What types of anesthesia are used in cancer surgery?

Anesthesia refers to drugs or other substances that keep you from feeling pain during surgery by causing loss of feeling or awareness. There are three types:

• Local anesthesia causes loss of feeling in one small area of the body.
• Regional anesthesia causes loss of feeling in a part of the body, such as an arm or leg.
• General anesthesia causes loss of feeling and a complete loss of awareness that seems like a very deep sleep.

The type used depends on the surgery. Your surgical and anesthesia team will explain which type you will have and what to expect.