How Different Chemotherapy Drugs Work

 

Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments preferred for cancer. The therapy uses several drugs that help kill cancer cells or stop them from growing and spreading to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy can be done all alone or with surgery or radiation therapy as prescribed by the doctor. Some of the best chemotherapy doctors in Mumbai have provided excellent treatment to patients who have cancer. The drugs help to regain strength in the body and grow new cells. Below are mentioned the various chemo drugs and how to take them.

Alkylating Agents:

These drugs help in damaging the DNA of cancer cells to stop them from making more copies. They help treat different types of cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and sarcoma. The drugs which are under the alkylating agents are carboplatin and cisplatin. These drugs can be taken in a small dosage, as taking a high dosage may harm the bone marrow of the patient.

Antimetabolites:

Antimetabolites are a chemo drug that interferes with the healthy metabolism of cells. This helps the cells to stop growing, restraining from causing the further spread of the disease. This drug is used by doctors to treat leukemia, cancer in the breasts, ovaries, and intestines. This drug includes 6- mercaptopurine, 5- fluorouracil, gemcitabine, cytarabine, and methotrexate. These drugs should be taken in small doses as prescribed by the doctors.

Bleomycin, Daunorubicin, and Doxorubicin:

The anthracycline chemotherapy process helps attack the enzymes inside the DNA of cancer cells, which allows them to divide & grow. These drugs are supposed to be taken in small dosages for a short while, as taking a high dosage can damage the hearts and lungs. It makes use of these drugs, depending on the type of cancer the patient is suffering from.

Mitotic Inhibitors:

Mitotic inhibitors stop cancer cells from making more copies and can also prevent the body from making a protein that is required by cancer cells to grow. Doctors prescribe these drugs for breast and lung cancer. Also, types of myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma can be treated with these drugs. These drugs should be taken in small doses prescribed by the doctors or restrict the body from combating cancer.

Topoisomerase inhibitors:

Topoisomerase Inhibitors stop the cancer cells from dividing and growing by attacking the enzymes. They help in treating cancer of the lungs, ovaries, and intestines. These drugs are supposed to be taken as prescribed by the doctors in small doses as taking high doses can raise the chances of getting a second cancer in a few years. Many cancer hospitals are using these drugs to treat their patients, and some of the best Chemotherapy have found positive results too. Chemotherapy costs can range from 5 lakhs to 20 lakhs depending on the treatment.

Steroids:

Steroids are drugs that act like the body’s hormones and are useful for treating many kinds of cancer. Taking these drugs in chemotherapy can give you nausea and vomiting after some rounds of chemotherapy. Some of the steroids drugs that doctors prescribe are prednisone, methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone. These drugs are supposed to be taken as prescribed by doctors, and taking massive doses can have extreme effects on the patients.