Why do I need chemotherapy?

Why do I have to have chemotherapy?

My surgeon said she took out everything, why am I here?

That’s true, she did. But we know that a percentage of all curative surgeries will eventually turn out not to be curative. You see the Oncologist for risk assessment.

Do the odds need improving? Can we improve the odds?

If the risk of recurrence is low, and you are virtually cured, then additional treatment will not make the odds better.

If the risk is high, and chemotherapy improves your chances of improving lifelong survival, then it is a worthwhile exercise. 

So, even if all visible tumors have been removed, postoperative treatment is recommended for invisible, undetectable disease.

Stages, Performance Status, genetic mutations of the cancer cell, grade, etc determine these treatment decisions. We’ve gone over those before.

In the end, common sense needs to be used in good measure. Resources need to be balanced against statistical benefit, and the patient’s underlying health and non-cancer related life expectancy.