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Cancer can almost never be cured by surgery once it has spread through the bloodstream. Before agreeing to surgery aimed at curing you, make sure that the likely spots for blood-borne secondary deposits have been checked. Different cancers tend to spread to different organs. For each type there is a typical pattern which your doctor should know. The likely spots should be checked by taking a history of your symptoms, examining you and arranging tests such as blood tests, X-rays and scans. For example, if your cancer tends to spread to the lung, at the very least your doctor should ask you directly whether you have a cough with or without blood in the sputum, shortness of breath or chest pain. Whether or not you have these symptoms, your lungs should be examined and you should have a plain chest X-ray. Sometimes, the search should be more thorough than this, especially if very extensive surgery is planned with the sole aim of curing you. I am referring here to surgery that is so drastic that, if you are not cured, you stand to gain absolutely nothing or even to be worse off.

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