Cancerbackup: Why it is given
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- With some types of cancer, chemotherapy is likely to destroy all the cancer cells and cure the disease.
- Chemotherapy may also be given after surgery or radiotherapy to destroy any cancer cells that remain.
- Chemotherapy may be given to shrink a cancer before another treatment such as surgery.
- It can also be given to shrink and control a cancer to help reduce symptoms and prolong life. This is known as palliative chemotherapy.
Content last reviewed: 01 June 2007
Page last modified: 14 January 2009
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