What is a common side effect of chemotherapy?

• A. Enhanced immune response
• B. Weight gain
• C. Hair loss
• D. Increased appetite

Answer: (C)

Chemotherapy is a treatment used to fight cancer by using powerful drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, this treatment can also affect healthy cells, particularly those that also divide quickly, such as hair follicles. As a result, hair loss, or alopecia, is a well-documented and common side effect associated with chemotherapy. This occurs because the chemotherapy agents target all rapidly dividing cells, not just the cancer cells, leading to loss of hair from the scalp and other areas of the body.

Other effects, such as enhanced immune response or increased appetite, are generally not associated with chemotherapy. In fact, chemotherapy can often suppress the immune system, making patients more vulnerable to infections. Weight gain may occur in some individuals for various reasons, but it is not considered a typical side effect of chemotherapy; rather, weight loss due to nausea, vomiting, and changes in diet is more commonly reported. Thus, hair loss is the characteristic and recognizable side effect directly linked to the nature of chemotherapy treatments.