Question

A woman undergoing chemotherapy for breast

cancer has developed bloating, diarrhea, and
excess gas whenever she drinks milk. She never
had this problem before.
Which one of the following best describes
the mechanism causing the symptoms in the
above-mentioned patient?
(A) Chemotherapy damage to the salivary
gland
(B) Chemotherapy damage of the pancreas
(C) Chemotherapy damage of the brush
border
of the intestine
(D) Cancer infiltration into the small intestine
(E) Cancer infiltration into the pancreas
(F) Cancer infiltration into the salivary gland

Answer 1

The mechanism causing the patient's symptoms of bloating, diarrhea, and excess gas after consuming milk is likely due to chemotherapy damage of the brush border of the intestine, leading to lactose intolerance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms described by the patient, which include bloating, diarrhea, and excess gas after consuming milk, can be attributed to lactose intolerance. This condition typically occurs when the absorptive cells of the small intestine fail to produce sufficient lactase, the enzyme required for digesting lactose, the milk sugar. In this scenario, the best description for the mechanism causing the symptoms is (C) Chemotherapy damage of the brush border of the intestine, where lactase is normally present. Chemotherapy can be detrimental to the intestinal lining, reducing the enzyme production and leading to symptoms of lactose intolerance.