I know a couple of surgeons refused to operate on pancreatic cancer without PET results when the cancer was shrunk to 1-2 centimeters. Even if there are metastatic sites and the metastasized cells grow, the original cancer would still be removed, we’d have fewer cancer cells overall. What is the reason that doctors don’t do it?
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If the cancer is metastatic, removing the original tumor may not help. The cancer has moved to other places, and can keep growing from there. If it has spread, there may be better treatment plans like intense chemo/radiation. Surgery is preferable if the cancer is contained or in a few accessible spots, but not that helpful when the cancer is all over the place. Better to know the situation so you can get the best care to the patient ASAP and not potentially weaken them with a useless surgery.
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