How Does Chemotherapy Contribute to Infection Risk?
Chemotherapy works by targeting rapidly dividing cells, a characteristic of cancer cells. However, it also affects other rapidly dividing cells in the body, including those in the bone marrow responsible for producing white blood cells. This can result in a condition called neutropenia, a significant drop in the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell essential for combating bacterial infections. Consequently, patients undergoing chemotherapy are more susceptible to infections.
