List of Effective medications for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is basically a cancer that arises in the tissues of the breast usually in the tubes that help in carrying milk to the nipple known as ducts or glands that make milk known as lobules. It occurs in both males and females, although in males it is rare. The main cause of breast cancer is unknown however it is believed to have a sudden mutation in the DNA of breast cells leading to abnormal division. 

Symptoms of breast cancer: 

Below mentioned are a few symptoms of breast cancer:

• Change in shape  of the breast
• Change in size of the breast
• A lump in the breast
• Dimpling of the skin
• Thickening in the breast tissue
• An inverted nipple
• Discharge from the nipple
• Rash on the nipple
• Swelling or a lump in the armpit
• Pain in the breast 
• Skin redness or thickening

You should meet your healthcare provider if you have any of the above mentioned symptoms. However, it is quite necessary to remember that such signs can also be caused by other conditions.

Breast Cancer Medication:

The treatment mainly depends on the tumour size, subtype, grade, and existence of the biomarkers, as well as your age and your general health. Several most effective breast cancer drugs are elaborated as follows:

1. Palbociclib: 

Palbociclib is an anticancer medicine. It works by blocking proteins called cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6, which regulate cell growth and division. Blocking or resisting these proteins may interrupt the growth of cancerous cells and delay the progression of cancer. Palbociclib 125 mg is used to treat women with certain types of breast cancer (hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative) which have spread beyond the original tumour and/or to other organs. Palbociclib capsules should be given together with aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant, which are used as hormonal anticancer therapies.

Patients should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while on this drug as it could increase the side effects of Ibrance.

It comes as the strength of 125 mg, 100 mg, and 75 mg capsule.

The most common side effects include neutropenia, fatigue, nausea, stomatitis, anemia, diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, rash, decreased appetite, asthenia, vomiting, infections, pyrexia, alopecia, and leukopenia.

2. Capecitabine:

It is basically a chemotherapy drug used for the treatment of breast cancer. For breast cancer treatment it is mainly used together with the docetaxel.
It can also be used in the treatment of colorectal cancer (either as neoadjuvant therapy with radiation, adjuvant therapy or for metastatic cases.

The common adverse effects include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and rashes. Other severe side effects may occur such as blood clotting problems, allergic reactions, heart problems such as cardiomyopathy, and low blood cell counts.

It comes in the strength of:

• Capecitabine 150 mg
• Capecitabine 500 mg

Take Capecitabine 500 mg tablets exactly as your doctor tells you to take it. Your doctor will tell you how much Xeloda to consume and when to consume it. You should take this drug within 30 minutes after finishing a meal. Swallow tablets whole with water. Do not break or crush Capecitabine tablets.

3. Trastuzumab:

It is a monoclonal antibody recommended for the treatment of breast cancer (Adjuvant Breast Cancer and Metastatic Breast Cancer) and also stomach cancer. It is mainly used for cancer that is HER2 receptor positive. It can be used by itself or together with the other chemotherapy drugs. Trastuzumab Injection should be given by slow injection into a vein and injection just under the skin.

The usual dose of this drug depends on patient body weight. Your healthcare provider will calculate the dose for you.

How long you need to take Trastuzumab 440 mg will depend on a patient response to the treatment. Your doctor will check your response at the regular basis and decide how many treatments you will receive.
A Registered Nurse in the hospital or outpatient clinic will give you Hertraz 440 mg at regular intervals (usually every 3 weeks) determined by your physician.

The most common adverse effects may appear such as fever, cough, headache, infection, trouble sleeping, and rash. Some other adverse effects include allergic reactions, lung disease and heart failure.

4. Thiotepa:

Thiotepa is an alkylating medication indicated for the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the breast or ovary.
The most common adverse effects include anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated aspartate aminotransferase, elevated bilirubin, mucositis, cytomegalovirus infection, diarrhea, hematuria, rash, neutropenia, elevated alanine aminotransferase, and hemorrhage.

Note: It can also be used for treating superficial papillary carcinoma of the urinary bladder.
Additionally, it is also recommended to use in order to reduce the risk of graft rejection when used in conjunction with the high-dose of cyclophosphamide and busulfan as a preparative regimen for the allogeneic HSCT (hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation) for the patients who are pediatric with the beta-thalassemia class 3.

5. Ribociclib:

This medication is recommended to use together with the aromatase inhibitor as an endocrine-based therapy for treating postmenopausal women with the HR-positive (hormone receptor-positive), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative metastatic or advanced breast cancer.
Consume this medication exactly as your healthcare provider instructs you. Never change Or interrupt your dose unless your healthcare provider suggests you.

Ribociclib should be taken every day at about the identical time, preferably in the morning.
You should consume it with or without food. Swallow Ribociclib 200 mg tablets whole. Do not chew, crush, or split tablets prior swallowing them.

The most common side effects include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, alopecia, vomiting, back pain, headache, neutropenia, leukopenia and constipation.

6. Everolimus: 

Everolimus approved for breast cancer in post-menopausal women with the advanced hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative type cancer, in conjunction with exemestane.
This drug comes as the strength of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg tablets.

The most common side effects include stomatitis, infections, fatigue, cough, asthenia, and diarrhea.

