What is the major hematologic consequence of bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy?

What is the major hematologic consequence of bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy?

• A. Anemia
• B. Thrombocytopenia
• C. Myelosuppression
• D. Leukocytosis

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression is a reduction in the marrow’s ability to produce blood cells, known as myelosuppression. Because the marrow normally makes red cells, white cells, and platelets, this suppression lowers all three lines, leading to pancytopenia. In practice, you see fatigue and pallor from anemia, higher infection risk from reduced white cells, and increased bleeding or bruising from low platelets. Leukocytosis isn’t expected—counts typically fall. So naming the overall suppression of marrow function as the major hematologic consequence best captures what chemotherapy does to the blood-forming system.

The main idea here is that chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression is a reduction in the marrow’s ability to produce blood cells, known as myelosuppression. Because the marrow normally makes red cells, white cells, and platelets, this suppression lowers all three lines, leading to pancytopenia. In practice, you see fatigue and pallor from anemia, higher infection risk from reduced white cells, and increased bleeding or bruising from low platelets. Leukocytosis isn’t expected—counts typically fall. So naming the overall suppression of marrow function as the major hematologic consequence best captures what chemotherapy does to the blood-forming system.