Because cancer cells generally divide more often than healthy cells, cancer cells are more likely to be affected by chemotherapy. However, some healthy cells may also be damaged. The effects of chemotherapy on cells in the digestive tract can lead to mouth sores and can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea during treatment. Its effects on blood-forming cells can cause fatigue and anemia, lower resistance to infection, and may cause problems with bleeding. Patients also may lose their hair, but hair grows again when treatment stops.
Chemotherapy can also affect the reproductive system of premenopausal women.
Women may experience menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and itching, burning, or dryness of vaginal tissues during chemotherapy. Menstrual periods often stop during treatment, and some women become permanently infertile. Some women do resume having periods after treatment stops, and some of these women become fertile again. However, many have early menopause and can no longer have children. For example, one drug frequently used to treat breast cancer, called doxorubicin or Adriamycin, can damage the heart.