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Surgery
Surgery physically removes tissue from specific sites in the body. Cancer cells, tumours and surrounding tissue are cut away. Many cancers, especially if detected early, can be successfully treated in this way. Surgery is often the treatment of choice for solid tumours such as cancers of the bowel, breast, head and neck. The surgeon aims to remove the cancer cells or tumours from the body. They use a small sharp knife called a scalpel while the patient is under local or general anaesthetic. A margin of normal tissue surrounding the cancer is also removed and often, a sample from the adjoining lymph glands (also called lymph nodes). Lymph glands are filters for the removal of harmful agents like bacteria and toxins as well as cancer cells. All the tissue removed is sent to the laboratory to find out if any cancer cells are present. The doctor can determine from the results what further treatments, if any, need to be planned. If the lymph glands are found to be contain cancer cells, the cancer has spread beyond the organ in which it began. Find out more
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