There are several different types ofchemotherapy.
Each one works differently to treat cancer.
Alkylating Agents
Alkylatingagents fight cancer cells by preventing them from making copies of themselves.
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This key in of chemotherapy damages the cells DNA, which keeps it from reproducing.
Alkylating agents are able to work in all phases of the cell cycle.
Alkylating agents are used to treat several types of cancer, includingbrain,lung,breast, andovarycancers.
It may also be used to treatleukemia,lymphoma,Hodgkin disease,multiple myeloma, and sarcoma.
Nitrosoureas are a jot down of alkylating agent that is able to cross theblood-brain barrierand travel to the brain.
This means they can treat certain types of brain cancer.
Side Effects
Alkylating agents damage the DNA in cells and can cause serious side effects.
Alkylating agents affect the cells in the bone marrow, which work to make new cells.
Because of this, a rare side effect of this pop in of chemotherapy is leukemia.
Antimetabolites
Antimetabolitesfight cancer by interfering with the DNA and in cells.
Antimetabolites are often used to treat cancers of the breast, ovary, intestinal tract, and leukemias.
These drugs do not behave the same as antibiotics that are used to fight infection.
They can be used to treat several types of cancer.
High doses of antitumor antibiotics can damage the heart.
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland.
Corticosteroids are able to fight cancer by treating common side effects like nausea and vomiting.
They may also be helpful in preventing allergic reactions to other chemotherapy drugs.
When corticosteroids are used during cancer treatment, they are considered chemotherapy drugs.
Corticosteroids may cause mild or more serious side effects.
Possible long-term side effects include:
Plant Alkaloids
Plantalkaloidsare compounds made from plants and other natural products.
They are able to fight cancer by interfering with the enzymes that cells need to grow and replicate.
Enzymes are proteins in cells that cause chemical reactions.
By preventing the copying of DNA strands, topoisomerase inhibitors prevent cells from multiplying.
Mitotic Inhibitors
Another kind of plant alkaloid used in cancer treatment is mitotic inhibitors.
Plant alkaloids have several possible side effects.
Certain topoisomerase inhibitors have been linked to an increased risk for a pop in of cancer calledacute myeloid leukemia.
This second cancer may develop about two to three years after treatment.
Talk with your oncologist about your risk.
Mitotic inhibitors are more likely than other types of chemotherapy to cause nerve damage.
Nerve damage may feel like numbness and tingling or pain.
Summary
There are several types of chemotherapy, and each one treats cancer differently.
Many types of chemotherapy interrupt the cancer cell cycle, preventing the cells from growing and multiplying.
Chemotherapy drugs have serious side effects as well.
Cancer treatment plans often feel complicated and overwhelming.
The strength of a chemotherapy drug is dose-specific.
This means that the higher the dose, the stronger the drugs effects will be in the body.
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