Can Chemotherapy Before Surgery Cause Tumor Spread?

Every body is different and there are many variations of breast cancer so treatments vary. But generally, yes it can. Chemo drugs attack cancer cells in different ways. So it depends on the effectiveness of the chemo drugs and the type of cancer you have. Some chemo drugs kill fast-growing cells which would target cancer. Some stop the growth of new cancer cells. Some strengthen or train your immune system. If you get a chemo course that does it all, I think the likelihood is low for it to keep growing but your oncologist is the best equipped to answer this more specifically.

This is a really thoughtful question that many patients consider when facing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The concern about tumor spread during pre-surgery treatment is completely understandable, and it's something worth discussing thoroughly with your oncology team who can explain the specific benefits and monitoring involved in your treatment plan. Many others in this community have likely navigated similar decisions and may have valuable insights to share about their experiences with pre-surgery chemotherapy.