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Surgery| is an important part of cancer treatment. Depending on the size and position of the tumour in the body, an operation to remove it may be the first part of treatment.
A biopsy of the tumour is often taken first to make the diagnosis. This involves taking a piece of tissue from the tumour so it can be looked at in the laboratory by the pathologist. They will then identify the type of cancer|.
Sometimes, an operation may be dangerous or cause too much damage because of the size and position of the tumour. In this situation, chemotherapy| or radiotherapy| may be given before the operation to shrink the tumour and make surgery easier.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
We worked with The Chilidren's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) to make sure you have the information you need about children's cancer.