Surgery
Overview
Surgery is a common and foundational component of cancer treatment, often used to remove tumours or cancerous tissue from the body.
Types of cancer surgery include:
| Curative Surgery | Aimed at removing the entire tumour or cancerous tissue, with the goal of curing the cancer. |
| Debulking Surgery | Removes a portion of a large tumour when complete removal is not feasible, reducing the tumour burden and improving the effectiveness of other treatments. |
| Palliative Surgery | Alleviates symptoms or improves quality of life by removing or reducing cancer-related complications. |
Surgery is an integral part of the multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment, often combined with other modalities such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. The specific approach depends on the characteristics of the cancer and the overall health of the patient. The goal is to optimise outcomes, whether it be a cure, disease control, or palliation of symptoms.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. It can be administered systemically (through the bloodstream) to target cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is used in various cancers, either as the primary treatment or in combination with other therapies, such as with surgery or radiotherapy.
