PRINCIPLES OF ADJUVANT THERAPY IN EARLY BREAST CANCER

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in women. Disease-free survival and overall survival can be significantly increased with appropriate treatment. In early stage breast cancer, because of the higher incidence of recurrence in patients having surgery or radiotherapy alone, the probability of the presence of micrometastases with systemic dissemination of the disease raised the concept of adjuvant therapy. The aim of adjuvant therapy is the increase of disease-free and overall survival by eliminating micrometastases and delaying recurrences. Today, hormonal therapy of chemotherapy as adjuvant therapy are being applied routinely in patients with postoperative early stage breast cancer.