Let's learn about the treatment given before cancer surgery? (Neoadjuvant Therapy)

Has your doctor told you or someone you know needs surgery for cancer? When they say that, they probably also tell you about 'treatment before surgery'. This is medically called Neoadjuvant Therapy . When they hear this name, many people get a little nervous, thinking, "I'm going to have surgery, so do I need to get treatment before that?" But this is actually something that can help you a lot and bring you hope. Let's talk about this simply, removing all the fears and doubts you have about it.

What is neoadjuvant therapy?

Simply put, Neoadjuvant Therapy is a treatment method that allows a tumor to shrink, that is, become smaller, before surgery to remove it. Think about it, there is something that is difficult to remove, like a large stone. It is easy to crush it, crush it, and remove it, right? This is the same. If the tumor is large, it may be difficult for the surgeon to completely remove it. But when the tumor is shrunk with these treatments, the surgery becomes much easier and more successful.

Sometimes these treatments are so successful that the tumor disappears completely and surgery is not needed. Your doctor may also call this perioperative therapy or induction therapy. These are all the same thing.

What are these treatments?

This neoadjuvant treatment method uses different things. Your doctor will decide what is best for you based on the type and nature of your cancer. Let's look at the main methods.

Sometimes your team may combine these two treatments. For example, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given together (neoadjuvant chemoradiation). This treatment can last from a few weeks to a few months, or even a year. Surgery is usually done within a month of completing treatment.

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What types of cancer is this treatment used for?

Oncologists use this treatment for more than a dozen types of cancer, including:

• Breast Cancer: For some types of breast cancer, chemotherapy, hormone, or immunotherapy is given before surgery.
• Colon Cancer: If the cancer has metastasized to the liver, chemotherapy may be given before surgery.
• Lung Cancer: Chemotherapy is commonly given for some types of lung cancer that have spread.
• Prostate Cancer: This cancer is fueled by the male hormone testosterone. It is controlled with hormone therapy.
• Rectal Cancer: It is also common for these to be given together with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

What are the advantages of this treatment method?

There are several benefits to this. Knowing these will help you overcome your fear of this treatment.

• Smaller tumors: As we discussed earlier, larger tumors become smaller , making surgery much easier. For example, if a tumor is smaller in a breast cancer case, instead of a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast, a smaller surgery called a lumpectomy can be performed, which removes only the tumor.
• Complete disappearance of some tumors: Sometimes small tumors may completely dissolve and surgery may not be necessary.
• Reduced healing time:When the surgery is small, the incisions in your body are smaller. So you can recover quickly and return to your normal life.
• The success of treatment can be measured: When treating before surgery, doctors can see how the cancer is responding to the treatment and how quickly the tumor is shrinking. This allows them to make better decisions about future treatment.
• Killing hidden cancer cells: Sometimes, tiny cancer cells that break away from the main tumor, are invisible to the naked eye, and cannot be detected by scans, and can travel to other parts of the body (micrometastases). These hidden cells are also killed by treatments like chemotherapy, which affect the whole body.
• Reduced risk of cancer recurrence: Some studies have found that neoadjuvant treatment reduces the risk of cancer recurring after it has been cured.

Are there no side effects?

As with any cancer treatment, side effects can occur. But what they are depends on the type of treatment you are receiving. Some of the most common are:

• Appetite
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Loss of taste on the tongue (ageusia)
• Nausea and vomiting

But don't be afraid of these side effects. The most important thing is to talk openly about all of this with your doctor. He or she will give you the necessary medications and advice to reduce these side effects. Also, there are special treatments (palliative care) that can help you manage the complications and keep you comfortable during treatment.

What is the difference between Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapy?

You may have also heard of Adjuvant Therapy. Both are treatments given as support for cancer surgery. The difference is in the timing of the treatment.

If you think of this like a marathon, Neoadjuvant therapy is like the warm-up before the race. It prepares you well for the race. Adjuvant therapy is like the cool-down after the race, it eliminates any remaining problems and makes you fully recovered.