Which surgical approach is primarily focused on removing as much of the tumor as possible?

The primary focus of debulking surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible, even if complete removal is not achievable. This approach is often utilized in cases where the tumor is large or has invaded surrounding tissues, making complete excision impractical. Removing a significant portion of the tumor can help alleviate symptoms, reduce tumor burden, and sometimes enhance the effectiveness of additional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

In contrast, prophylactic surgery is aimed at preventing cancer by removing tissues at risk of developing malignancy, rather than addressing an existing tumor. Reconstructive surgery is focused on restoring function or appearance following a cancer operation, which may not involve direct removal of tumor tissue. Palliative surgery is designed to relieve symptoms or improve quality of life in advanced disease, rather than to eliminate the cancer itself. This makes debulking surgery the most appropriate choice when the intention is to maximize tumor removal.