Palliative surgery is intended to relieve discomfort or disability associated with a cancer-related condition. Physicians also use surgery to determine if a patient has cancer. Sometimes, preventive, or prophylactic, surgery is recommended for people at high risk for certain cancers. Most cancer surgery is done on an inpatient basis, although some surgeries may be performed on an outpatient basis. Radiation More than 50 percent of all cancer patients will receive some kind of radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to destroy or damage cancer cells.
It is the primary treatment for many types of cancer. Radiation is concentrated on the tumor and surrounding area, so radiation exposure to normal, healthy cells surrounding the area is minimal. Radiation therapy may be given externally or internally. Most patients are able to receive radiation therapy as outpatients, meaning they can stay at home between treatments. Radiation oncology is provided primarily at two offices of the CancerCenters of the Carolinas , located near each hospital.