• confirming a diagnosis
• removing a tumour
• staging (judging the size and extent of the cancer)
• reconstructing a part of the body
• palliative surgery to relieve symptoms
Surgery
Some types of cancer can be treated with surgery. If surgery is part of your treatment you will be admitted to hospital. Depending on the surgery you require, this may be for day care or for a longer inpatient stay. Before your surgery we might ask you to attend a pre-assessment clinic (or pre-admission clinic) so that we can make sure you are well enough for anaesthetic and surgery.
Your doctor may recommend surgery for a number of reasons:
Planning your surgery
Every operation is unique because every person is unique. We can't be specific about what will happen before, during or after your operation. However we can give you an idea of the usual order in which things will happen. You should be given extra information on what is planned for you. You should also have an opportunity to ask questions. If you're worried about anything or if anything is unclear, speak to your doctor or nurse.
Do I need to come into hospital?
Yes, you will usually have to come into hospital.
Some minor (Small) procedures can be performed in the outpatient clinic under local anaesthetic when you attend your appointment.
For more complex or larger procedures, you will be admitted for a day case procedure or an inpatient stay.
If you have sedation or a general anaesthetic as a day case you will need to make arrangements to be collected by a relative or friend, and will usually return home the same afternoon or evening.
After some surgeries, you will need to be admitted to a ward for a longer stay of days or possibly weeks.
Some minor (Small) procedures can be performed in the outpatient clinic under local anaesthetic when you attend your appointment.
For more complex or larger procedures, you will be admitted for a day case procedure or an inpatient stay.
If you have sedation or a general anaesthetic as a day case you will need to make arrangements to be collected by a relative or friend, and will usually return home the same afternoon or evening.
After some surgeries, you will need to be admitted to a ward for a longer stay of days or possibly weeks.