Drugs for Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is a type of cancer affecting the large intestine, which represents the lower portion of the digestive system. Colon cancer is a killer disease. An estimated 112,000 individuals in America are diagnosed with colon cancer every year.
Usually, colon cancer starts with small cell lumps called adenomatous polyps. After some time these clumps can grow into dangerous cancer cells. Cancer generally occurs when the healthy body cells progress into unhealthy cells. It is hard to diagnose the symptoms of colon cancer particularly in its early stages. Some of the most common symptoms of this disease are blood in the stool, change in bowel habits, and abdominal pain. Although blood in the stool can be considered a sign of cancer, it can likewise indicated specific conditions such as minor tears in the anal area and hemorrhoids.
There are many drugs that can be prescribed by physicians in order to curtail the development of colon cancer. One of them is Adrucil, or brand name Fluorouracil, which is a chemotherapy medication which is effective in interfering the progress of cancer cells. Adrucil can also be used in treating various types of cancer such as cancer of the breast, rectum, colon, head, stomach, and neck.
With the brand name Bevacizumab, Avastin is used in treating kidney and colon cancer. This drug is usually prescribed to go along with regular chemotherapy drugs. Camptosar, meanwhile, damages the cancer cells. It is a form of chemotherapy medication that is used in treating various kinds of cancers such as lung, ovarian, and colorectal. It can be given with other chemotherapy medications, or just by itself.
Eloxatin, with the brand name of Oxaliplatin, is another chemotherapy medication which kills cancer cells. It is tapped in treating colorectal cancer. Similarly, Erbitux focuses on a particular kind of protein present on colorectal cancer cells. This drug impedes the progress of cancer cells, causing them to die in the process.
Vectibix with brand name Panitumumab, meanwhile, acts similarly to Erbitux although it is manufactured by another company. It targets the cancer cells with EGFR proteins, interfering in their growth and causing them to die.
Another medication is Wellcovorin, with brand name Leucovorin, a vitamin complex that is used to treat colon cancer that is in the advanced stages. This drug complements Wellcovorin in dealing with cancer cells in the colon, effectively shutting them out and killing them in the process.
