Thursday, July 16, 2009

Different 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.

Cancer treating drugs are usually only one component of someones cancer treatment plan. Radiation, surgery, and alternative cancer treatments are some other possible treatment methods for cancer.

The cancer treating drugs used in chemotherapy are sometimes called anticancer drugs. These drugs work by ceasing the cancer cells ability to grow and reproduce. Doxil, Elspar, and Hexalen are examples of the many 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 are used to treat cancer and numerous other diseases. Interferons are used to help the body destroy diseased cells and fight infections. After surgery to remove cancerous tumors, interferons may be administered to help prevent the cancer from reappearing.

Interleukins are help to fight cancer by boosting the effectiveness of the immune system. The interleukins promote the production of red blood cells that are necessary for the immune system to work properly.

The effectiveness of these red blood cells to destroy diseased cells is also increased by Interleukins. Melanoma, renal cancer, and lymphoma treatments often include 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 used in conjunction with monoclonal antibodies to maximize the effectiveness of the anticancer cells by delivering the drug directly to the cancerous cells. Monoclonal antibodies are used in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma.

Hormones are a type of cancer treating drugs. Hormonal therapy is used to treat certain cancers such as breast and prostate cancers. The hormones can block the growth of the cancerous cells.

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