salvage therapy
Treatment administered after initial therapy has failed, aimed at achieving disease control or cure.
Full Definition
Salvage therapy refers to treatment approaches used when primary cancer therapy has failed, either due to initial treatment resistance or disease recurrence. In urologic oncology, salvage options include salvage radiation therapy after failed prostatectomy, salvage prostatectomy after radiation failure, salvage chemotherapy for refractory testicular cancer, or salvage cystectomy for recurrent bladder cancer. These treatments typically carry higher morbidity and lower success rates compared to primary therapy, requiring careful patient selection and extensive counseling. The timing of salvage therapy is crucial, as delayed intervention may compromise its effectiveness, while premature salvage may subject patients to unnecessary morbidity.
Usage
Usage note: Two words, not hyphenated. Emphasize this is treatment after failure, not supplemental to successful primary therapy.
In Context
- "Salvage radiation therapy was recommended for PSA recurrence after radical prostatectomy." — Treatment recommendation
- "The patient underwent salvage cystectomy for muscle-invasive recurrence after BCG therapy." — Clinical note