What is the purpose of using growth factors in chemotherapy?

The purpose of using growth factors in chemotherapy is to stimulate blood cell production and mitigate bone marrow suppression. Chemotherapy is known for its side effects on the bone marrow, leading to reduced production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This can result in anemia, increased susceptibility to infections, and bleeding problems.

Growth factors, such as erythropoietin for red blood cell production and colony-stimulating factors for white blood cell production, play a crucial role in supporting the patient's hematologic recovery. By promoting the production of these blood cells, growth factors help maintain a healthier blood profile during chemotherapy, allowing patients to tolerate treatment better and possibly enabling them to continue with their chemotherapy regimen without interruptions due to low blood cell counts.

In this context, the use of growth factors provides essential support to the bone marrow, helping to reduce some of the adverse effects associated with chemotherapy, which reinforces the appropriateness of the chosen answer.