What is a primary side effect of chemotherapy related to blood components?

Immunosuppression is a primary side effect of chemotherapy related to blood components because many chemotherapy agents target rapidly dividing cells, which include not only cancer cells but also healthy cells in the bone marrow. The bone marrow produces blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. When chemotherapy disrupts this process, it can lead to a decrease in the production of white blood cells (neutropenia), increasing the patient's risk of infections and affecting their immune response.

While alopecia, extravasation, and mucositis are also significant side effects of chemotherapy, they do not directly relate to blood components. Alopecia pertains to hair loss, extravasation refers to the leakage of chemotherapy drugs into surrounding tissue, and mucositis involves inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes, which are also common adverse effects but do not specifically involve the blood's cellular components or immune function.