© 2005-2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All
rights reserved worldwide. Watch the Cancer.Net Video: Basics of
Cancer Surgery with Robert Sticca, MD, adapted from this
content. This is the first article in a three-part series, and
it provides an overview of the basics of surgery. Other articles
in this series address what to expect when undergoing surgery
and side effects of the treatment. Surgery (the removal of
cancerous tissue from the body) is the oldest type of cancer
therapy, and it remains an effective treatment for many types of
cancer today. The goal of surgery varies. It can be used to
diagnose cancer; determine where it is located, whether it has
spread, and whether it is affecting the functions of other
organs in the body; remove all or some of the cancerous tissue;
restore the body's appearance or function; or relieve side
effects. A doctor who specializes in treating cancer using
surgery is called a surgical oncologist. Some types of surgery
can be performed in a doctor's office,