What would you think if you had been treated for cancer, perhaps had surgery, and thought it was all over, and the doctor told you that you needed more treatment? It's normal to feel a little nervous and confused. "The surgery was successful, the cancer was removed, so why the medication?" you might think. That's a fair question. Today, we're talking about an answer to that and a treatment that will make you stronger.
What exactly is Adjuvant Therapy?
Simply put, Adjuvant Therapy means "helping treatment." To be precise, it's an additional treatment given after your main treatment, which is usually surgery to remove the cancer, has been completed.
Imagine that we have swept and cleaned a house thoroughly. But there may be small dust particles that are invisible to the naked eye, right? That's how it is. After a cancerous tumor is removed through surgery, tiny cancer cells that cannot be seen by our eyes or by advanced scanning tests (MRI, CT scan, PET scan) and can only be seen with a microscope may be hidden somewhere in the body.
The main goal of these additional treatments is to find and destroy those hidden enemies, that is, microscopic cancer cells. This can greatly reduce the risk of cancer recurrence .
Who needs this treatment? In what situations?
When a doctor recommends this type of additional treatment for you, they take several factors into consideration. It's not the same for everyone. It can be influenced by things like:
- Type of cancer: These treatments are most commonly used for certain types of cancer. Examples include, but are not limited to, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, and some skin cancers.
- Cancer Stage: Often, after surgery in the early stages of cancer, this treatment is given to prevent the cancer from coming back. Sometimes, this treatment can also help extend the life of patients with advanced cancer, where the cancer has spread a little.
- The nature of the cancer cells: Some cancer cells are very aggressive and spread quickly. Doctors examine these cells under a microscope to determine their aggressiveness. These additional treatments are almost always recommended for cancers that are more likely to come back.
What happens during adjuvant therapy?
When you hear the word "adjuvant," the word that comes to mind is "after." That means treatment given after the main treatment (often surgery). There is another side to this, called ``neoadjuvant therapy.'' It is given before surgery, to shrink the tumor and make the surgery easier. That's a separate topic.
There are several main methods used in adjuvant therapy. Depending on the type and nature of your cancer, your doctor may suggest one or more of these.
| Therapy Type | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Radiation Therapy | This method uses high-energy rays, like X-rays, to destroy any cancer cells that may remain after surgery. This method is sometimes used if the entire tumor could not be removed during surgery. |
| Chemotherapy | This involves administering powerful drugs that travel throughout the body and destroy cancer cells that are hidden somewhere. The first adjuvant therapy used was chemotherapy given after breast cancer surgery. |
| Hormone Therapy | Hormones help some cancers (e.g. breast, prostate) grow. This treatment works by blocking the action of those hormones, depriving the cancer cells of the "fuel" they need. |
| Immunotherapy | It "trains" our own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. This is now widely used for things like lung, colon, and breast cancer. |
| Targeted Therapy | This is a new approach. It uses drugs that target specific proteins that cancer cells use to grow and stop them from working. |
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this treatment?
When it comes to cancer treatment, there is never a 100% guarantee of cure. However , adjuvant therapy can significantly reduce the risk of cancer coming back. It can also help patients with difficult-to-treat cancers live longer. For these reasons, many people choose to receive this additional treatment.
But, there is another side to the coin. These treatments can cause some unpleasant side effects . Your daily routine may change, and you may have to see your doctor more often. Also, we never know for sure if these treatments were really necessary. It is possible that the surgery itself would have removed 100% of the cancer.
The most important thing is that the final decision to receive this treatment is yours. Your medical team will respect any decision you make. Therefore, it is very important to carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
When you talk to your doctor about this, you can ask these questions. These will help you make a decision:
- What additional treatment is recommended for me?
- Why do you think I'm a good fit for it?
- When should this treatment be started?
- How long does treatment take?
- What are the possible long-term or permanent side effects of this?
- How will this treatment affect my future health status (prognosis)?
How long will it take to get back to normal after all this is over?
This journey is different for everyone. Adjuvant therapy can give you the peace of mind that "I did everything I could to prevent the cancer from coming back." But sometimes, you may feel more anxious about the side effects of the treatment than the benefits of the treatment.
Fighting cancer can be like a hurdle race. As you approach the finish line, you've overcome one hurdle after another, and you're feeling tired and frustrated when you realize there's still one more hurdle to jump. Adjuvant therapy can feel like an extra hurdle.
But make sure you understand the pros and cons of jumping that hurdle, talk to your doctor, and make an informed decision. Your medical team will do everything they can to help you make that decision. Then you can cross that final hurdle victoriously.
Take-Home Message
- Adjuvant therapy is a "helper" treatment given after a main treatment, such as cancer surgery.
- The main goal is to destroy hidden microscopic cancer cells that are not even detected by scans, and to prevent the cancer from coming back.
- There are various types of adjuvant therapy methods, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy.
- There are advantages (reduced risk of recurrence) and disadvantages (side effects) to receiving this treatment.
- Whether or not to undergo treatment is your decision. Discuss all the factors carefully with your doctor before making that decision.
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