Surgery

Surgery is the oldest form of treatment for cancer. Approximately 60 percent of people with cancer will have some type of surgery.

Types of surgery

Preventative surgery is used to remove a growth that is not cancerous, but has a good chance of becoming malignant if left untreated. This type of surgery removes pre-cancerous conditions such as abnormal growth on the cervix or polyps in the colon.
Diagnostic surgery is used to remove a sample of tissue of the suspected tumor for laboratory testing to confirm diagnosis and identify the type of cancer.
Staging surgery is used to determine the seriousness of the cancer and what treatment will be most effective.
Curative surgery is used to remove the localized tumor in hope of taking out all of the cancerous tissue. Curative surgery is the primary treatment for cancer.
Palliative surgery is used to ease complications of advanced cancer and is not a cure. This type of surgery is used to help discomfort and disabilities associated with an advanced disease.
Supportive surgery is used to help with the process of other types of treatments. Ports, devices put under the skin to help with chemotherapy are an example of this type of surgery.
Reconstructive surgery is used to restore a cancer patient's appearance or the function of a body part after treatment.

Biopsy

Biopsy is the removal of all or part of the tumor for diagnostic testing.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) uses a very fine needle on a syringe to remove a small amount of tissue from the tumor and does not need a surgical incision.
Excisional or incisional biopsy uses local or regional anesthesia as a surgeon cuts into the skin to remove the tumor (excisional) or part of a large tumor (incisional).
Endoscopy uses a very small, flexible tube with a viewing lens and light at the end to clearly see any suspicious masses and remove tissue. The endoscope can be passed through natural body openings in the gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory tracts.

Laser surgery

Laser light is a very powerful and focused beam of light energy used for precise surgical work, such as vaporizing cancer of the cervix, larynx and skin.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery is the use of a solid probe or liquid nitrogen spray to freeze and kill abnormal cells. This treatment is most commonly used on pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix.

Information

For more information about the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center or to schedule an appointment, please call (800) 749-7424 or (352) 265-8000.

Shands at UF Cancer Services were ranked 46th in the country by U.S.News&World Report.
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Shands at UF Cancer Services Navigation

History

University of Florida Shands Cancer Center 2007 Annual Report (PDF file)

Types of Cancer

Brain Cancer

Breast Cancer

Colon Cancer

Gastrointestinal Cancers

Genitourinary Cancers

Gynecological Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Larynx Cancer

Leukemia

Lung Cancer

Lymphoma

Oropharyngeal Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Skin Cancer

Cancer Treatment

Bone Marrow Transplant

Brachytherapy

Chemotherapy

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy

Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Surgery

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment or find out more information about cancer services offered at Shands at the University of Florida, please call 352.265.8000 or toll-free 1.800.749.7424

You may also email our Consultation Center (consult@shands.ufl.edu) or use our secure online form.