Anticancer drugs and their side effects

Anticancer drugs are defined as the medications which helps in the effective treatment of malignant, or cancerous, disease. They are also known as chemotherapeutic drugs or antineoplastic drugs. They can be used in single-drug therapy or in combination therapy. Alkylating agents, natural products, antimetabolites and hormones are the several classification of anti-cancer drugs.

Classification of Anticancer drugs

Cytotoxic drugs: These are the medicines which helps in preventing the growth and replication of the cancers cells using chemicals that are toxic to the cells. They can also be used to treat several other disorders are multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. As their action is not targeted tightly they can produce side effects both to the patients and others who become exposed.

Targeted drugs: It is one of the major modalities of medical treatment. Rather than by simply interfering with all rapidly dividing cells, it blocks the growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific targeted molecules needed for tumor growth and carcinogenesis. Combine biologic, cytotoxic mechanisms and antibody-drug conjugates are the modalities of targeted therapy.

Hormonal Drugs: Hormone replacement therapy works by replacing estrogen hormone that is no longer being made by the body. Combinations of progestin and estrogen are used to treat certain symptoms of menopause. Hormonal pills contain the hormones progestin and estrogen, which are like the hormones that are normally made by the ovaries.

Chemotherapy:

Along with the anticancer drugs the treatment called Chemotherapy is also used. It is one of the cancer treatment which uses one or more anti-cancer drugs as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. It may aim to prolong life, given with a curative intent or to reduce symptoms called palliative chemotherapy. It is one of  the medical discipline which specifically devotes to pharmacotherapy for cancer, called medical oncology. It can cure cancer by killing the cancer cells. It can also kill normal cells causing following side effects.

• anemia
• Tiredness
• Mouth soreness
• Nausea, vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Skin changes or reactions
• Pain or nerve changes
• Changes in fertility and sexuality