Shrinking the Target: Why Chemotherapy Often Comes Before Cancer Surgery
When someone is diagnosed with a localized tumor, such as breast cancer, the most intuitive next step feels like immediate surgery. It is completely natural for patients and their families to ask: "There is a physical lump right here, so why can't the surgeon just operate and remove it today? Why are we starting with chemotherapy instead?" While physically removing a tumor is a vital part of treatment, cancer care requires a comprehensive strategy. Modern oncology frequently utilizes a method called neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which shifts the order of treatments to achieve much better long-term results. What is Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy? When…












