Which of the following is NOT a purpose of surgery for cancer?

• A. Cure cancer completely
• B. Remove entire tumor or reduce size (debulking)
• C. Decrease mass effect and intracranial pressure
• D. Obtain tissue for diagnosis (biopsy)

Answer: (A)

Surgery for cancer is used to diagnose, relieve symptoms, and reduce tumor burden, and it can be curative in certain localized cancers, but it is not a universal or guaranteed purpose across all cancers. The ability to cure depends on factors like tumor type, stage, margins, and biology; many cancers have micrometastases or systemic spread that surgery alone cannot completely eradicate. The other goals—removing the tumor or reducing its size (debulking) to control disease, alleviating mass effect and intracranial pressure to prevent complications, and obtaining tissue for diagnosis (biopsy)—are well-established, routine purposes of cancer surgery. Therefore, the statement describing curing cancer completely as a general purpose is not universally applicable.