Z51: Other medical care

Z51.2: Other chemotherapy

Other chemotherapy, as indicated by the ICD-10 code Z51.2, refers to a treatment system that employs potent drugs to kill fast-growing or rapidly dividing cells in the body. This mechanism is used to tackle a wide array of diseases, most prominently cancer, where cells proliferate uncontrollably. During chemotherapy, the medication travels throughout the body, dismantling the function and structure of these abnormal cells. Despite its targeted action, chemotherapy may also affect healthy cells that grow rapidly, such as those in the skin, hair follicles, bone marrow, and digestive tract. This unintentional impact often results in common side effects like fatigue, hair loss, nausea, and decreased blood cell counts. Since various drugs are used individually or in combinations in chemotherapy, the type chosen for each patient depends substantially on the nature, location, and progression stage of their disease.