A surprising new study from Chinese researchers suggests chemotherapy might have an unintended side effect—it could actually wake up dormant cancer cells and help the disease spread to other organs. This helps explain why some breast cancer patients see their cancer pop up in places like the lungs even after their original tumor is treated. On the brighter side, the team also discovered that pairing chemo with certain other drugs could block this effect in mice, hinting at potential future treatments.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t about ditching chemo—it’s still a lifesaver for many. But the study forces us to rethink how cancer moves and hides in the body. If confirmed in humans, it could lead to smarter combo therapies that keep chemo’s benefits while shutting down its risky side effects. For patients, it’s a reminder that cancer’s full picture is still being uncovered.