Common Medications
Latest News and Information
In healthy individuals, cells in the body divide to form new cells where the body needs them. For example, if cells grow old and die, new cells take their place. Cancer is a group of related diseases in which the cells in a part of the body begin to divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner and spread into the surrounding tissue. Almost any part of the human body can develop cancer. The extra cells that are formed from uncontrolled cell division form growths which are called tumors. Some cancers are solid tumors. Cancers of the blood, such as leukemias, on the other hand, are not solid tumors.
Tumors are broadly classified into malignant and benign. Malignant tumors can invade or spread into the surrounding tissues. As a malignant tumor grows, the cancer cells can break off and travel via the blood and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. The new tumors formed at a location far from the site of the original tumor are called secondaries or metastases. Unlike malignant tumors, benign tumors do not invade nearby tissues. However, benign tumors can grow quite large and cause symptoms by pressing upon surrounding structures. Some benign brain tumors can be life-threatening. When benign tumors are removed from the body, they don’t usually grow back, while malignant tumors sometimes do.
Cancer Treatment
There are several types of cancer treatments available, including surgery to remove a tumor, chemotherapy that uses drugs to kill cancer cells, radiation therapy that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells, hormone therapy that is used to treat cancers that need hormones to grow, immunotherapy that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer, and targeted therapy that targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow and spread. Some people need only one treatment for cancer, but most people require a combination of these cancer treatments.
There are more than 100 different chemotherapy drugs that are used to treat different types of cancers. The main types of cancer chemotherapy agents are as follows:
Alkylating agents like busulfan, temozolomide, chlorambucil, and cyclophosphamide work by damaging the DNA of cells and preventing them from making copies. These chemotherapy agents can be used to treat many types of cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin disease, sarcoma, and cancers of the lung, ovary, and breast.
Antimetabolites like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), and gemcitabine work by mimicking nutrients that are required for cell growth, tricking the cells into consuming them and eventually leading to cell death from starvation. Antimetabolites are used to treat cancers of the breast, ovary, and intestinal tract, as well as leukemia.
Anti-tumor antibiotics like doxorubicin, actinomycin D, bleomycin, and daunorubicin interfere with enzymes and block the ability of cancer cells to reproduce. They are used to treat various types of cancers.
Topoisomerase inhibitors like etoposide, topotecan, and irinotecan interfere with enzymes that are necessary for DNA strand separation and copying. They are used to treat colorectal, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers, as well as certain leukemias.
Mitotic inhibitors like docetaxel, paclitaxel, vincristine, and vinblastine work by stopping cells from dividing to form new cells and preventing protein synthesis. They are used to treat various types of cancers including myelomas, lymphomas, leukemias, breast and lung cancer.
Over-the-Counter Medications for Cancer
Chemotherapy agents used to treat cancer are prescription drugs and are not available over-the-counter (OTC). However, many cancer patients take a variety of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements that are believed to combat cancer. It is very important to note that the safety and efficacy of many of these OTC preparations are not proven and they are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Moreover, some dietary supplements can cause reactions when taken during radiation therapy. The use of some vitamins and minerals may interfere with how well chemotherapy drugs work. However, some supplements can help prevent cell damage in healthy tissues. It is strongly advised that cancer patients speak to their doctors before taking any OTC supplements.
Common Side Effects of Cancer Medications
Cancer treatment drugs act on cancer cells as well as normal cells. Fast-growing normal cells are more likely to be affected by chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, the side effects of chemotherapy are most evident in these tissues, including the bone marrow, digestive tract, hair follicles, and reproductive system which all have fast-growing cells. Common side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, anemia, nausea, diarrhea, mouth sores, and hair loss. In addition to these side effects, caution is necessary while using chemotherapy agents because of the following risks.
Alkylating agents damage the DNA of cells and can affect cells in the bone marrow where new blood cells are manufactured. They can, therefore, cause leukemia. The risk of leukemia from alkylating agents depends on the dose (the risk is small at low doses). Leukemia can develop 5-10 years after treatment with alkylating agents.
A major concern with anti-tumor antibiotics is that they can cause permanent damage to the heart when given at high doses. For this reason, doctors often calculate and limit the cumulative lifetime dose of these drugs.
Topoisomerase inhibitors can increase the risk of a second cancer called acute myeloid leukemia within 2-3 years of treatment.
Mitotic inhibitors are more likely than other types of chemotherapeutic agents to cause painful nerve damage. Therefore, they are used only in limited amounts.
Common Questions
Is cancer genetic?
Cancer is a genetic disease that is caused by alterations in genes that control how cells grow and divide. Some cancers run in families. But cancer-causing genetic changes can be acquired during a person’s own lifetime from exposure to carcinogenic substances that damage the DNA in cells, for example, cigarette smoke and radiation.
What are the symptoms of cancer?
The symptoms of cancer depend on the part of the body where the tumor develops. Some cancers do not cause any symptoms until they are advanced. Some of the general signs and symptoms of cancer include lumps that can be felt with the fingers, pain, fatigue, fever, cough, unexplained weight loss, non-healing sores, unusual bleeding or discharge, and changes in the bowels or bladder.
Can I get a discount on cancer treatment drugs with BuzzRx?
Yes, you can get discounts on some medicines—including cancer treatment medications—as long as you have a signed prescription from your doctor.
References:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment#
https://training.seer.cancer.gov/treatment/chemotherapy/types.html
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000910.htm
Common Cancer Treatment Health Medications
Cancer Treatment
Get the latest information on common prescription and over-the-counter cancer treatment drugs.
