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Adjuvant - Definition of Adjuvant Treatments for Breast Cancer

By Pam Stephan, About.com

Updated: August 31, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by V.K. Gadi, MD

Definition: 1. (noun) a substance or treatment that is added to a treatment to help improve its effectiveness
2. treatments that are used to help fight the possible spread of cancer that may still be present in the body after a tumor has been removed. Adjuvant treatments can include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation and hormone therapy.
3. (adjective) giving additional support
Pronunciation: AD joo vunt
Common Misspellings: adjuvent, ajuvent, addjavint
Examples: Adjuvant chemotherapy is sometimes given after a breast cancer tumor has been surgically removed to help eliminate other cancer cells that may still be present in your body. This is different from neoadjuvant chemo, which is given before surgery to help shrink a tumor before removal.

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