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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Chemo before the surgery
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Chemo before the surgery
by sumanb, Mar 03, 2007 12:00AM
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?
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Mar 05, 2007 12:00AM
, Mar 05, 2007 12:00AM
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.
Member Comments (2)
by japdip, Mar 03, 2007 12:00AM
To: sumanb
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.