In healthy individuals, cells in the body divide to form new cells where the body needs them. For example, if cells grow old and die, new cells take their place. Cancer is a group of related diseases in which the cells in a part of the body begin to divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner and spread into the surrounding tissue. Almost any part of the human body can develop cancer. The extra cells that are formed from uncontrolled cell division form growths which are called tumors. Some cancers are solid tumors. Cancers of the blood, such as leukemias, on the other hand, are not solid tumors.
Tumors are broadly classified into malignant and benign. Malignant tumors can invade or spread into the surrounding tissues. As a malignant tumor grows, the cancer cells can break off and travel via the blood and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. The new tumors formed at a location far from the site of the original tumor are called secondaries or metastases. Unlike malignant tumors, benign tumors do not invade nearby tissues. However, benign tumors can grow quite large and cause symptoms by pressing upon surrounding structures. Some benign brain tumors can be life-threatening. When benign tumors are removed from the body, they don’t usually grow back, while malignant tumors sometimes do.
Cancer Treatment
There are several types of cancer treatments available, including surgery to remove a tumor, chemotherapy that uses drugs to kill cancer cells, radiation therapy that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells, hormone therapy that is used to treat cancers that need hormones to grow, immunotherapy that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer, and targeted therapy that targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow and spread. Some people need only one treatment for cancer, but most people require a combination of these cancer treatments.
There are more than 100 different chemotherapy drugs that are used to treat different types of cancers. The main types of cancer chemotherapy agents are as follows:
Alkylating agents like busulfan, temozolomide, chlorambucil, and cyclophosphamide work by damaging the DNA of cells and preventing them from making copies. These chemotherapy agents can be used to treat many types of cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin disease, sarcoma, and cancers of the lung, ovary, and breast.
Antimetabolites like 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), and gemcitabine work by mimicking nutrients that are required for cell growth, tricking the cells into consuming them and eventually leading to cell death from starvation. Antimetabolites are used to treat cancers of the breast, ovary, and intestinal tract, as well as leukemia.
Anti-tumor antibiotics like doxorubicin, actinomycin D, bleomycin, and daunorubicin interfere with enzymes and block the ability of cancer cells to reproduce. They are used to treat various types of cancers.
Topoisomerase inhibitors like etoposide, topotecan, and irinotecan interfere with enzymes that are necessary for DNA strand separation and copying. They are used to treat colorectal, gastrointestinal, pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers, as well as certain leukemias.
Mitotic inhibitors like docetaxel, paclitaxel, vincristine, and vinblastine work by stopping cells from dividing to form new cells and preventing protein synthesis. They are used to treat various types of cancers including myelomas, lymphomas, leukemias, breast and lung cancer.
Over-the-Counter Medications for Cancer
Chemotherapy agents used to treat cancer are prescription drugs and are not available over-the-counter (OTC). However, many cancer patients take a variety of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements that are believed to combat cancer. It is very important to note that the safety and efficacy of many of these OTC preparations are not proven and they are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Moreover, some dietary supplements can cause reactions when taken during radiation therapy. The use of some vitamins and minerals may interfere with how well chemotherapy drugs work. However, some supplements can help prevent cell damage in healthy tissues. It is strongly advised that cancer patients speak to their doctors before taking any OTC supplements.
Common Side Effects of Cancer Medications
Cancer treatment drugs act on cancer cells as well as normal cells. Fast-growing normal cells are more likely to be affected by chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, the side effects of chemotherapy are most evident in these tissues, including the bone marrow, digestive tract, hair follicles, and reproductive system which all have fast-growing cells. Common side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, anemia, nausea, diarrhea, mouth sores, and hair loss. In addition to these side effects, caution is necessary while using chemotherapy agents because of the following risks.
Alkylating agents damage the DNA of cells and can affect cells in the bone marrow where new blood cells are manufactured. They can, therefore, cause leukemia. The risk of leukemia from alkylating agents depends on the dose (the risk is small at low doses). Leukemia can develop 5-10 years after treatment with alkylating agents.
A major concern with anti-tumor antibiotics is that they can cause permanent damage to the heart when given at high doses. For this reason, doctors often calculate and limit the cumulative lifetime dose of these drugs.
Topoisomerase inhibitors can increase the risk of a second cancer called acute myeloid leukemia within 2-3 years of treatment.
Mitotic inhibitors are more likely than other types of chemotherapeutic agents to cause painful nerve damage. Therefore, they are used only in limited amounts.
Common Questions
Is cancer genetic?
Cancer is a genetic disease that is caused by alterations in genes that control how cells grow and divide. Some cancers run in families. But cancer-causing genetic changes can be acquired during a person’s own lifetime from exposure to carcinogenic substances that damage the DNA in cells, for example, cigarette smoke and radiation.
What are the symptoms of cancer?
The symptoms of cancer depend on the part of the body where the tumor develops. Some cancers do not cause any symptoms until they are advanced. Some of the general signs and symptoms of cancer include lumps that can be felt with the fingers, pain, fatigue, fever, cough, unexplained weight loss, non-healing sores, unusual bleeding or discharge, and changes in the bowels or bladder.
Can I get a discount on cancer treatment drugs with BuzzRx?
Yes, you can get discounts on some medicines—including cancer treatment medications—as long as you have a signed prescription from your doctor.
References:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment#
https://training.seer.cancer.gov/treatment/chemotherapy/types.html
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000910.htm
Common Cancer Treatment Health Medications
SOCIAL