What is the main purpose of chemotherapy?

The main purpose of chemotherapy is to prevent cancer cell division and spread. Chemotherapy employs various drugs that target rapidly dividing cells, which is a characteristic of cancer cells. By interfering with the processes that allow these cells to divide and proliferate, chemotherapy aims to reduce the tumor burden, eliminate cancerous cells, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

This approach is crucial for many types of cancer, as it can shrink tumors before surgery, eliminate residual cancer cells after surgery, and treat cancers that are not amenable to surgical intervention. While palliative care is important in managing symptoms and improving quality of life for patients, it is not the primary intent of chemotherapy in curing or controlling cancer. Similarly, while chemotherapy can have an ancillary benefit in enhancing surgical outcomes by reducing tumor size, its fundamental role is more direct in impacting cell division. Moreover, chemotherapy does not replace other treatment modalities but rather complements them, often used in combination with surgery, radiation, and targeted therapies to maximize treatment effectiveness.