What is the difference between neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment?
Neoadjuvant radiation therapy treatment is where a course of radiotherapy is given before surgery. The idea, being to shrink the tumour or to reduce the risk of spread during surgery. In this department, neoadjuvant treatment is used in the treatment of rectal cancer and sarcomas. Adjuvant treatment is where radiation is given after surgery to destroy any microscopic cells of tumour that may have been left after surgery.
