Sometimes cancer cannot be cured by surgery or by any method of treatment. Many uncomfortable symptoms of cancer, however, can be relieved by surgery. This is known as "palliative" treatment. To palliate means to ease or to relieve.

Some of the main symptoms that can be helped or totally relieved by this kind of surgery are:
* pain,
* the inability to move or to function as usual, or
* an obstruction (something that blocks a necessary body function) of bowel or bladder function.

Palliative surgery is done only for the purpose of improving the quality of a person's life. It is not intended to cure the person or even prolong their life. It hopefully makes the person more comfortable. The goal is for them to be able to do what they value for a longer period of time. The time they have left living with their cancer can be less painful and more enjoyable.

To learn more about palliative surgery, call your local chapter of the American Cancer Society, or call (800) ACS-2345 or the National Cancer Institute at (800) 4-CANCER.

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