Despite the advances in technology and scientific research, no one seems to have found the drug that can best treat cancer. The Internet has provided a wide range of sources where you can find a list of cancer treating drugs, but none can guarantee to be the ultimate cure. The drugs available are often used more to relieve the symptoms of the cancer and its side effects and hopefully aims to treat the cancer itself.
The role of most anti-cancer drugs is to inhibit DNA from synthesizing or continuing its cell growth. Anti-cancer drugs are meant to stop the rapidly dividing cells, but in the process can affect other non-cancerous cells as well. Consequently, side effects of an anti-cancer drug occur depending on how the drug taken affects the other surrounding cells. Blood cells are often directly affected and are critical because they fight infection, help clot blood and carry oxygen to all the parts of the body. Patients may bruise, get infections, or bleed easily when blood cells are affected and they may feel unusual weakness and tiredness. The cells that are rapidly dividing in the roots of the hair, and the cells that line the digestive tract may also be affected, if the blood cells are affected.
Though many of the side effects of anti-cancer drugs can now be controlled, some side effects may still occur like nausea and vomiting, growth of lip and mouth sores, hair loss, poor appetite, and diarrhea. These side effects are usually short-term and will gradually stop. When hair grows back, it may be in a different texture or color.
Recently a relatively new innovation in treating cancer was introduced through the use of monoclonal antibody drugs. Several monoclonal antibody drugs have been made available to treat certain cancers but the best way to use this new drug needs further study. For those considering using a monoclonal antibody drug as part of cancer treatment, ask more about what the therapy involves and what to expect.
The monoclonal antibody drug developed is a molecule produced in a laboratory intended to attach to a specific defect in a patient's cancer cells. The monoclonal antibodies produced will mimic the body's natural antibodies and will develop as part of the immune system that naturally responds to vaccines, germs, and other invaders in the body. If the drug is effective, the monoclonal antibody will attach to a cancer cell, and can successfully:
- Make specific types of cancer cells easily identifiable by the body's immune system.
- Block receptors and prevent growth signals from reaching its target. The cancer cells slow down its growth or stop from growing.
- Deliver radiation to cancer cells when combined with radioactive particles. Most of the healthy cells surrounding the cancer cells remain undamaged.
- Slip powerful drugs into cancer cells, since powerful anti-cancer drugs or toxins can be attached to monoclonal antibodies. The drugs usually stay inactive until they go inside the target cells. This then lowers the chance of other surrounding cells from being harmed.
There are several kinds of monoclonal antibody drugs currently available to treat different types of cancer. As long as this kind of treatment proves effective, clinical trials will continue to develop new monoclonal antibody drugs to possibly treat every type of cancer.
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