by Dr. Veronique Desaulniers; The Truth About Cancer
For many, surgery to remove tumors or organs that have been affected by cancer may seem to be the most benign of the “Big Three” conventional cancer therapies. Make no mistake, however, it is a highly-invasive procedure and comes with its own risks and needs for rebuilding the immune system post cancer surgery.
What Cancer Surgery Does to Your Body
Invasive surgery for breast cancer and other forms of cancer affects the body in various ways. Research has shown that it can have a detrimental effect on the immune system by significantly reducing the number and production rate of Natural Killer cells. It also causes the body to go into a trauma state. During this state, the body automatically secretes growth factors with the aim of facilitating a healing response. These same factors, however, can also catalyze cancer cells to grow and spread.
Another major concern about surgery is that during this invasive procedure, the natural barriers in the body that would normally keep a cancer tumor contained in a particular area of the body or organ is breached. This breaching may enable cancer cells to leak past natural barriers and spread to other parts of the body system. It should be noted that this concern exists for those who are considering breast cancer biopsy as well.
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