Why surgery for cancer treatment?
According to the American Cancer Society, 60 percent of people with cancer have some type of surgery. Surgery is used in cancer treatment for several purposes: • preventive – to remove tissue that does not yet contain cancer cells, but has the probability of becoming cancerous in the future. This may also be referred to as prophylactic surgery. • diagnostic – to remove samples of tissue from a suspicious area for testing and evaluation (in a laboratory by a pathologist) to confirm a diagnosis, identify the type of cancer, or determine the stage of the cancer. • curative – to remove or destroy cancerous tissue, which may include removal of some tissue around the tumor and nearby lymph nodes. Surgery may also be performed for: • palliative purposes – to relieve discomfort. • supportive purposes – to allow for placement of a device that will aid in the delivery of medications. • restorative or reconstructive purposes – to repair or replace damaged or destroyed areas of the body.
