There are five main categories of
chemotherapy drugs used to fight cancer and breast cancer. They are:
1. Alkylating agents-that work directly
on the cancer cell's DNA to prevent it from replicating. Busulfan,
Cyclophoshamide and Melphalan are examples of Alkylating
agents.
2. Nitrosureas-that inhibit a cancer
cell's enzymes needed for DNA repair. Carmustine and Lomustine are
examples of Nitrosureas.
3. Antimetabolites-that interfere with
both a cancer cell's DNA and RNA. 5-Fluorouracil, Methotrexate and
Fludarabine are examples of Antimetabolites.
4. Antitumor Antibiotics-that also
interfere with a cancer cell's DNA in addition to changing its cellular
membrane-the outside layer of protective coating. Bleomycin,
Doxorubicin and Idarubicin are examples of Antitumor Antibiotics;
and,
5. And Mitotic Inhibitors-which are plant
alkaloids that inhibit enzymes needed for protein synthesis in
the cancer cell. Docetaxel, Etoposide and Vinorelbine are examples of
Mitotic Inhibitors.
List of Chemotherapy Drugs
Asparaginase (Elspar): Elspar is
injected into a large muscle, a vein, or under the skin. It is used in
treating such cancers as acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Bleomycin (Blenoxane): Blenoxane
is injected into a large muscle, a vein or under the skin of your forearm.
It is used in treating such cancers as Hodgkin's disease and diffuse
histiocytic lymphoma.
Busulfan (Myleran): Myleran is
taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can also be injected into a
vein. It is used in treating chronic myelogenous leukemia. Commonly
prescribed.
Capecitabine (Xeloda): (Mentioned
above in the article from Scotland regarding hospital time and side
effect medication being reduced by oral chemo versus intravenous
chemo) Xeloda is taken by mouth, with water only, in the form of a
capsule. It is used to treat metastatic breast
cancer. Commonly prescribed
Carboplatin (Paraplatin):
Paraplatin is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. Some
patients experience more side effects with this drug than others.
Carboplatin is a platinum compound that is used in treating
advanced ovarian cancer as well as other cancers. Commonly
prescribed.
Carmustine (BCNU, BiCNU): BiCNU is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used to treat brain tumors, Multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's Disease and
Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
Chlorambucil (Leukeran): Leukeran
is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be given alone or
with other drugs. It is used to treat chronic lymphatic leukemia,
malignant lymphomas such as lymphosarcoma and Hodgkin's disease.
Commonly prescribed.
Cisplatin (Platinol): Platinol is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. Some
patients experience more side effects with this drug than others. It is
used in treating such cancers as small cell lung cancer and testicular
cancer.Commonly prescribed. May cause severe nausea and vomiting.
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan,
Neosar): Cytoxan/Neosar is injected into a vein. It can also be
given by mouth in the form of a tablet. It is used in treating such
cancers as acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia,
breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, Non-hodgkin's lymphoma, and
diffuse histiolytic lymphoma. Commonly prescribed.
Cytarabine (Cytosar-U, Ara-C):
Cytosar-U/Ara-C is injected under the skin or into a vein. In special
situations, it may be injected into the spinal cord space. It is used in
treating such cancers as acute myelocytic leukemia.
Dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome): DTIC-Dome
is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs.
It is used in treating such cancers as Hodgkin's disease. May
cause severe nausea and vomiting.
Dactinomycin (Cosmegen): Cosmegen
is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs.
It is used in treating testicular and uterine cancer. Commonly
prescribed.
Daunorubicin (Cerubidine):
Cerubidine is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs.
It is used in treating acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and actute
lymphocytic leukemia. May cause severe nausea and vomiting.
Dexrazoxane (Zinecard): Zinecard
is injected into a vein. It protects your heart from the harmful
effects of some other chemotherapy agents.
Docetaxel (Taxotere): Taxotere is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in treating locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Commonly
prescribed.
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex):
Adriamycin/Rubex is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or
with other drugs. Some patients experience more side effects with this
drug than others. It is used in treating such cancers as acute
lymphocytic leukemia, Ewing's sarcoma, Hodgkin's disease, small cell
lung cancer, diffuse histiocytic lymphoma, and osteogenic sarcoma.
Commonly prescribed. May cause severe nausea and vomiting.
Etoposide (VePesid, VP-16):
VePesid/VP-16 is injected into a vein. It can also be given my mouth in the form
of a capsule. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in treating such cancers as small cell lung cancer.
Floxuridine (FUDR,
Fluorodeoxyuridine): FUDR/Fluorodeoxyuridine is injected into an artery or a vein
through an infusion pump. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in the palliative management of gastrointestinal cancer
that has spread to the liver.
Fludarabine (Fludara): Fludara is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in treating B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Fluorouracil (Adrucil, 5-FU):
Adrucil/5-FU is injected into a vein. It can also be used as a topical cream. It
can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such
cancers as breast cancer. Commonly prescribed. May cause severe nausea
and vomiting.
Gemcitabine: (Gemzar is the
chemotherapy drug Randy Stein took in his successful fight against pancreatic
cancer) Gemzar is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with
other drugs. It is used in treating locally advanced and metastatic
pancreatic cancer.
