Facts

• Chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells by stopping cell division. This is accomplished by damaging the cell's DNA and RNA, the material that tells a cell how to replicate. According to doctors at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center, chemotherapy drugs cannot differentiate between healthy cells and those that are cancerous, so it kills all cells that are rapidly dividing.
  
  

Side Effects

• The cells most affected by chemotherapy drugs like Gemzar are those in the mouth, stomach and bowel, blood cells and the hair follicles. This accounts for the nausea, fatigue and hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Other side effects of Gemzar include difficulty sleeping, flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite and shortness of breath.
  
  

Considerations

• According to the Mayo Clinic, when given to elderly patients, Gemzar can cause a serious drop in blood counts. Gemzar can also aggravate the symptoms of certain disorders, including herpes, chickenpox, and kidney or liver disease.
  
  

Drug Interactions

• Your doctor will not prescribe Gemzar if you are being treated with a live rotavirus vaccine. Gemzar may also react negatively with aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and warfarin.
  
  

Warning

• The blood cells that help your body fight infections are lowered by taking Gemzar. You should not receive a live vaccine during treatment, nor should you be around anyone who has had a live vaccine or has a contagious illness.