Surgical Treatment of Cancer

In the past, it was believed that if a tumor could be safely removed and no cancer remains, complete healing could be achieved. Reality has often denied the initial assessment of the total exception. In most cases, the disease recurred, usually locally, sometimes in another location. Today we know that cancer cells circulate in the blood from a very early age (after all, from these we do cell cultures for personalized diagnosis).

Therefore, , the surgical treatment doctrine tends to change: A more realistic pursuit, which is practically useful, is to reduce the cancer burden. This is indeed important for further manipulation, and (should) be weighed against the fact that surgery and anesthesia will burden the immune system for some time. Therefore, in general, when we can remove the tumor without damaging vital organs and without functional problems, then surgery is a good choice. If, of course, the tumor is solitary, the prognosis is even better. In cases with scattered localizations, there is generally no benefit from surgery. These cancers are called inoperable. In addition to its great therapeutic importance, surgery also offers material from the tumor for histological diagnosis.