Adjuvant systemic therapy seeks to prevent a recurrence of cancer. The doctor will treat a woman's entire body with drugs, hoping to eradicate all cancer cells. Unfortunately, available treatments come with risks of their own. Primary types of adjuvant systemic therapy for breast cancer are chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Chemotherapy Cancer chemotherapy is the process of using chemicals to prevent cancer cells from growing or spreading, either by preventing them from multiplying or by causing the cells to self-destruct.
Chemotherapy is taken either as a pill, via injection or intravenously.
The drugs travel in the bloodstream and spread throughout the entire body. Chemotherapy usually is given in cycles, with each treatment being followed by a recovery period. Typically the patient is given a combination of chemicals, which are selected from more than 80 different drugs that can be used. Combining drugs that have different actions may allow a greater number of cells to be destroyed and might make it less likely that the patient will develop resistance to one particular drug. Your doctor determines which chemicals to use based on your type of cancer, age, general health and perceived ability to handle various side effects.