Surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment. He also plays a key role in the diagnosis of cancer and find out how far it has spread (a process called staging). Advances in surgical techniques allow surgeons to operate an increasing number of patients and have good results.
When the surgeon must cut into the body to function, it is invasive surgery. Currently, activities related to cutting and less damage to nearby organs and tissues (less invasive surgery), often can be done to remove the tumor while sparing more normal tissue and function as possible.
Surgery offers the greatest chance of cure for many cancers, especially those that do not spread to other parts of the body. Most people with cancer will have some type of surgery.
