Cancer has become one of the deadliest diseases in the world. It has become a nightmare for most family members who are experiencing financial difficulties trying to treat their family members who are suffering from the disease. The effects of cancer in most families have surpassed the one caused by HIV/AIDS. Luckily, there is an abundant number of colorectal cancer medications to choose from.
According to statistics by the American Cancer Society, in every 21 men and 23 women, 1 of the man or woman will suffer from colorectal cancer in their lifetime. This disease has taken the second place in causing death in women and the third in men. Thanks to technology, death rates of colorectal cancer patients has significantly reduced. So what is this nightmare disease and what medications are available? Let’s go deeper.
What is Colorectal Cancer?
This is cancer that usually starts from the colon (large intestines) or the rectum. It is commonly referred to as rectal cancer or colon cancer depending on where it began. Due to the common traits of these two cancers, the doctors usually group them together, hence the name colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer can be non-cancerous, benign, or malignant. When it is malignant, it usually spreads to other parts of the body. What people usually call cancer is the abnormal multiplication and growth of the body cells. That means any part of the body can be cancerous.
Is there any treatment for this disease? Well, there are several treatment approaches used by the doctors ranging from surgery, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, to chemotherapy. Each has its own side effects. The most common is chemotherapy.
What is Chemotherapy?
This is a kind of treatment approach that uses drugs to end the growth and division capability of cancer cells. Some colorectal cancer medications are usually administered after a surgery to destroy cancer cells that remained.
Types of Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer
Chemotherapy can be administered either orally in a capsule or through an intravenous tube in what is called systemic chemotherapy and also through a chemotherapy regime, which takes a period of time. There are various drugs that are approved as colorectal cancer medications, where 2 or more are combined or used alongside targeted therapy. They include:
• 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)
• Irinotecan (Camptosar)
• Lonsurf
• Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)
• Capecitabine (Xeloda)
Side Effects Of Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy aims to destroy any kind of body cell that is dividing quickly. Unfortunately, some useful body cells also divide quickly. For example, cells in the bone marrow, mouth and intestine lining, and hair follicles. That’s why there are some effects like:
• Mouth sores
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Easy infection of diseases
• Easy bleeding
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Posted on March 24, 2023