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.
Examples of types of surgical procedures used to diagnose or destroy cancerous tissue include:
Biopsy
Removal of sample of tissue via a hollow needle or scalpel.
Endoscopy
Use of a very flexible tube with a lens or camera (and a light on the end), which is connected to a computer screen, allowing the physician to see inside the hollow organs, such as the uterus. Biopsy samples can be taken through the tube.
Laparoscopy
Use of a viewing tube with a lens or camera (and a light on the end), which is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen to examine the contents of the abdomen and remove tissue samples.
For some procedures the use of a (da Vinci) Robot Assisted Surgical System, may also be used
Laparotomy
A surgical procedure that involves an incision from the upper to lower abdomen; often used when making a diagnosis by less invasive tests is difficult.
Laser Surgery
Use of a powerful beam of light, which can be directed to specific parts of the body without making a large incision, to destroy abnormal cells.
Cryosurgery
Use of liquid nitrogen, or a probe that is very cold, to freeze and kill cancer cells.
Electrosurgery
Use of high-frequency electrical currents to destroy cancer cells.
Excisional
Cutting away cancerous tissue with a scalpel or other instruments to completely remove it and possibly some surrounding tissue. There are many types of excisional surgeries, each named for the particular area of the body in which they are performed, or the particular purpose for which they are performed.