Chemotherapy employs anti-cancer medications administered either intravenously into a vein or orally. Most cancer cells in the body are reached by the medications traveling through the bloodstream. If cancer has spread to the bloodstream, which covers and protects the brain and the spinal cord, breast cancer immunotherapy may be administered directly into this area.
Chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer involves using medicines to target and kill tumor cells. These medications are typically injected directly into the bloodstream with a needle or taken orally as pills.
Chemotherapy is frequently used in conjunction with other therapies for breast cancer, such as surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy. Chemotherapy could be used to improve the chances of a cure, reduce the risk of the disease returning, relieve cancer symptoms, or help individuals without cancer live longer and with a higher quality of life.
Other reasons individuals might receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy include:
Doctors can monitor how cancer reacts to therapy before removing the tumors. If the initial round of chemo medicines fails to shrink the tumors, your physician will know that additional drugs are required. It should also eliminate those cancer cells that have migrated but are not visible with the open eye or in imaging studies. Neoadjuvant chemo, like adjuvant chemo, can help decrease the risk of cancer recurring.
Some persons with early-stage illness who receive neoadjuvant chemo may live much longer if the treatment eradicates cancer. This is more common in women with tri cancer or Her2-positive cancer.
Chemotherapy before surgery might also provide some people with extra time to obtain genetic testing or arrange reconstructive surgery.
Breast cancer chemotherapy medications include:
Chemotherapy has the most significant impact if more than one medicine is used simultaneously. Combinations of two or three medications are frequently utilized. Doctors utilized a variety of pharmacological combinations, and it is unclear which mixture is the best.
Chemotherapy following breast cancer surgery:
Following breast cancer surgery, your doctor may offer chemotherapy to eradicate any undiagnosed cancer cells and lower your risk of the disease reoccurring. It is also identified as adjuvant chemotherapy.
Even when there is no sign of cancer after surgery, your doctor may consider drug treatment if you have a high chance of cancer reoccurring or migrating to other body regions. If cancer cells are discovered in lymph nodes around the afflicted breast, you may be at a greater risk of metastasis.