Guide To Chemotherapy Side Effects

Weakened Immune System

Patients who undergo chemotherapy may have a weakened immune system throughout and after treatment. The part of an individual's blood responsible for performing the functions of their immune system is referred to as white blood cells. There are numerous different types of white blood cells, but they all play critical roles in an individual's immunity to infection-causing pathogens and toxic substances. White blood cells, like red blood cells and platelets, are produced in a patient's bone marrow. Chemotherapy is administered directly into a patient's bloodstream and kills off a good number of white blood cells. As white blood cell counts drop in an affected individual's blood, their body will be less able to protect them against foreign pathogens that can produce infections such as viruses, parasites, bacteria, fungus, and all of the toxic substances those invaders produce. One of the most important reasons why chemotherapy is administered in cycles is because the body needs time to replenish the cells and components that have been lost. This cycle routine allows the patient's white blood cells to repopulate to an extent before losing more from the next chemotherapy cycle.

Read more about the side effects seen due to chemotherapy now.