Thursday, July 16, 2009

Cancer Treating Drugs

By Allan Tan

The use of cancer treating drugs is not restricted to chemotherapy. Though chemotherapy is a familiar term to many people, few know the medications used in this treatment. There are other medications that are used to treat cancer as well.

The use of cancer treating drugs is often incorporated into a treatment plan that may include many treatment methods. Some other treatment methods for cancer that may be used are surgery, radiation treatment or alternative treatment methods.

Chemotherapy uses cancer treating drugs that are sometimes called anticancer drugs. Anticancer drugs prevent cancer cells from growing and reproducing. Hexalen, Taxotere, and Paraplatin are a few examples of anticancer drugs.

There are different types of chemotherapy. T he method of delivering the anticancer drugs to the cancerous cells differentiates the types of chemotherapy.

Interferons help the body fight infections and destroy diseased cells. In addition to the treatment of many diseases and infections, interferons are used as cancer treating drugs. Interferon may be part of postsurgical care after a cancerous tumor has been removed in order to prevent the reappearance of the tumor.

Immune system boosting medications used to treat cancer are called interleukins. The interleukins work by encouraging the production of the red blood cells that are needed for the immune system.

The interleukins not only increase the production of these cells, but also improve their functioning. The treatment of lymphoma, renal cancer, and melanoma often include the use of interleukins.

The purpose of antibodies is to detect and target allergens. If the cancerous cells produce an antigen that is unique, a monoclonal antibody can be developed to target the cancerous cells.

Anticancer drugs can be delivered directly to cancerous cells by monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies are often part of the treatment plan for lymphoma or leukemia.

Hormonal therapy is often used to treat prostate cancer and breast cancer. Hormones can act as cancer treating drugs by stopping the growth of cancerous cells.

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