surgery

For confirmation of the type of cancer present, a sample of tissue (called a biopsy) may be needed

There are different types of biopsies. Some are done with local anaesthetic where the doctor will use a needle to numb the area and others are done with a general anaesthetic while you are asleep.

A bone marrow biopsy is a special type of biopsy using your hip bone to confirm cancer type in the bone marrow (inner area within the bone).

Cancers might be removed surgically and also need chemotherapy, radiation therapy or immunotherapy to target the remaining cancer cells

Some tumours will need to be operated on by a surgeon to take away the bulk of the cancer. This is usually under general anaesthetic with a stay in hospital for recovery.

Sometimes chemotherapy or radiation therapy is used to try and shrink the tumour before it is surgically removed (called ‘neoadjuvant’).