Side effects of chemotherapy:
Bone marrow suppression:
• chemotherapy is very toxic to the proliferating cells of the bone marrow
• results in increased risk of infection (from depletion of neutrophils); increased risk of bleeding (from depletion of thrombocytes); anaemia (from depletion of red blood cells)
Gastrointestinal injury:
• epithelial lining of GI tract is very sensitive to chemotherapy
• inflammation of oral mucosa (stomatitis) is common
• diarrhoea is common (chemotherapy injuries epithelial lining impaired absorption of fluids diarrhoea)
Nausea and vomiting:
• from stimulation of chemoreceptors
Alopecia/reversible hair loss:
• from injury to cells in hair follicle; usually begins 7-10 days after chemotherapy
• regeneration is usually, 1-2 months after cessation of chemotherapy
Hyperuricaemia:
• high levels of uric acid in blood
• uric acid is formed from breakdown of DNA after cell death
Reproductive injury:
• germinal epithelium of testes and developing foetus are highly susceptible to chemotherapy
Related Topic:
Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathy
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