Question

Debulking is a surgical procedure for cancer that has the intent of​ ________.

a. removing the tumor and surrounding tissues
b. removing organs that secrete hormones that encourage the cancer to grow
c. reducing the size of the tumor
d. taking a small portion of the tumor for biopsy purposes

Answer 1

removing the tumor and surrounding tissues

Answer 2

The correct answer is option C that is, reducing the size of the tumor.

Debulking refers to the reduction of as much of the volume of a tumor as possible. It is generally attained by surgical removal. When done for a curative purpose, surgical debulking of tumors is called cytoreductive surgery or cytoreduction.

The process of debulking eradicates a portion of the tumor to make it smaller and more receptive to radiation therapy or chemotherapy.