Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells usually by
ending the cancer cells ability to grow and divide. It may be given before
surgery to shrink a large tumor, make surgery easier, and reduce the risk of
recurrence, called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. It may also be
given after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence, called adjuvant
chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for breast
cancer is used in addition to other treatments such as surgery, radiation
or hormone therapy and it may increase the chance of a cure, decrease the risk
of the cancer returning, alleviate symptoms from the cancer or help people with
cancer live longer with a better quality of life. A combination of
two or more medicines will be used as chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.