In cancer treatment, “post-operative adjuvant treatment” refers to supplementary treatment given after surgery.
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Adjuvant treatment is used to find and eliminate cancer cells that may remain after surgery. These cancer cells are often invisible to the eye, even in imaging tests. The goal of adjuvant treatment is to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence (the chance of cancer coming back). Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy are possible adjuvant treatment options.
References:
- Hospital Authority Smart Patient website. Breast Cancer. Available at https://www21.ha.org.hk/smartpatient/SPW/en-US/Disease-Information/Disease/?guid=bc5c075d-d161-4abc-9b1b-1b1ca15d6947, accessed in February 2022.
- National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Available at https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms, accessed in February 2022.
- American Cancer Society. Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy-forbreast-cancer.html, accessed in February 2022.