These additional treatments are sometimes referred to asadjuvanttherapies, adjunct therapies, or by other names.
Many different treatments may be administered as adjuvants.
The adjuvant treatment can even come before the primary therapy, in which case its calledneoadjuvant therapy.
Verywell / Laura Porter
These individual cancer cells, sometimes calledmicrometastases, can give rise to new tumors.
Your doctor may suggest these therapies at any time during your cancer treatment.
What Is Adjuvant Therapy?
Different terms you might hear related to adjuvant therapies include the following.
It is a general term to describe therapies that combine multiple treatment approaches.
Adjunct Therapy
Adjunct therapy, or adjunctive therapy, is another approach to combination treatment.
Adjunct therapies are used alongside the primary treatment method to make it work better.
Post-Remission Therapy
Therapy given after a patient goes into remission from cancer is calledpost-remission therapy.
These treatments are used to kill any remaining cancer in the body.
Theyre sometimes called consolidation therapy or intensification therapy.
However, maintenance therapy is a term more often used when doctors talk about the long-term use of treatments.
The use of maintenance therapy can span 10 years or more.
Adjuvant Therapy Treatments
Many different treatments are used as adjuvant therapies.
Depending on the punch in of cancer, these may be used as primary therapies.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapiesare drugs that specifically prime the bodys own immune system to fight cancer.
Immunotherapies work in various ways to activate the immune system to recognize and attack tumor cells.
Radiation
Radiation therapy uses high-energy waves to kill cancer cells by breaking apart their DNA.
Unfortunately, this destructive action is nonspecific, so it can also damage normal cells.
Its typically used locally in a spot in your body that your doctor knows contains cancer cells.
Adjuvant Therapy Side Effects
Just like primary treatments, adjuvant cancer therapies come with side effects.
The side effects of adjuvant therapy will vary based on the types of treatment and the doses being used.
If the drug is injected or infused, there may be reactions at the site of administration.
General flu-like symptoms are common, as well as digestive issues and an increased risk of infection.
The side effects of hormone therapy depend on the throw in of hormone being disrupted.
Targeted therapy side effects depend on the drugs being used and their dosages.
Common side effects of targeted therapies include digestive issues and liver problems.
Adjuvant therapy may be chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or radiation therapy.
Likewise, the risks and costs depend on the types of treatment being considered.
Ask them any questions about your treatments if youre worried about any part of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of adjunct therapy?
Are neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies used together?
Who shouldnt do adjuvant chemotherapy?
Adjuvant therapies are not recommended for every cancer patient.
Your cancer stage and the likelihood of remission are also important.
West HJ, Jin J.Neoadjuvant therapy.JAMA Oncol.
2019;12(1):103. doi:10.1186/s13048-019-0579-0
Mayo Clinic.Adjuvant therapy: treatment to keep cancer from returning.
American Cancer Society.How is chemotherapy used to treat cancer?.
National Cancer Institute.Immunotherapy to treat cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Hormone therapy to treat cancer.
National Cancer Institute.Radiation therapy to treat cancer.
American Cancer Society.How targeted therapies are used to treat cancer.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy side effects.
American Cancer Society.Radiation therapy side effects.
National Cancer Institute.Targeted therapy to treat cancer.
