Sometimes chemo is the only treatment you will need. More often, chemo is used along with surgery or radiation therapy or with both. Here's why:

• Chemo may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy.

• It may be used after surgery or radiation therapy to help kill any remaining cancer cells.

• It may be used with other treatments if your cancer returns.

When chemo is given after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may still be present, it is called adjuvant therapy. When chemo is used to shrink a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy, it is called neoadjuvant therapy.

Last Medical Review: 08/28/2008
Last Revised: 09/11/2008