| Adjuvant Therapy | | | | that are commonly hormone sensitive include breast, |
| Adjuvant therapy is used after primary treatments, | | | | uterine and prostate cancers. Your cancer will be |
| such as surgery or radiation. But the added benefit of | | | | analyzed to see if it's hormone sensitive. If it is, you |
| adjuvant therapy doesn't come without a price — | | | | might benefit from hormone therapy. Hormone |
| the side effects can be more than minor | | | | therapy can be used in conjunction with surgery, |
| inconveniences. | | | | radiation or chemotherapy. |
| | | | - * Radiation Therapy : Radiation therapy uses |
| How effective is Adjuvant Therapy? | | | | high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill |
| Because none of these treatments is completely | | | | cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be given internally |
| harmless, it's important to determine the risks of | | | | or externally. Adjuvant radiation therapy focuses on |
| adjuvant therapy versus the benefits. The following | | | | the area around the original cancer site to reduce the |
| factors can help you and your doctor determine | | | | risk that cancer will recur in that area. |
| whether adjuvant therapy is appropriate for you.......... | | | | - * Immuno Therapy : Immunotherapy works with |
| Which treatments are used as adjuvant therapies? | | | | your body's own immune system to fight off |
| Types of cancer treatment that are used as | | | | remaining cancer cells. Immunotherapy treatment can |
| adjuvant therapy include: | | | | either stimulate your body's own defenses or |
| | | | | supplement them. |
| - * Chemo Therapy : Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill | | | | - * Targeted Therapy : Targeted therapy aims to |
| cancer cells. Chemotherapy treats the entire body, | | | | alter specific abnormalities present within cancer cells. |
| killing cancer cells, no matter where they may be | | | | For example, women with a type of breast cancer |
| located. Adjuvant chemotherapy isn't helpful in all | | | | that makes too much of a protein called human |
| situations, so talk to your doctor about whether this | | | | growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) may choose a |
| treatment is right for you. | | | | targeted therapy drug that blocks the action of that |
| - * Hormone Therapy : Some cancers are sensitive | | | | specific protein. These medications target the specific |
| to hormones. For these cancers, treatments to stop | | | | protein within those cancer cells. More targeted |
| hormone production in your body or block the effect | | | | therapies are under development and may one day |
| of hormones on your cancer may be helpful. Cancers | | | | be available for use as adjuvant therapy. |