Restorative Surgery 
  Restorative surgery is sometimes used as a follow-up to curative or other surgeries to change or restore a person’s appearance or the function of a body part. For example, women with breast cancer sometimes need breast reconstruction surgery to restore the physical shape of the affected breast(s). Curative surgery for oral cancer can cause a change in the shape and appearance of a person’s mouth. Restorative surgery may be performed to address these effects.

What Is Informed Consent? 

This is a crucial part of understanding your cancer care. This is when you give your cancer care team written permission to perform a treatment. It is your chance to state that you know why and how the treatment is being performed, how it may help you, what the risks and possible side effects are, and what other treatment options may help you. Before you give this permission, make sure to ask your oncologist any questions you have.

What are the risks and potential side effects of surgery for cancer treatment?

Risk is a part of any surgery. Though science and medical technology have made surgery a safe and reliable treatment option, there is always the risk of potential problems and side effects. In many cases, however, the positive effects of surgery outweigh the risks. This is one of the reasons why learning about your cancer and cancer treatment is important. The more you know about surgery for cancer, the more informed your choices will be. Be sure to discuss the following potential complications with your cancer care team before undergoing treatment.

Problems during surgery may include: 

• Damage to organs in the body
• Blood loss
• Adverse reactions to medication

Problems after surgery may include: 

• Pain or discomfort (a common problem following surgery that can often be relieved with medication and with the help of your cancer care team)
• Infections
• Other illnesses, such as pneumonia
• Blood loss or clots

Can other types of surgery help treat cancer?

There are several specialized surgeries used during cancer treatment. The following is a list of some of these surgical treatments:

• Cryosurgery 
  This surgery technique uses extremely cold temperatures to kill cancer cells. Cryosurgery is used most often with skin cancer and cervical cancer. Depending on whether the tumor is inside or outside the body, liquid nitrogen is placed on the skin or in an instrument called a cryoprobe (which is inserted into the body so that it touches the tumor). Cryosurgery is being evaluated as a surgical treatment for several types of cancers.
• Laser Surgery 
  This technique uses beams of light energy instead of instruments to remove very small cancers (without damaging surrounding tissue), to shrink or destroy tumors, or to activate drugs to kill cancer cells. Laser surgery is a very precise procedure that can be used to treat areas of the body that are difficult to reach, including the skin, cervix, rectum, and larynx.
• Electrosurgery 
  Skin cancer and oral cancer are sometimes treated with electrosurgery. This technique uses electrical current to kill cancer cells.
• Microscopically Controlled Surgery 
  This surgery is useful when cancer affects delicate parts of the body, such as the eye. Layers of skin are removed and examined microscopically until cancer cells cannot be detected.