Note: Everolimus is also approved for several other conditions include:

• Advanced kidney cancer
• Prevention of organ rejection after the renal transplant
•  SEGA stands for Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma associated with the tuberous sclerosis (TS) in those patients who are unsuitable for the surgical intervention. 
• Progressive or metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors surgically removable. 
• Prevention of organ rejection after the liver transplant. 
• Well-differentiated non-functional, Progressive, NET (neuroendocrine tumors) of gastrointestinal (GI) or lung origin with an unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease. 
• Tuberous sclerosis complex-associated with the partial-onset seizures for the adult and pediatric patients who are aged of 2 years or older. 

7. Paclitaxel:

Paclitaxel is an anti-cancer drug used in the treatment of a patient suffering from breast cancer. It is also effective in lung,  prostate, ovarian, bladder, esophageal, Melanoma cancer.

Paclitaxel is available in an injection form that is injected intravenously. The dosage of the drug depends upon several factors such as general health, weight, and height, type of cancer, and response rate of the patient.

Some common side effects of paclitaxel 100 mg injection include diarrhea, nausea, hair loss, hypersensitivity, peripheral neuropathy, low blood count, and mouth sores.

8. Anastrozole:

Anastrozole is a medication prescribed for the treatment of breast cancer in women who have gone through the menopause. Your healthcare providers may also be prescribed this medicine by Arimidex, which is its well-known brand name. Men with breast cancer may be recommended anastrozole, although another medicine named tamoxifen is more commonly prefered. Sometimes this drug is recommended to be given together with goserelin (Zoladex) to those women who haven’t yet been through the menopause. In case hormone receptor negative cancer, anastrozole is not useful. The drug is given in order to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women who haven’t had breast cancer but have a higher risk of developing due to their family history. It is usually recommended to be given following surgery in order to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back or spreading.

If you’re having chemo or radiotherapy, your healthcare professionals will tell you when it’s best to start the medicine anastrozole.

Occasionally, this medicine may be prescribed as the first treatment for breast cancer, for instance when surgery is inappropriate or requires to be delayed. It is sometimes prescribed prior to surgery to shrink breast cancer (larger).

Anastrozole can also be prescribed for the treatment of breast cancer that has come back (recurrence). It can also be recommended for the treatment of breast cancer that has spread to another part of the body (secondary breast cancer)                                                             when it is often prescribed together with another drug. Anastrozole is consumed as a tablet once a day, either with or without food. It is best to consume it at the same time each day. Adverse Reactions: Like any medicine, anastrozole 1 mg may cause adverse reactions. Each individual reacts differently to medicines and some people have more adverse reactions than others. Common adverse reactions may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• High cholesterol
• Hot flushes
• Sweating
• Constipation
• Hair and skin changes
• Sleep Disturbance
• Vaginal Irritation
• Reduced Libido (sex drive)
• Low mood and depression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• Pain in the joints and muscles

9. Atezolizumab:

Atezolizumab also named Tecentriq, specifically is a monoclonal antibody medication used in order to treat TNBC (triple negative breast cancer). 

In patients taking treatment with this medication, certain side effects may occur, which are as: tiredness, nausea (feeling sick), reduced appetite, vomiting, rash, difficulty breathing, cough, diarrhea, fever, pain in the back, joints, muscles and bones, itching, weakness and urinary tract infection. 

10. Abemaciclib: 

Abemaciclib also named Verzenio, is a medication used in order to treat patients with advanced/metastatic breast cancers. This agent was originated by Eli Lilly and it is believed to work as a CDK inhibitor selective for the CDK4/CDK6.

Some commonly reported side effects of abemaciclib are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, low white blood cell count including low red blood cell count, low platelet count, stomach pain, fatigue, infections, headache and decreased appetite. 

11. Lapatinib Ditosylate:

Lapatinib also named Tykerb, specifically is an orally active medicine in order to treat breast cancer and other solid tumours. Lapatinib is a dual TKI, interrupts the HER2/neu and EGFR pathways. It is mainly prescribed in combination therapy in order to HER2+Ve breast cancer. It is prescribed in order to treat patients with the advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpress HER2 (ErbB2).

The most commonly reported side effects of Lapatinib include: diarrhea, nausea, fatigue and rashes. 

12. Tucatinib: 

Tucatinib, also named Tukysa, specifically is a small molecule inhibitor of HER2 in order to treat HER2+Ve breast cancer. This medication was originated by Array BioPharma and licensed to Cascadian Therapeutics.

Some commonly reported side effects of Tucatinib include: vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, fatigue, hepatotoxicity (liver damage), rash, decreased appetite, stomatitis, abdominal pain, anemia and headache. Pregnant or breastfeeding women must avoid taking Tucatinib because it may be responsible for causing harm to a developing fetus or newborn baby. 

13. Phesgo: 

Pertuzumab/trastuzumab/hyaluronidase (Phesgo), specifically is a fixed-dose combination drug, used for the treatment of adult patients with HER2+Ve breast cancer that has spread to other organs of the body, and for treating adult patients with the early HER2+Ve breast cancer. Phesgo contains pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase–zzxf, and is available in order to be injected under the skin via subcutaneous injection in the thigh.

Some most commonly reported side effects of Phesgo include hair loss, nausea, diarrhea, reduced red blood cells and lack of energy. 

NOTE: The piece of information mentioned about "List of Effective medications for breast cancer treatment" in this article is just for the informational purposes and is not served as a substitute for medical treatment, consultation, diagnosis of a qualified doctor.

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