Name | Used for | Possible side effects |
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chlorambucil | Chronic lymphocytic leaukaemia, lymphoma, ca. ovary | Low blood cell count | cyclophosphamide | lymphomas, leukaemias, sarcoma, ca. breast, ovary, uterus, prostate. | low blood count, nausea, hair loss, bladder irritation. | melphalan | multiple myeloma, ca. ovary, ca. breast (surgical adjuvant) | low blood cell count | platinum compounds | ca. testis, ovary, prostate, bladder, cervix, head and neck cancers. | nausea, hair loss, ear and kidney damage. | |
Type of drug
Alkylating agents - drugs that damage the genetic material (DNA) fo cells. Often used in combination with other drugs.
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cytarabine | acute leukaemia, lymphoma. | low blood cell count, nausea. | fluorouracil | effective in a wide range of cancers. | low blood cell count, diarrhoea. | methotrexate | effective in a wide range of cancers. | low blood count, mouth ulcers. | |
Type of drug
Anti metabolites - drugs that interfere with the growth of cells.
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etoposide | acute myelocytic leukaemia, ca. testis, small cell ca. lung. | low white cell count, nausea, hair loss. | vinblastine | lymphomas, ca. testis, breast, neurobalstoma (childhood). | low white cell count, nausea, constipation. | vincristine | acute lymphocytic leukaemia, lymphoma, ca. breast, lung. | constipation, numbness and weakness of the limbs. | |
Type of drug
Plant alkaloids - drugs that interfere with cell division.
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bleomycin | Hodgkins Lymphoma, ca. testis, cervix, penis. | allergic reactions, fever, lung damage. | dactimomycin | Wilm's tumour (childhood), sarcoma, ca. testis. | low blood cell count, nausea, hair loss, sore mouth. | doxorubicin | effective in a wide range of cancers. | low blood cell count, nausea, hair loss, heart damage. | |
Type of drug
Antibiotics that kill cancer cells. These drugs are often used in combination with other drugs.
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anti-oestrogens (eg. Tamoxifen) | ca. breast. | brings on menopause in pre-menopausal women. | anti-progesterone (eg. Provera) | ca. breast, uterus, kidney. | mild fluid retention. | oestrogens | ca. prostate, breast. | nausea, fluid retention, swelling of breasts. | |
Type of drug
Hormones that can affect the rate of growth of responsive cancer cells.
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