What does chemotherapy before surgery treat?

This approach is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Because the medicines travel through the bloodstream, they can act on cancer cells beyond the main tumour as well as on the visible tumour. Shrinking the tumour may make surgery more manageable or allow the surgeon to plan the operation more precisely. It also lets the oncology team observe how the cancer responds before surgery. The treatment is used in selected situations, including some breast cancers, inflammatory breast cancer, and rectal cancer.

Your team will explain the planned medicines, schedule, blood tests, and possible effects before treatment starts. Tell them about medicines, supplements, infections, dental problems, and any chance of pregnancy. Keep a written record of fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth sores, or new numbness so the team can decide whether support or a treatment change is needed.

Contact your oncology team promptly for a fever, chills, breathing trouble, uncontrolled vomiting, severe diarrhoea, unusual bleeding, or a sudden change in how you feel. Use the contact number supplied for treatment days and nights. Do not wait for the next appointment when symptoms are severe or rapidly worsening.

Ask what the chemotherapy is intended to change, how response will be checked, and how it affects the timing or type of surgery. Clarify which side effects need a same-day call, whether a port is recommended, and what happens if the tumour does not respond as expected.