Surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment, it is the basis for many cancer treatments, and it is responsible for more cancer cures than any other form of treatment.1
What it's effective for and why
Surgery can be an effective cancer treatment when a patient's cancer requires diagnosis and staging, done by way of surgical biopsy. If a cancer is localized, surgery can be used as a first-line treatment to remove the tumor(s) and prevent metastasis. Additionally, surgery can 'debulk' a tumor—meaning surgery can remove as much of a tumor as is safe and possible. This treatment can serve as an adjuvant to other treatment types, such as chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, helping to make the full treatment regimen even more effective. To that end, surgery, especially debulking, can simply be palliative—meaning that the treatment is aiming to relieve symptoms, or to relieve pressure on surrounding tissue or organs2.
Side effects: Overview
Generally speaking, the risks and side effects of surgery as a cancer treatment are no different than those associated with many other surgical procedures: general anesthesia carries a variety of risks, as does the risk of bleeding. Furthermore, if a post-operative patient is bed-ridden for any length of time, a pulmonary embolism becomes a serious risk. In this case, a clot forms in the legs due to poor circulation. Should it break loose, it could land in the lungs and be potentially fatal. However, hospital staff are typically fully aware of this threat and will undertake the steps necessary to prevent this.
References
- Ko, Andrew H MD et al. 2008. Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy, Fifth Ed. Kansas City. Andres McMeel Publishing LLC.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. Cancer Surgery: Physically removing cancer
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