What is the purpose of cancer surgery?

Cancer surgery is an invaluable tool for treating many types of cancer. By surgically removing the primary tumor, it can provide direct and immediate relief from the physical symptoms associated with certain cancers. It also helps in reducing recurrence rates, as well as allowing doctors to gain insight into how far cancer has spread by examining nearby tissue or lymph nodes. In addition, some surgeries may be able to completely remove all traces of a tumor in certain cases.

Cancer surgery can also be used palliatively—for symptomatic relief—to improve quality of life and reduce pain caused by more advanced stages of cancer where cures are not possible. This includes operations to bypass blocked intestines, unblock airways for breathing, alleviate pressure on critical parts of the body due to large tumors or even shrink tumors that have become symptomatic so chemotherapy or other treatments are safely administered.

Ultimately, when combined with therapies such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, surgical removal can greatly increase survivability and prolong patient’s lives; providing a better prognosis than any one treatment alone could produce.