Question

Chemotherapy for cancer results in temporary reduction in the lymphocyte count .Give reason.

Answer 1

• Chemotherapy is the mode of treatment in which medicines which can kill the cancer cells are administered to the patient's body. ​

• These medicines tar­get the actively dividing cancer cells. At the same time, they may also affect the normal cells in blood, bone marrow, etc. ​

• Therefore, during the course of treatment, as the bone marrow gets dam­aged, it temporarily produces less lymphocytes.​

• Since the lymphocytes decreases, the body becomes more vulnerable to infection.​