Dosage, treatment course and discontinuation indications for lung cancer chemotherapy

Chemotherapy for lung cancer patients generally cannot achieve the purpose of radical cure, so at a certain stage of chemotherapy, surgery or radiotherapy should be combined to strengthen local or regional control of the tumor. At the same time, chemotherapy should be given as high a dose as possible according to the patient's tolerance. Transient gastrointestinal reactions and bone marrow suppression during chemotherapy are inevitable, and the number of courses of treatment should also be appropriately increased according to the patient's response and efficacy, and the disease should be completely relieved as much as possible.

Since the toxic effects of existing drugs can often continue for several weeks after discontinuation of the drugs, there should be intervals between each week. The chemotherapy should be conducted every 4 to 6 weeks from the start date of chemotherapy, but the next course of treatment must be started after the toxic reactions of the drugs disappear.

Indications for stopping or changing medication during chemotherapy: ① The lesion continues to progress after 1-2 courses of treatment, or the lesion stabilizes during chemotherapy but worsens again during the rest period. ② The toxic reaction reaches grade 3-4, which poses a certain threat to the patient's health. ③ Complications occur, such as body temperature above 38°C or bleeding tendency. ④ The patient's general condition deteriorates rapidly and cachexia occurs.