When cancer is concerned, there are a few reasons why your doctor may recommend surgery. First, surgery may be needed to determine if a tumor is cancerous or benign. This is called a biopsy, and can help your doctor determine treatment.
If you are diagnosed with cancer, your doctor may decide that surgery presents the best chance for a cure - especially if the tumor is localized and hasn't spread. In this case, your doctor will surgically remove the tumor, as well as some lymph nodes and surrounding tissue.
Surgery is sometimes used to "debulk" a tumor, and make chemotherapy or radiation treatments more effective. It may also be used to improve quality of life if the tumor is creating obstructions, pain or other side effects.
At Uniontown Hospital, our surgeons work closely with our oncologists and radiation therapists to develop the best treatment plan for each cancer patient. In addition to traditional surgical methods, our surgeons are experienced in the latest procedures for dealing with cancer, including techniques such as minimally invasive surgery and cryosurgery.
