Cancer surgery is an operation or procedure to remove a tumor from the body. Sometimes, some surrounding healthy tissue is also removed. It is the oldest kind of cancer treatment, and it still works well to treat many types of cancer today.

A doctor who specializes in cancer surgery is called a surgical oncologist. Cancer surgeries may also be done by other types of doctors who specialize in cancer or other types of surgery.

You might have surgery to remove a tumor, help your body work the way it used to, or relieve side effects.