Revised June 2006
Surgery is often the first step in cancer treatment because it can be used to both diagnose and/or treat cancer. More than half of the people diagnosed with cancer will have some type of surgery or operation at some point. To find out if surgery may be considered to diagnose or treat a specific cancer please review the appropriate Types of Cancer page.
Surgery can be used to remove tumours confined to a small space. Surgery can also be used to reduce the size of large tumours so that follow-up treatment by radiation therapy or chemotherapy will be even more effective.
Surgery alone sometimes cures cancer. Sometimes it is used in conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy (cancer drugs) or radiation therapy.
In addition to curing cancer, surgery can also be used as a preventive measure by removing precancerous conditions. Surgery may also be recommended as a palliative measure to help reduce pain and other symptoms.
Some cancer surgeries are performed at the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Site; however, many more are performed by surgeons at hospitals throughout the province. Surgical oncologists are specialized in using surgery to treat cancer.
The BC Cancer Agency coordinates the BC Surgical Oncology Network, with the aim of promoting quality cancer surgery across the province. The BCSON sets standards for cancer surgeries and provides training and continuing medical education for surgeons.