Understanding the risks

Almost all medical procedures have risks. Factors to consider when weighing up the risks and benefits of surgery include:

• how long the operation will take
• the type of anaesthetic you will have
• the expected outcome
• what will happen if you don’t have the surgery
• your age and general health.

Although advances in surgical techniques have made surgery safer, there are still things that may be unknown or not go as planned. Complications may also occur during surgery and after surgery.

Surgery may cause permanent physical changes such as scarring or loss of a body part. It may also affect your fertility (your ability to conceive a child). If you are interested in having children in the future, talk to your surgeon about your options before the operation.

For more on this, see Fertility and cancer.

Overall, you and your surgeon should feel that the expected benefits are greater than the possible risks. Sometimes there are few options other than surgery. If you are unsure, ask for a second opinion from another specialist.