Chemotherapy refers to a group of medications used to treat cancer. Sometimes, chemotherapy is given along with radiation treatment. Typically, chemotherapy medication slows the growth of the rapidly growing cancer cells. Chemotherapy is typically given as a pill or as an injection. There are many types of chemotherapy drugs available, but many physicians frequently use common chemotherapy drugs.
Paclitaxel
Paclitaxel is a cancer drug that specifically treats lung, breast and ovarian cancer. Sometimes, paclitaxel can also treat Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS patients, says Drugs.com. Its less serious side effects include hair loss, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or joint pain. In some instances, paclitaxel leads to pain, swelling and redness where the medicine was injected. Paclitaxel's serious side effects include a slow heart rate, a fever, chills, body aches, the flu and easy bleeding or bruising. Notify a doctor when these side effects develop.
Sometimes, a change in paclitaxel's dose is needed when suffering from heart or liver disease and a weak immune system. Paclitaxel is an intravenous (through the vein) injection given every 3 weeks.
Herceptin
Transtuzumab, commonly sold as Herceptin, is a drug that specifically treats metastatic (spreading) breast cancer. Drugs.com says transtuzumab slows cancer cell growth, and it stops it from spreading through the body. Some of its less concerning side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, a headache, fatigue and joint or muscle pain. This drug's serious serious side effects include chest pain, sweating, nausea, a cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and a pounding heartbeat. Talk to a doctor when any of these effects develop.
Suffering from heart disease, a heart attack or congestive heart failure may require a decrease in herceptin's dose. Herceptin is also an intravenous injection given once every 7 days.
Fluorouracil
Fluorouracil, commonly sold as Adrucil, specifically treats cancer of the colon, rectum, breast, pancreas and stomach. MedlinePlus says that this medication belongs to a class of drugs known as antimetabolites and stops cancer cell growth. A few of these drug's common side effects include a headache, a poor appetite, blistering of the skin or acne formation and tingling of the hands or feet. A few of its serious side effects include diarrhea, stomach pain, a cough, a fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes and joint pain. Notify a doctor when fluorouracil leads to these effects.
Fluorouracil can also lead to menstrual irregularities and a decrease in sperm count. Fluorouracil is an intravenous injection that is given as a specific schedule that a physician determines.
