Buy your tickets to A Night to Strike Out Rare Cancer! On sale now. Buy now×
Donate

Surgery as a treatment for rare cancer

« Additional Treatment Types for Rare Cancer

overview

Overview

This is a procedure in which a surgeon removes cancerous tissue or tumors from your body. Surgery is often the first choice of treatment if a tumor is localized—limited to the part of the body in which it began—and can be safely removed. Doctors can use surgery to:

  • Remove an entire tumor that is contained in one area. (Known as a full resection.)
  • Remove part of a tumor to help other treatments work better. (Known as debulking.)
  • Ease symptoms that are causing pain or pressure.
compare

Considerations

Rare cancers may require highly specialized surgeons. This is especially important if the tumor is in a location that makes surgical removal difficult. Seek out a surgeon who is familiar with your type of rare cancer.

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Afterward, however, surgical incisions may hurt and take time to heal. It is important to follow your care team’s instructions to prevent infection. Your doctor and nurses can help you develop a pain management plan for after surgery.

case study

Example: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are a rare type of cancer that forms in the digestive system, most often the stomach and small intestine. The main treatment for GISTs that have not spread is surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove all the cancer, known as a full resection. If the GIST is small, it can often be removed via laparoscopy. This is a surgical procedure that uses a camera and small incisions. Even if the tumor is large or growing into other organs, the surgeon might still be able to remove it entirely. Removing a GIST completely can be curative.

For more information about GISTs, see the Life Raft Group.

Additional resources