What does tumour removal surgery treat?

Operations can be used for cancers in different organs and tissues, including the voice box, mouth, nose and sinuses, skin, and some neuroendocrine tumours. Surgery may also be part of care for melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma or neuroblastoma. The procedure is tailored to the tumour's site, depth, spread and relationship to important structures.

The aim may be to remove all visible disease, obtain tissue for diagnosis, relieve pressure or bleeding, or reduce tumour burden before or alongside other treatment. Imaging, examination and sometimes a biopsy help the team decide whether surgery is feasible and what tissue needs to be removed.

Ask what the operation will remove and how it could affect speech, swallowing, breathing, appearance, movement or organ function. Discuss whether reconstruction, lymph-node surgery, medicines or radiotherapy may be part of the plan. Tell the team about medicines, allergies, smoking, dental concerns and any difficulty with nutrition before the operation.

After surgery, seek urgent advice for heavy bleeding, worsening breathlessness, inability to swallow fluids, confusion, fainting or rapidly increasing swelling. Contact the surgical team for a wound that is opening, spreading redness, pus-like drainage, uncontrolled pain or a new fever. The team will give site-specific instructions for recovery.

What is the purpose of surgery in my care? Which structures or lymph nodes may be removed? What function changes should I prepare for? Will I need reconstruction or additional treatment?