Hydroxyurea (Hydrea): Hydrea is
taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be given alone or with
other drugs. It is used in treating melanoma, resistant chronic
myelocytic leukemia and recurrent, metastatic or inoperbable
ovarian cancer. Commonly prescribed.
Idarubicin (Idamycin): Idamycin is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Ifosfamide (IFEX): Ifex is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in
treating germ cell testicular cancer.
Irinotecan (Camptosar, CPT-11): Camptosar/CPT-11 is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating metastatic
colon and rectal cancer.Commonly prescribed.
Lomustine (CCNU, CeeNU):
CCNU/CeeNU is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. A full dose may
contain two or more different colored capsules. Taken on an empty
stomach. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in
treating brain tumors and Hodgkin's Disease.
Mechlorethamine (Mustargen, Nitrogen
Mustard): Mustargen is injected into a vein. It can be given
alone or with other drugs. Some patients may experience more side effects
with this drug than others. It is used in the palliative management
of Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma, chronic myelocytic or
chronic lymphocytic leukemia and bronchogenic carcinoma. May
cause severe nausea and vomiting.
Melphalan (Alkeran, L-PAM):
Alkeran/L-PAM is injected into a vein. It can also be given by mouth in
the form of a tablet. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in the palliative management of multiple myeloma and
non-resectable epithelial carcinoma of the ovary.Commonly
prescribed.
Mercaptopurine (Purinethol, 6-MP):
Purinethol/6-MP is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be
given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating acute
lymphatic leukemia.
Methotrexate (MTX): MTX is
injected into a vein. In special situations, it may be injected into the
spinal cord space. It can also be given by mouth in the form of a
tablet. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating
such cancers as breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, diffuse
histiocytic lymphoma, and osteogenic sarcoma. Commonly prescribed.
Mitomycin (Mitomycin C,
Mutamycin): Mitomycin C/Mutamycin is into a vein. It can be given alone or with
other drugs. It is used in treating stomach and pancreatic
cancer.
Mitotane (Sodren): Sodren is taken
by mouth in the form of a capsule.It can be given alone or with
other drugs. It is used in treating inoperable adrenal gland
cancer.
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone):
Novantrone is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs.
It is used in treating acute nonlymphocytic leukemia
(ANLL).
Paclitaxel (Taxol): Taxol is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in
treating such cancers as breast cancer. Commonly
prescribed.
Pamidronate (Aredia): Aredia is
injected into vein. It inhibits the natural breakdown of bone in your
body.
Pentostatin (Nipent): Nipent is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in
treating hairy cell leukemia.
Plicamycin (Mithracin,
Mithramycin): Mithracin/Mithramycin is injected into a vein. It can be given
alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating malignant testicular
cancer. Commonly prescribed. May cause severe nausea and vomiting.
Procarbazine (Mutalane): Mutalane
is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be given alone or
with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as Hodgkin's
disease and diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. Commonly prescribed.
Rituximab (Rituxan): Rituxan is
injected into a vein. It is used in treating Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Commonly prescribed.
Streptozocin (Zanosar): Zanosar is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in treating metastatic islet cell cancer of the pancreas. Commonly
prescribed.
Teniposide (Vumon): Vumon is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in
treating childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Thioguanine (6-TG, Thioguanine
Tabloid): 6-TG/Thioguanine Tabloid is taken by mouth in the form of
a tablet. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It should be
given on an empty stomach. It is used in treating acute nonlymphocytic
leukemia.
Thiotepa (Thioplex): Thioplex is
injected into a vein. In special situations, it may be injected into the
spinal cord space or into the bladder. It can be given alone or with
other drugs. It is used in treating breast, ovarian, and
bladder cancer.
Vinblastine (Velban): Velban is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in
treating such cancers as Hodgkin's disease.Commonly
prescribed.
Vincristine (Oncovin): Oncovin is
injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in treating such cancers as Ewing's sarcoma, small cell lung cancer,
and diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. Commonly prescribed.
Vinorelbine (Navelbine): Navelbine
is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is
used in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Commonly
prescribed.
To combat potential side-effects,
anti-nausea medicine is used to reduce
the amount and severity of nausea and vomiting that a person with cancer
may experience while undergoing chemotherapy. The drugs that are most
often used in treating chemotherapy side effects, like nausea
are:
Anti-psychotic/Dopamine Antagonist
Drugs:
- Chlorpromazine
(Thorazine)
- Prochlorperazine (Compazine- given
after his cancer surgery to combat the possible nauseating effects of the pain medication)
Commonly prescribed.
- Promethazine (Phenergan)
Commonly prescribed.
- Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Commonly prescribed.
- Haloperidol
(Haldol)
Serotonin Antagonist
Drugs:
- Zofran (Ondansetron
Hydrochloride) Commonly prescribed.
Anticholinergic Drugs
(inhibiting the parasympathetic
nervous system's operations)/Antihistaminic
(inhibiting immune system allergy-like reactions):
- Hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril)
Commonly prescribed.
- Diphenhydramine
(Benedryl)
Adrenergic Stimulant
Drugs (those boosting sympathetic
nervous system's operations):
- Dextroamphetamine
(Dexedrine)
- Ephedrine
Anti-Anxiety
Drugs/Benzodiazepines:
Steroids:
- Dexamethasone (Decadron)
- Methylprednisone
(Solumedrol)
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