Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells.
If the cancer has a high risk of spreading to another part of the body, the patient may be recommended to undergo chemotherapy, after surgery to decrease the chance of recurrence.
Chemotherapy is sometimes given before surgery in women with larger breast tumours to downstage tumours. The goal is to shrink a tumour to a size that makes it easier to remove with surgery.
Chemotherapy is also used in women whose cancer has already spread to other parts of the body.