There are many side effects associated with these drugs however, there have been major developments in recent years of drugs which combat the ill effects of the chemotherapy agents. It is also initiated to treat microscopic metastatic disease early. It is most effective at this stage. Adjuvant chemotherapy is the postoperative administration of chemotherapy agents, which may last up to a year. It continues to kill microscopic tumor cells.
Nobody knows the exact number of adjuvant chemotherapy cycles which are optimal.
This strategy of induction chemotherapy, surgical resection and postoperative chemotherapy has been adopted to the treatment of high grade soft tissue sarcomas at a few select medical centers. It has shown promising results with these tumors also. Much of the success in limb sparing surgery over the last two decades can be attributed to the development of effective induction and adjuvant protocols. Seek referral to an orthopaedic oncologist. Orthopaedic oncologists have the largest experience in the treatment of these tumors, particularly with limb sparing surgery.