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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
OverviewChemotherapy for breast cancer uses drugs to target and destroy breast cancer cells. These drugs are usually injected directly into a vein through a needle or taken by mouth as pills.Chemotherapy for breast cancer frequently is used in addition to other treatments, such as surgery, radiation or hormone therapy. Chemotherapy can be used to increase the chance of a cure, decrease the risk of the cancer returning, alleviate symptoms from the cancer or help people with cancer live longer with a better quality of life.If the cancer has recurred or spread, chemotherapy may control the breast cancer to help you live longer. Or it can help ease symptoms the cancer is causing.Chemotherapy for breast cancer also carries a risk of side effects — some temporary and mild, others more serious or permanent. Your doctor can help you decide whether chemotherapy for breast cancer is a good choice for you. Why it's doneChemotherapy for breast cancer may be given in the following situations: Chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancerAfter you have surgery to remove the breast cancer, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy to destroy any undetected cancer cells and reduce your risk of the cancer recurring. This is known as adjuvant chemotherapy.Your doctor may recommend adjuvant chemotherapy if you have a high risk of the cancer recurring or spreading to other parts of your body (metastasizing), even if there is no evidence of cancer after surgery. You may have a higher risk of metastasis if cancer cells are found in lymph nodes near the affected breast. Chemotherapy before surgery for breast cancerChemotherapy is sometimes given before surgery (known as neoadjuvant therapy or preoperative chemotherapy) to shrink larger cancers. This may: Allow the surgeon the best chance of removing the cancer completely Enable the surgeon to remove only the cancer, rather than the entire breast Decrease the extent of disease in lymph nodes, allowing for less invasive lymph node surgery Decrease the chance the cancer will return Help your doctor understand how well your cancer responds to chemotherapy, which helps clarify prognosis and the best chemotherapy drug choiceNeoadjuvant therapy is often used for: Inflammatory breast cancer HER2-positive breast cancer Triple-negative breast cancer High-grade breast cancers Cancers that have spread to the lymph nodes Larger breast cancers Chemotherapy as the primary treatment for advanced breast cancerIf breast cancer has spread to other parts of your body and surgery isn't an option, chemotherapy can be used as the primary treatment. It may be used in combination with targeted therapy.The main goal of chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer is generally to improve quality and length of life rather than to cure the disease. Get the latest breast cancer information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox. Sign up for free and receive the latest on breast cancer treatment, care and management. I would like to learn more about: The latest on newly diagnosed breast cancer Up-to-date information on recurrent breast cancer Specialized treatment information for high risk breast cancer We use the data you provide
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