Chemotherapy drugs kill or disable cancer cells. Chemotherapy is a treatment option for most types of breast cancer. Its use in a given person is based on the tumor stage and certain tumor characteristics. The decision to use chemotherapy is also affected by a person’s age, overall health and personal preferences. For those with early breast cancer, chemotherapy is usually given after breast surgery but before radiation treatments. This is called adjuvant therapy and helps to lower the risk of recurrence by getting rid of cancer that might still be present in the body.
Chemotherapy is sometimes used before surgery. In this case, it is called neoadjuvant or preoperative chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is often given to women with larger tumors who require a mastectomy. Chemotherapy may shrink the tumor enough so that lumpectomy becomes an option. In women with locally advanced breast cancer, chemotherapy is given prior to surgery to reduce the size of the tumors in the breast and lymph nodes. And, in those with metastatic cancer, chemotherapy is used to disable cancer cells that have spread from the breast to other parts of the body to try and reduce cancer-related symptoms and prolong survival.
Adjuvant Therapy Treatment - videos
Updated 09/23/09
