what is adjuvant chemotherapy?

Q: what is adjuvant chemotherapy?

In short Adjuvant chemotherapy is treatment given after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and lower the risk of the cancer coming back [1]. It offers a survival advantage compared to having surgery alone for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [1]. Common medicines used include mFOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine, or capecitabine [1]. The details Adjuvant chemotherapy is used after the tumor has been surgically removed (resected) [1]. It helps patients live longer than surgery alone does [1]. The best recommended treatment is a combination called mFOLFIRINOX [1]. Other options include gemcitabine plus capecitabine, gemcitabine alone, or S-1 [1]. Adding radiation therapy to the chemotherapy does not help patients live longer and is not recommended [1]. For patients who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery and had no cancer left in the tissue (pathologic complete response), adjuvant chemotherapy still helps them live longer [4]. What to know The information above applies to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after surgery [1]. It does not apply to other types of pancreatic tumors or cancers that have spread widely [2]. You should talk to your doctor about which medicine is right for you and what side effects might happen.

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Accepted Answer

In short

Adjuvant chemotherapy is treatment given after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and lower the risk of the cancer coming back [1]. It offers a survival advantage compared to having surgery alone for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [1]. Common medicines used include mFOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine, or capecitabine [1].

The details

Adjuvant chemotherapy is used after the tumor has been surgically removed (resected) [1].

It helps patients live longer than surgery alone does [1].

The best recommended treatment is a combination called mFOLFIRINOX [1].

Other options include gemcitabine plus capecitabine, gemcitabine alone, or S-1 [1].

Adding radiation therapy to the chemotherapy does not help patients live longer and is not recommended [1].

For patients who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery and had no cancer left in the tissue (pathologic complete response), adjuvant chemotherapy still helps them live longer [4].

What to know

The information above applies to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after surgery [1]. It does not apply to other types of pancreatic tumors or cancers that have spread widely [2]. You should talk to your doctor about which medicine is right for you and what side effects might happen.