Chemo before the surgery

[sumanb]

The results of my Mammo and U sound were positive, Full results of the biopsy are not known. I heard something like Chemo before the surgery. I have not heard this much. The tumor is 4 CM. She wants to shrink the tumor and clear the margins before the surgery. Would this be as extensive as post surgery?

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear sumanb:  Chemotherapy prior to surgery is an option when the tumor is large and/or has high risk features.  This is called neoadjuvant therapy.  The protocols are very similar to the chemotherapy one might get after surgery just placed in a different order.  The possible advantages to this approach is to shrink the tumor to facilitate a less extensive surgery as well as to address the disease systemically (through the whole body in case there are any microscopic cells) without delay.

[japdip]

This is quite common; especially with the size of the tumor that you stated. This doesn't mean that you won't be receiveing additional treatment after surgery; depending on the pathology reports and any lymph node involvement.