What type of therapy is described as adjuvant in breast cancer treatment?

Adjuvant therapy refers to additional treatment given after the primary treatment to enhance its effectiveness and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. In the context of breast cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy is a common approach. It is administered after surgical intervention (typically lumpectomy or mastectomy) to target any remaining cancer cells that may not have been removed during the surgery.

The goal of adjuvant chemotherapy is to decrease the chance of the cancer returning by targeting rapidly dividing cells, which is a characteristic of cancer. This type of intervention is particularly important in cases where there is a risk of metastasis or if the cancer has characteristics suggesting a higher chance of recurrence.

While radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and surgical interventions can also play vital roles in breast cancer treatment, they serve different purposes. Radiation is often used post-surgery to destroy any residual cancer cells in the breast area, targeted therapy aims at specific molecular targets related to cancer growth, and surgical intervention is the primary method to physically remove the tumor. Therefore, in the context of adjuvant therapy specifically designed to minimize recurrence after the main treatment, chemotherapy is the most fitting choice.