What does adjuvant therapy aim to achieve?

Adjuvant therapy is specifically designed to eliminate remaining cancer cells after primary treatments such as surgery or radiation. The primary goal of adjuvant therapy is to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by targeting microscopic disease that may not be detectable but could lead to future problems if left untreated. This approach often involves the use of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or targeted therapy and is used based on the characteristics of the cancer, the stage at diagnosis, and individual patient factors.

By addressing any residual cancer cells following the initial treatment, adjuvant therapy aims to increase the chances of long-term remission and improve overall survival outcomes. In this context, it is distinct from other types of interventions that focus on shrinking tumors before diagnosis or alleviating symptoms in advanced cancer, as those have different therapeutic goals.