What is one potential side effect of systemic chemotherapy?

Systemic chemotherapy is known to target rapidly dividing cells, which unfortunately includes not just cancer cells but also some healthy cells in the body. This can lead to several side effects, particularly hair loss and fatigue.

Hair loss occurs because chemotherapy affects hair follicles, which are also rapidly dividing cells. Patients may experience thinning hair or complete hair loss, depending on the specific drugs used and the treatment regimen.

Fatigue is another common side effect due to the body’s increased metabolic demand while fighting cancer and recovering from both the effects of the chemotherapy on healthy cells and the overall stress of the illness. This overwhelming fatigue can impact a patient's quality of life significantly, making it a notable and concerning side effect that medical professionals monitor closely.

The other options suggest outcomes that are not typical effects of systemic chemotherapy. Increased energy levels and enhanced cognitive function are not associated with the treatment, and patients typically do not experience complete immunity to infections due to a suppression of the immune system caused by chemotherapy.