What is the goal of primary chemotherapy?

The goal of primary chemotherapy primarily focuses on curing the patient, especially in cases where cancer is diagnosed at an earlier stage and the intent is to eliminate the cancer cells entirely. Primary chemotherapy aims to target and kill cancer cells that are actively dividing, which can lead to the complete eradication of the cancer from the body, potentially leading to remission and, in ideal circumstances, a cure.

In contrast, while shrinking a tumor and alleviating symptoms are important considerations in the overall management of cancer, they do not encompass the primary goal of initial treatment. Tumor reduction can be a part of the treatment strategy but serves as a means to facilitate further treatment or improve the patient’s condition rather than an end goal in itself. Similarly, managing side effects is crucial for maintaining the patient's quality of life during treatment but does not address the primary therapeutic intent, which is curing the disease.