Chemotherapy: Neoadjuvant, Adjuvant, and Maintenance Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is administered before surgery to shrink tumors and prepare them for surgi...
Chemotherapy: Neoadjuvant, Adjuvant, and Maintenance
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is administered before surgery to shrink tumors and prepare them for surgical removal. It is given intravenously or orally and can be administered up to 24 hours before surgery. Examples of neoadjuvant chemotherapy drugs include cisplatin, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel.
Adjuvant chemotherapy is administered after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and prevent recurrence. It is typically given intravenously or orally and is administered for up to 28 days. Examples of adjuvant chemotherapy drugs include 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel, and carboplatin.
Maintenance chemotherapy is administered after surgery to continue to shrink any remaining tumors and prevent recurrence. It is typically given intravenously and is administered for up to 5 years. Examples of maintenance chemotherapy drugs include paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cisplatin.
These three phases of chemotherapy are used in combination to provide the best possible outcome for patients with cancer