Chemotherapy:  The use of chemicals (drugs or medications) to kill malignant cells. Numerous chemicals have been developed for this purpose, and most act to injure the DNA of the cells. When the DNA is injured, the cells cannot grow or survive. Successful chemotherapy depends on the fact that malignant cells are somewhat more sensitive to the chemicals than normal cells. Because the cells of the marrow, the intestinal tract, the skin, and hair follicles are most sensitive to these chemicals, injury to these organs cause the common side effects of chemotherapy, i.e., mouth sores, and hair loss. |
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