Neoadjuvant therapy

Neoadjuvant therapy is a type of medical treatment that is administered as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given. This therapy is used to make surgery less extensive and more successful. It includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.

Overview

Neoadjuvant therapy is a relatively new approach in the treatment of cancer. It is used to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery, making it easier to remove. This can increase the chances of a successful surgery and reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

Types of Neoadjuvant Therapy

There are several types of neoadjuvant therapy, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy is a treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones. In cancer treatment, it is used to stop or slow the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow.

Benefits and Risks

The main benefit of neoadjuvant therapy is that it can make surgery easier and more successful. However, like all treatments, it also carries risks. These can include side effects from the therapy itself, such as nausea and fatigue, as well as the risk that the therapy will not shrink the tumor as much as hoped.

See Also

• Adjuvant therapy
• Cancer treatment
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy