Women who have extensive surgery for breast cancer are given treatment for restoration of muscle tone needed for movement of the arms. Progress has also been made in teaching new mechanisms of speech to people who have undergone surgical removal of the larynx. In addition to saving lives by eradicating cancer, surgery also may improve the remaining months or years of life for persons whose cancers cannot be eradicated, restoring comfort and a sense of usefulness. When severe pain accompanies cancer, surgery may bring relief by severing the nerve pathways that carry the painful sensations. In addition, surgery is sometimes necessary to treat abscesses resulting from either the tumour or infection and to relieve intestinal obstructions.
Surgery is also valuable as a preventive measure in controlling cancer.
It may be used to remove burn scars that may lead to cancer, precancerous nodules in the thyroid gland, and certain precancerous pigmented moles.