01/10/2026
“Why chemotherapy first? Isn’t surgery supposed to come first?”
It’s a question many breast cancer patients and their families ask. And the answer is: sometimes, chemotherapy before surgery is actually part of the treatment plan—not a delay.
In selected breast cancers, treatment may begin with chemotherapy to:
🔹 Shrink the tumour before surgery
🔹 See how the cancer responds to treatment
🔹 Help the surgical team plan the next step
🔹 Treat cancer cells that may be present beyond what scans can detect
But every breast cancer is different. The treatment sequence depends on factors such as the tumour size, stage, receptor status and the individual patient’s overall situation.
Swipe through to understand why chemotherapy may come before surgery—and when it may be considered.
💾 Save this post if you or someone you know is navigating breast cancer treatment.
📤 Share it with someone who has recently been advised chemotherapy before surgery.
[breast cancer awareness month, Dr. Vivek Shetty, chemotherapy before surgery, breast cancer surgery, breast cancer chemotherapy, breast cancer treatment options, surgical oncology, breast cancer doctor, oncologist]
