The difference between the second and fourth chemotherapy sessions

Chemotherapy is a common method for treating tumors. As for how many times chemotherapy should be performed, it depends on the specific condition and the effect of chemotherapy. The doctor will choose the specific number of times based on the effect of chemotherapy. The so-called two chemotherapy sessions, or four chemotherapy sessions, does not simply refer to the number of chemotherapy sessions, but the chemotherapy cycle. Let’s take a look at the differences between two chemotherapy sessions and four chemotherapy sessions.

The difference between chemotherapy for the second time and chemotherapy for the fourth time

Generally speaking, chemotherapy for solid tumors will be set at 21 to 28 days as a cycle, and 2 to 3 cycles as a course of treatment, based on the toxic side effects of chemotherapy drugs and the interval period for human recovery. The 4 and 6 chemotherapy sessions mentioned here refer to 4 or 6 courses of treatment.

First of all, if 4 chemotherapy sessions are enough to completely eliminate all residual tumors in the patient's body, then there is no need for the patient to undergo further chemotherapy. For patients who stop chemotherapy at this time, in order to prevent the possibility of recurrence of cancer cells, they can choose anti-tumor Chinese medicine such as ginsenoside Rg3 to suppress possible residual tumor cells in the patient's body in the long term. Then there will be regular check-ups. If the cancer recurs, the patient can undergo another course of chemotherapy.

Secondly, if 4 courses of treatment cannot completely eliminate the cancer cells in the patient's body, chemotherapy still needs to continue as long as the patient's physical condition allows continued treatment. However, after 2 or 3 chemotherapy sessions, when it comes to the fourth chemotherapy session, sometimes people often have the idea of ​​giving up chemotherapy because they will feel more and more pain with each chemotherapy session. Therefore, for patients undergoing chemotherapy, I suggest that at the beginning of the treatment, it is best for them to choose a diet with high nutritional value and nutritional supplements or anti-tumor Chinese medicine ginsenoside Rg3 to regulate the patient's body. Because after chemotherapy, due to chemotherapy drugs and other reasons, the patient's immunity will become worse and worse. Poor immunity will reduce the patient's tolerance to the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs, and thus nausea, vomiting and various symptoms of visceral toxicity will become more and more obvious and more and more serious.

Again, if the patient's body allows, the rest interval between each chemotherapy should be as short as possible. For cancer patients, time is money and time is life. The shorter the time between each chemotherapy treatment, the lower the chance of the patient's cancer cells spreading and worsening. This also buys patients time to seize the golden period for cancer treatment.

How many times is chemotherapy best?

It's not the case that the more the better. Some cancers can be cured in 4 treatments. You should never do 6 or more chemotherapy treatments. Of course, I'm just making an analogy. I want to remind everyone not to over-treat, but you can't give up chemotherapy early either. Doing so often causes greater harm to the patient's life than over-treatment. In my opinion, the difference between 4 and 6 chemotherapy sessions is that after 4 chemotherapy sessions, the cancer cells have been cleared out and you can stop the treatment now; or depending on your situation, you still need 6 or more chemotherapy sessions, so you need to do 6 or more chemotherapy sessions.

The number of times for cancer treatment is not fixed, nor is it regulated. The attending physician will also adjust it according to your condition. Everyone must be clear about this.