Surgery is the oldest type of cancer treatment and continues to be an effective treatment for many types of cancer. The Cancer and Hematology Center has a team of surgical oncologists who specialize in different types of cancer, offering the best surgical care for our patients.
Surgery can play several roles in the care of a cancer patient. It can be used to diagnose cancer by performing a biopsy that removes part or all of a suspicious area to examine it. It can also be used to determine the stage of the cancer and find out through it the size of the tumor and if the cancer has spread, and where. In addition, there is curative surgery, where the surgeon removes the tumor and part of the surrounding tissue to eliminate the disease. In some cases where the entire tumor cannot be removed, surgery can be done to reduce the mass of the tumor.
There is also reconstructive surgery, where after major surgery to remove a tumor, people can choose to undergo another surgery to restore the appearance and functions of the body; and preventive surgery that is done to prevent the onset of cancer.
