A 67-year-old black man presents at the clinic with complaints of difficulty swallowing foods of any kind. He states, "It always feels like I have something caught in my throat." His medical history is significant for Barrett esophagus, unintentional weight loss of 15 pounds over past 4 months, and some pain when swallowing. The gentleman is scheduled for an esophagoscopy, and a diagnosis of esophageal cancer is subsequently confirmed. The physician explains that, depending on the stage of the tumor, there are options for treatment. The physician recommends chemotherapy followed by surgical resection of the tumor.
The man arrives for his first treatment of chemotherapy and asks the nurse why he has to have chemotherapy before having the surgery to remove the tumor. The nurse correctly responds by stating: ______________________