GoalShrink the tumour before surgery and watch its response
Who forSelected subtypes and tumour features
DecisionMultidisciplinary tumour board
In some breast cancers, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or hormone therapy is given before the operation. This is called neoadjuvant (pre-operative) treatment.
Why treat before surgery?
- The tumour may shrink, increasing the chance of breast-conserving surgery
- The response to treatment can be monitored
- In subtypes such as triple-negative and HER2-positive, it helps guide additional treatment after surgery
The process
After the diagnostic biopsy a marker is placed at the tumour site. Response is assessed by imaging during treatment. Appropriate surgery is then planned and post-operative treatment is decided according to the pathology result.
The decision is made in a multidisciplinary board: the breast surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, radiologist and pathologist assess together.
Risks and points to be aware of
- Depending on the drug, side effects such as tiredness, nausea or lower blood counts may occur; your medical oncologist explains the details.
- The tumour’s response is monitored with regular imaging; if the response differs from expected, the plan may change.
- Surgery is timed after treatment ends, when blood counts are suitable.
Follow-up and next steps
Surgery follows the treatment; the pathology result guides what additional treatment is needed afterwards.
Contact us without delay if
- Fever (especially during drug treatment)
- Vomiting or diarrhoea you cannot control
- Rapid growth in the breast or underarm
Frequently asked questions
If the tumour disappears completely with pre-operative treatment, is surgery still needed?
Yes. Even for a tumour that has disappeared on imaging, surgery and pathological evaluation are needed.
