Although chemotherapy is given to kill cancer cells, it also can damage normal cells. The normal cells most likely to be damaged are those that divide rapidly, for instance:
- Bone marrow/blood cells
- Cells of hair follicles
- Cells lining the digestive tract
- Cells lining the reproductive tract
Damage to these cells accounts for many of the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Side effects are different for each chemotherapy drug, and they also differ based on the dose, the way the drug is given, and how the drug affects you individually.
If after reading this section you want more information about managing the side effects of chemotherapy, please call us at 1-800-227-2345 and ask for our booklet called Understanding Chemotherapy: A Guide for Patients and Families or read it on our Web site at www.cancer.org.
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