Will the tumor shrink after one chemotherapy session?

Generally, whether a tumor will shrink after one chemotherapy session depends on various factors, including the patient's specific condition, tumor type, stage, and individual response. If there are any concerns or discomfort, it is recommended to seek timely medical advice from a professional physician. The detailed analysis is as follows:

If the tumor is highly sensitive to chemotherapy drugs and the patient is in good overall health with good tolerance to treatment, tumor shrinkage may be observed after just one chemotherapy cycle. This scenario is commonly seen in certain malignancies such as malignant lymphomas and small cell lung cancer, where the drugs act rapidly on tumor cells, inhibiting their proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Imaging examinations may show a reduction in tumor size, and symptoms related to compression or invasion may also improve.

If the tumor has low sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs, or if the patient has underlying medical conditions and poor treatment tolerance, the tumor may not shrink after one chemotherapy session. Due to changes in the patient’s physical condition during treatment, no significant change in tumor size may be observed temporarily. Some solid tumors, such as pancreatic cancer and liver cancer, tend to respond poorly to chemotherapy, and a single treatment is unlikely to produce rapid shrinkage; efficacy should be evaluated after multiple treatment cycles.

After chemotherapy, regular imaging examinations should be performed as directed by the physician to monitor changes in the tumor. It is important to get adequate rest, avoid excessive fatigue, maintain a light yet nutritionally balanced diet to support recovery. If side effects such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or decreased white blood cell count occur, they should be promptly reported to the doctor so that appropriate interventions can be taken to ensure the smooth continuation of subsequent treatments.