For me, this was not only a physical issue, but a long-standing issue of disharmony in my emotional and mental selves which had manifested physically.  So, it seemed natural that, in addition to the action of facing and dealing with the physical issue that required surgery, and the enormous fear of the surgery itself, I needed to engage my 'higher' Self.  It was an earthly as well as esoteric matter to address and solve.

I designed an action plan. The framework was to build up my ability to face the issue baby-step by daily baby-step. I used everything I could think of to exercise and reshape my emotional and mental responses.  

First, I studied 'mindfulness'.  Then I consulted The Farmers Almanac, the web and an astrologer to determine the best date for the surgery (in terms of ‘Sun sign rulerships of the body’.)  (I understand that this sounds at least odd, if not ridiculous … until you research and experiment with this part of The Hippocratic Oath – that dates back to 460 BC)

My 'Boot Camp' included all kinds of training resources – spiritual exercises; walking meditations; affirmations; listening to the work of spiritual masters; rest; creating mandalas; music baths; visualizations; Bach Flower Remedy custom mixes …

The part that nobody really wants to hear, acknowledge or accept: Doing the 'inner work' and taking personal responsibility for whatever manifests in one's life is the beginning of moving beyond fear and forward in personal evolution.  Allowing oneself to be in 'poor me' victim mode perpetuates the problem(s).