Question

How does chemotherapy affect normal cells and cancer cells.

Answer 1

Chemotherapy affects both cancer cells and normal cells by targeting rapidly dividing cells, which can cause side effects. Normal cells repair after treatment, but cancer may develop drug resistance, necessitating multiple drugs.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chemotherapy targets and destroys rapidly dividing cancer cells, but it also affects normal cells, especially those with a high turnover rate such as hair follicles, the digestive system lining, and bone marrow. Anticancer drugs act by interfering with cell division, which can result in side effects like hair loss, nausea, and potential harm to the bone marrow.

Normal tissues that are damaged during the process usually repair themselves after chemotherapy. The effectiveness of these drugs often requires using them in combination, in a treatment known as combination chemotherapy. Despite their efficacy, cancer cells may develop resistance to chemotherapy over time, requiring the use of multiple drugs. On the other hand, targeted therapies focus more precisely on cancerous cells, leading to fewer adverse effects.

Answer 2

HOW DOES CHEMOTHERAPY AFFECT NORMAL CELLS AND CANCER CELLS?



Chemotherapy damages the genes inside the nucleus of cells. Some drugs damage cells at the point of splitting. Some damage the cells while they're making copies of all their genes before they split. Chemotherapy is much less likely to damage cells that are at rest, such as most normal cells.