If surgical removal or radiotherapy treatment aimed at completely eradicating the cancer is being considered, it is very important to check the extent of the primary cancer very carefully. In all other situations it is not usually important to know the exact extent of the primary growth.

The same sorts of considerations apply to cancer in any part of the body. By taking a history of symptoms, doing a careful clinical examination and arranging appropriate tests your doctor should have an accurate idea of the extent of the primary cancer before surgery or radiotherapy is commenced. Even so, the surgeon may still discover only after opening the patient up that complete removal of the cancer is not possible. This can happen even after the most careful pre-operative assessment. Of course, the chances of it happening are greatest when the pre-operative assessment is least thorough.

Remember that the extent of the primary growth is only important when local treatment is planned. As a rule, if secondary growths are known to be present and/or if treatment which goes right through the body is to be used, it is not necessary to know the exact extent of the primary growth.

*91/40/1*

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