Hi everyone

When a cell divides the chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell (the cells instruction manual) need to be replicated. 

There are various stages to this process and different chemo agents act on different parts of the process.  This is why a combination of drugs are often given. 

For the chemo to work, cells need to be actively dividing when the treatment is given (this is why a course of treatment is given rather than just one dose). 

While a cell is in the process of dividing both the original cell and the "daughter" cell being formed are potentially vulnerable to the effects of the treatment so both could be killed.  There is a useful explanation including a diagram on our website here

Martin     

Thankyou very much Martin

So can you just give me a simplistic answer as to why chemo wouldn't kill every cell?

e.g. Patient was given 6 lots of a chemo agent. The remaining cells were not actively dividing during any of the 6 times the chemo was applied?

such a complex and awful disease

such a complex and awful disease