Which treatment method is less likely to be effective in advanced cancer stages involving multiple organs?

In cases of advanced cancer involving multiple organs, surgery is often less likely to be effective as a treatment method. This is primarily because advanced cancer typically indicates that the disease has spread beyond its original site, making complete surgical removal of tumors impractical. Surgery generally aims to eliminate localized cancer or to relieve symptoms; however, when cancer has metastasized to multiple areas, resections can be extensive and may not lead to a significant improvement in outcomes or prolong survival.

Conversely, other treatment methods like chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy can more effectively target cancer cells throughout the body, addressing the systemic nature of advanced cancer. Chemotherapy serves to attack rapidly dividing cells, which is a hallmark of cancer, and can reach multiple sites in the body. Radiation can be used to shrink tumors or relieve pain, while hormone therapy can block hormones that fuel certain types of cancer. These treatments can manage symptoms and potentially prolong life even when surgery is not an option. Thus, surgery is generally not the go-to strategy for advanced malignancies affecting multiple organs.