Surgery removes cancer from the body. It is mostly used if cancer is found at an early stage, and is often followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy to kill or reduce any cancer cells left in the body.
For many people, cancer of unknown primary (CUP) has already spread to a number of places in the body, so surgery may not be the best treatment. If surgery is used, it may remove only some of the cancer. If the cancer is found only in the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm or groin, it may be possible to remove all of it with an operation. This is called a neck dissection or lymphadenectomy.
Sometimes surgery can help with symptoms – for example, to relieve pain caused by the tumour pressing on a nerve or organ
Side effects of surgery
Some people experience pain after surgery, but this is often temporary. Talk to your doctor or nurse about painkillers.
If lymph nodes have been removed, you may develop lymphoedema. This is swelling caused by a build-up of lymph fluid in part of the body, usually in an arm or leg.
For more on this, speak to your nurse, call Cancer Council 13 11 20, visit the Australasian Lymphology Association (ALA), or see Lymphoedema.
More resources
Prof Linda Mileshkin, Medical Oncologist, Clinical Researcher, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Christine Bradfield, Consumer; Cindy Bryant, Consumer; Dr Maria Cigolini, Head, Department of Palliative Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Clinical Lecturer, The University of Sydney, NSW; Mary Duffy, Advanced Practice Nurse and Nurse Coordinator, Lung Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Karen Hall, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Andrew Oar, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Dr Siobhan O’Neill, Medical Oncologist, Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, NSW; Prof Penelope Schofield, Department of Psychological Sciences and the Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, and Head, Behavioural Science in Cancer, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Frank Stoss, Consumer.
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