How might targeting rapidly growing cells explain common chemotherapy side effects such as hair loss and nausea

Question

Frankie Jarvis

Biology

1 March, 08:40

How might targeting rapidly growing cells explain common chemotherapy side effects such as hair loss and nausea

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Answers (2)

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Kyleigh Higgins · Answer 1

Cancer cells are the cells that divide rapidly than any other cells in the body. The drugs used in chemotherapy work on rapidly dividing cancer cells. Some cells of our body apart from cancer cells also divide rapidly along with the cancer cells such as the cells that line the stomach and the digestive tract. Chemotherapy drugs cannot differentiate the cancer cells and the normal cells so these drugs also attack the normal cells which divide rapidly along with the cancer cells. The drugs also attack the cells that are present in the roots of the hair. So, this results in the hair loss. Hair loss does not occur immediately after the chemotherapy treatment instead it starts after few treatments. The degree of the hair loss after chemotherapy depends on the drug type and process. So when the chemotherapy drugs are used it results in the hair loss and nausea.

Therefore, when chemotherapy drugs attack normal cells including the roots of the hair instead of cancer cells that divide rapidly along with the cancer cells it results in the hair loss and nausea.

Angelique Parsons · Answer 2

Cancer cells are the cells that divide rapidly than any other cells in the body. The drugs used in chemotherapy work on rapidly dividing cancer cells. Some cells of our body apart from cancer cells also divide rapidly along with the cancer cells such as the cells that line the stomach and the digestive tract. Chemotherapy drugs cannot differentiate the cancer cells and the normal cells so these drugs also attack the normal cells which divide rapidly along with the cancer cells. The drugs also attack the cells that are present in the roots of the hair. So, this results in the hair loss. Hair loss does not occur immediately after the chemotherapy treatment instead it starts after few treatments. The degree of the hair loss after chemotherapy depends on the drug type and process. So when the chemotherapy drugs are used it results in the hair loss and nausea.

Therefore, when chemotherapy drugs attack normal cells including the roots of the hair instead of cancer cells that divide rapidly along with the cancer cells it results in the hair loss and nausea.