Understanding Surgery

This booklet has been prepared to help you understand more about surgery, one of the main treatments for cancer. Surgery involves the partial or total removal of a tumour.

It's natural to feel nervous before surgery. Knowing what to expect before, during and after surgery may make you feel less anxious and improve your recovery. We cannot give advice about the best treatment for you. You need to discuss this with your doctors. However, we hope this information will answer some of your questions and help you think about what to ask your treatment team. For information about surgery for specific cancer types, see our booklet on the type of cancer you have.

This booklet does not need to be read from cover to cover- just read the parts that are useful to you. Some medical terms that may be unfamiliar are explained in the glossary. You may also like to pass this booklet to your family and friends for their information.