Why should a cancer patient undergo surgery in the first place?
That’s a fair question. Lets answer it first. Alright? Here we go.
Surgery is the removal of the tumor and the surrounding tissue. It is the oldest type of cancer therapy and remains an effective treatment for many types of cancer today.
Whether surgery is an option depends on the type of cancer, the stage and location of the tumor, and patient’s general health.
Surgery is not used for some types of cancer such as cancer of the blood system (leukaemia), cancer of the lymphatic system (lymphoma), or if the cancer cells are spread throughout the body.
If cancer has spread, surgery alone might not be the best treatment.
A combination treatment that reaches all parts of your body; such as chemotherapy, biological therapy or hormone therapy may be prescribed.
Radiotherapy might also be used to shrink tumors and help to control symptoms. This can be had in combination with surgery or by itself depending on advise of your Doctor.