What does "Surgery" generally involve in cancer treatment?

Surgery in cancer treatment primarily involves the physical removal of tumors and surrounding tissue. This approach is often employed to eliminate cancerous growths and may include excising not only the tumor itself but also nearby lymph nodes or other tissues that could potentially contain cancer cells. The goal is to achieve clear margins, ensuring that no cancerous cells remain in the body after the operation.

Surgery can be a curative treatment for localized tumors, allowing for direct intervention in the tumor's growth. It can also serve diagnostic purposes, providing tissue samples for biopsy to determine the presence and type of cancer. Beyond curative intentions, surgery can be palliative, helping relieve symptoms caused by tumors that are pressing against vital organs or structures.

The other options represent different modalities of cancer treatment rather than surgical intervention. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells, radiation therapy utilizes high-energy waves to target tumors, and immunotherapy stimulates or suppresses the immune system to fight cancer. Each of these methods plays a vital role in a comprehensive cancer treatment strategy but does not involve the direct surgical removal of tumors.