Chemotherapy is not a selective treatment -- it is more like the
nuclear bomb of medicines. It works by killing cells that
rapidly grow and divide throughout your body, which include
healthy and cancerous cells. Unlike the cancer cells, the normal
cells will regenerate. However, in the meantime, you may suffer
unwanted side effects from the damage to these healthy cells.
There is not a "one size fits all" template when dealing with
chemotherapy side effects. Some people will whiz through
treatment without suffering one unwanted symptom, whereas
another person may endure every possible side effect like
clockwork. Although your doctor will help you anticipate and
treat side effects, no one knows exactly how you will respond to
treatment until you get started. Damage to Healthy
Gastrointestinal Cells Your digestive tract, from your mouth to
your anus, has a smooth lining composed of billions of cells
that rapidly divide. When chemotherapy attacks, it damages many
of these otherwise healthy cells along with the c