Question

Why or why not would a person receiving chemotherapy experience (or not experience) the following symptoms: increased resistance to disease, development of leukocytosis, increased abnormal bruising, and increase in erythropoietic activity?

Answer 1

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells and some healthy cells. It will affect the bone marrow which is responsible for the blood cells production. Thus, occurs reduction of white blood cells called leukopenia. (when blood cells are high it is called leucocytosis.) So chemotherapy will not develop leucocytosis. White blood cells are responsible for immune resistance . Because of reduced WBC, patient may experience decreased resistance to disease. Along with white blood cells, red cells and platelets are also decreased It will causes the chances of bleeding and increased bruising. Erythropoietic activity is associated with reticulocyte count. Reticulocyte count will fluctuate. During the initiation erythropoietic count will increase and erythropoietic activity also be increased. But after termination erythropoietic activity will reduce because of reduction reticulocyte count.