We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Consolidation Chemotherapy?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 26,132
Share

Also known as intensification therapy, consolidation chemotherapy is a type of ongoing treatment given to cancer patients who appear to be in remission. The goal of this type of cancer therapy is to kill off any residual cancer cells that may be present, effectively increasing the potential of a complete recovery. The dosage of the chemotherapy is usually somewhat high, allowing the treatments to be highly effective.

Consolidation therapy is used with many different forms of cancer. The treatment series can be utilized with patients who have achieved a remission from ovarian cancer, leukemia, or just about any other form of the disease. In some treatment processes, such as with the treatment of acute leukemia, consolidation chemotherapy is a follow-up to the induction therapy that is administered in an attempt to kill the cancer cells. If the induction therapy proves to be successful and the patient responds favorably, then consolidation is initiated in the hopes of helping the patient remain in a state of remission.

The process of using consolidation chemotherapy for ovarian cancer is similar, in that the patient undergoes a series of chemotherapy treatments once it appears that the cancer cells are no longer growing or spreading. By administering the treatments, it is sometimes possible to save the remaining ovary, thus allowing the woman the option of bearing children at some future point in time.

Not every cancer patient is a candidate for consolidation chemotherapy. The primary qualification is the measurable presence of remission with the form of cancer that the patient is experiencing. Until health care professionals confirm the remission, other types of cancer treatment are continued in an effort to bring the condition under control. This includes the use of radiation, lower doses of chemotherapy, and even surgery. In addition to being in remission, the attending physician must also determine that the patient is strong enough to manage the rigorous course of treatments that are involved with consolidation chemotherapy. Depending on the general well being of the patient, the treatment series may be a relatively short one, or take place over a period of several weeks before it is considered complete.

As with any chemotherapy series, the patient undergoing the treatments is likely to experience some side effects. Many patients report bouts of fatigue, loss of hair, and a change in the ability to taste food and drink. Some also report the appearance of flu like symptoms, including a stuffy nose, sneezing, and coughing. These side effects are often controlled with medication, and eventually fade away once the treatment series is completed.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including The Health Board, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
By candyquilt — On May 29, 2012

I agree with @alisha. Consolidation was definitely a lot better than induction chemotherapy. Anyone who has been through both will say the same thing. And my consolidation didn't last very long either, definitely much shorter than my induction chemotherapy.

However, it's still chemotherapy and one still has to be careful. I still kept my blood counts in check and stayed away from public places. Infections and side effects continue during consolidation so you can't completely relax. I'd still choose consolidation over induction any day though.

By discographer — On May 29, 2012

@turquoise-- You're right, consolidation chemotherapy is not more aggressive than the initial type of chemotherapy that a cancer patient goes through.

We can divide chemotherapy into three stages. Not everyone goes through all the stages or always in order but it will help you understand. Once a person is diagnosed with cancer- that is multiplying cancer cells- they go into intensification or induction chemotherapy which is the most aggressive type. The dose of medication given is highest in this stage because the cancer cells need to stop dividing and multiplying.

If this stage goes well, next is the consolidation chemotherapy. This is a less aggressive type of chemotherapy. Lots of people consider this stage a walk in the park compared to intensification or induction.

If this also goes well, then the patient can be given maintenance chemotherapy. This is the least aggressive one and where the least dose of medications are used.

Hope it makes sense now.

By turquoise — On May 28, 2012

I'm a little confused and I think I must have misunderstood consolidation chemotherapy. The article mentions that while the cancer is not in remission, the patient is given lower doses of chemotherapy. And when it is in remission, the patient is given consolidation chemotherapy which is a higher dose of chemotherapy.

Shouldn't it be exactly the opposite? If cancer is in remission, that's a good thing right? Why is the chemotherapy treatment becoming more intense? Is it not possible to clear the remaining cancer cells with regular therapy? I don't really understand consolidation chemotherapy's advantage in this.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-consolidation-chemotherapy.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.