WomenBrands.com

Hypnosis Complements Breast Cancer Treatment and Breast Surgery

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging In Medical Therapy

Moving Beyond a Cancer Diagnosis

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Take Control of Your Cancer Risk by Eating Super

Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Take Control of Your Cancer Risk by Eating Super

Finding the Spirit - Identifying the Enemy

My First Thermographic Experience

Passive Smokers Can Get Breast Cancer! Learn How?

Alkylating agents affect cancer cells in the same manner as radiation. Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) is the most commonly used drug of this class. It is usually administered intravenously but can also be given orally on a daily basis. The intravenous form of the drug does not usually cause hair loss (alopecia), but the oral form may. This drug is very effective and is part of most regimens used for cancer adjuvant chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic antibiotics are different from antibiotics used to treat infection in the sense that they are potent inhibitors of DNA replication. The most commonly used drug of this class in breast cancer therapy is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Adriamycin is extremely active with breast cancer. A related drug, known as metoxantrone (Novantrone) is less frequently. Mitomycin, another drug in this class, is active with breast cancer but is not usually used in adjuvant regimens.

Cisplatin is a heavy metal also used to kill cancer cells. Its efficacy as an anticancer agent was discovered in the late 1970s when scientists were trying to pass electrical currents though Petri dishes of bacterial colonies to determine if the electronic activity inhibited bacterial growth. Interestingly, the bacteria around the platinum electrode died instantly. From this discovery, it was found that platinum leaked into the tissue media and was responsible for killing the bacteria. This observation made way to further investigations that demonstrated that platinum as a potent inhibitor of cell division and an excellent anticancer agent. Most recently, it has been used in ovary and breast cancer treatment with similar results. It has good anticancer activity and can be used in high doses with moderate adverse events.

During cell division, the chromosome line up and migrate to opposite poles on the nucleus of the cell. The apparatus for this process is called the mitotic spindle. Certain drugs block this process in cell division and cause the inability of cells to migrate. Vincistine is an example of this drug, as is a new drug called vinorelbine.

Antimicrotubule agents are unique agents that originated from the Pacific yaw tree. Examples of this class are paclitaxel and docetaxel. They are very potent in killing cancer cells. In a span of a few years, these drugs went from discovery to rapid testing in several cancer types, including breast cancer. Because of their impressive ability to kill cancer cells and a relatively acceptable degree of toxicity to normal cells, they are now part of many regimens for women who have a significant risk of metastatic breast cancer.

Article Source : www.womenbrands.com

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to