Which of the following statements best describes why chemotherapy can affect healthy tissues?

Enhance your understanding of Altered Cellular Regulation with the EDAPT quiz. Study with immersive flashcards and detailed explanations. Prepare efficiently for your exam!

Chemotherapy is designed to disrupt the processes involved in cell division, which is a hallmark of cancer cells. However, healthy tissues also contain rapidly dividing cells, particularly in areas such as the bone marrow, hair follicles, and the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. These tissues are more vulnerable to the effects of chemotherapy because the drugs do not exclusively target cancer cells. As a result, they can also damage healthy cells that are undergoing division, leading to side effects such as hair loss, reduced blood cell counts, and gastrointestinal disturbances. This is the reason why the assertion that healthy cells also divide rapidly is the best choice to describe the impact of chemotherapy on healthy tissues.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy