Chemo query

Hi.
Do all chemotherapy render the patient susceptible to infection? Is hair loss inevitable?

[riley180]

Hi.
Before 2001, Chemotherapy involved cytotoxic drugs, which in general poison rapidly dividing cells (which would thus include the cancer cells and some cells that normal turn over regularly- like the components of blood), and hence most will have some effect on the blood components which are protective for infection.
For some drugs, this effect on the blood will limit the maximum amount anyone can tolerate at any given time. For other drugs, some other effect such as diarrhea or nerve damage, may limit use more than the effect on the blood.
After 2001, newer agents like tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies have entered treatment, and are combined with the cytotoxic agents. Some prefer to call these biologic agents – to separate them from the cytotoxics. These drugs have a different side-effect profile, and a good number of them do not affect the blood components as drastically as cytotoxic agents. Occasionally they are grouped together, creating some confusion.
For lung cancer, there are some drugs like Gemcitabine which do not cause hair loss. In combination with a platinum agent – the amount of hair loss is not as marked as would occur when another agent like paclitaxel or docetaxel is used.