Almost all cancers are treated using more than one approach. Because? every treatment has its own benefits and side effects, treatments are often combined to help improve patient outcomes.? ?

For example:

• Some therapies may be given at the same time -- a patient's chemotherapy and targeted therapy might be given together to stop the growth and spread of cancer.
• In other cases, therapies may be used? one after the other.? A? patient may receive radiation therapy first, followed by surgery.? This is called neoadjuvant therapy and is used to reduce the size of a tumor before surgery.? In another situation,? a? patient may be treated with chemotherapy after? surgery to kill any cancer cells that remain in the body.? This is called adjuvant therapy.?

Clinical trials are being done to find more ways to treat cancer by combining targeted therapies with other cancer treatments.? Scientists are also testing the use of two or more targeted therapies together to stop the growth and spread of the disease.?