Doxorubicin Lyophilized is a DNA interacting drug that are widely used in chemotherapy for treatment of various types of cancer. The drugs binds up the DNA of the cancer cells and stops the growth and multiplication of the cells. These drugs are commonly used for the treatment of different cancers including breast, ovarian, bladder and lung cancer as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and sarcoma. It is one of the best breast cancer drugs, lung cancer drugs from the total available drugs under the same category.

Dosage : 10mg, 50mg

How it is Administered

• It is injected directly into the vein using a fine tube(cannula) placed in the arm
• Through a central line in the form of drip, which is injected under the skin into a vein near the collarbone
• Using a PICC( peripherally inserted central catheter) line which is inserted into a vein in the crook of your arm

Side Effects
The patients using the drug may experience few temporary side effects predictable in terms of their onset, duration, and severity. But if you experience any serious or uncommon side effect please contact your doctor immediately. Few of the side effect associated with the medicine are:

• Hair loss
• Feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting
• Lowered resistance to infection
• Bruising or bleeding
• Anemia
• Sore mouth and ulcers
• Taste changes
• Discoloured urine
• Skin changes
• Sensitivity to the sun
• Tiredness and weakness

Precautions

• If you feel sensation of stinging or burning at the point of injection immediately being it to the notice of the doctor, since the leakage of the drug may cause serious damage to the tissues
• The leakage may also cause the area of injection to become red or swollen in such a case, tell you doctor or the chemotherapy nurse
• Inform your doctor about other medications you are taking (including over-the-counter, vitamins, or herbal remedies)
• Do not take aspirin or products containing aspirin unless your doctor allows you
• Avoid pregnancy or becoming father during and a month after the treatment

Epirubicin Lyophilized is a chemotherapy drug, used for the treatment of variety of cancers including breast, ovarian, stomach and bowel. The treatment controls the division of cancer cells by binding the DNA of the cell together.

Dosage : 10mg, 50mg, 100mg

How it is Administered

• Injected directly into the vein (intravenous) using a fine tube (cannula) placed in the arm
• Through a central line in the form of drip, which is injected under the skin into a vein near the collarbone
• Using a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line which is inserted into a vein in the crook of your arm

Side Effects
Different persons may experience different side effects according to the dose, schedule and body response to the drug. In case of any unusual experience or symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Following are the few of the most common side effects:

• Hair loss
• Feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting
• Lowered resistance to infection
• Bruising or bleeding
• Anemia
• Sore mouth and ulcers
• Taste changes
• Discoloured urine
• Skin changes
• Tiredness and feeling weak

Precautions

• If you notice any stinging or burning around the vein while the drug is being administered, or any leakage of fluid from the cannula site, immediately bring it to the notice of your doctor
• If the area around the injection point becomes swollen or red immediately report it to the doctor
• Your ability to conceive may be adversely affected. Hence, it is important to discuss your fertility with the doctor before starting the treatment
• It is not advisable to become pregnant or father of a child during the course of treatment, or after a month

Fluorouracil often abbreviated as 5FU is a chemotherapy drug that is used for the treatment of various types of cancer like bowel, breast, stomach, gullet and other cancers. Fluorouracil belongs to a group of drugs known as Anti-metabolites. It resembles a normal cell nutrient needed by a cancer cell to grow. The cancer cells absorb fluorouracil, which then controls their growth and multiplication.

Dosage : 250mg/5ml, 500mg/10ml

How it is Administered

• The drug may be injected directly into the veins using fine tube (Cannula) inserted into the veins of the arms
• Through a central line in form of drip, which is injected under the skin into a vein near the collarbone
• Using a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line, which is inserted into a vein in the crook of your arm

Side Effects
There are various side effect associated with the drug that are predictable in the terms of onset and duration. In case you experience any of the side effects, immediately contact your doctor.

• Sore mouth and ulcers
• Taste changes
• Diarrhea
• Gritty eyes and blurred vision
• Skin colour changes
• Lowered resistance to infection
• Bruising or bleeding
• Anemia
• Tiredness and weakness

Precautions

• Tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins and herbal remedies
• It is important to discuss your fertility with the doctor before starting the treatment
• It is advisable to avoid pregnancy or becoming father during the course of treatment

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug, used for the treatment of various types of cancer like lung cancer, pancreatic, bladder and breast cancer. These anti lung cancer drugs and anti breast cancer drugs act to slow down or stop the growth of cancer cell in the body. Gemcitabine is in a class of drugs known as Pyrimidine analogs.

Dosage : 200mg, 1000mg

How it is Administered

• The drug may be infused directly into the veins through a fine tube (cannula ), over a short period of time
• It may also be given through a central line, which is inserted under the skin into a vein near the collarbone or intra-peritoneal, directly into the peritoneal cavity in the abdomen

Side Effect
Following are its possible side effects. In case you experience any of the side effect listed below, please discuss it with your doctor or chemotherapy nurse.

• Lowered resistance to infection
• Bruising or bleeding
• Anemia
• Feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Temporary effect on liver function
• Change in kidney function
• Flu-like illness
• Fluid retention
• Tiredness and feeling weak

Precautions
Tell your doctor about all the medicine you use including prescription & non-prescription drugs and herbal remedies. It is advisable to avoid pregnancy or to become father during and a month after the course of the treatment.

Ifosfamide is a nitrogen mustard alkylating agent used in the treatment of variety of cancer. The chemotherapy cancer drug is commonly used for the treatment of testicular cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma (non-Hodgkin), soft tissue sarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma etc. Ifosfamide is often used in combination with Mesna to avoid internal bleeding in the patient.

Dosage : 500mg, 1000mg, 2000mg, 3000mg

How it is Administered

• The drug may be injected directly into the veins using fine tube (Cannula) inserted into the veins of the arms
• Through a central line in form of drip, which is injected under the skin into a vein near the collarbone
• Using a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line, which is inserted into a vein in the crook of your arm

Side Effects

• Lowered resistance to infection
• Bruising or bleeding
• Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
• Feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting
• Hair loss
• Tiredness and feeling weak
• Irritation of the bladder
• Changes to nails

Precautions

• Tell your doctor about all the medicine you take, including non-prescribed drugs such as complementary therapies and herbal drugs
• The drugs has a potential to damage developing foetus causing serious birth defect.

Mesna is a drug used to prevent bleeding in the bladder (hemorrhagic cystitis) and kidney during chemotherapy with Ifosfamide (Ifex) and Cyclophosphamide. Mesna is not a chemotherapy drug. While you are given the treatment, your urine is closely monitored and tested for any signs of blood. If blood is present in your urine, you will be given extra Mesna.

Dosage : 100mg/1ml, 200mg/2ml, 400mg/4ml, 600mg/6ml

How it is Administered

• Directly into the vein using a fine tube, cannula. It is given in the drip form mixed with sterile, salty water (saline) or in combination with your chemotherapy
• It can also be infused with central pipe line inserted under the skin and into a vein near the collarbone or passed through a vein in their arm (a PICC line)

Side Effects
Since Mesna is given along with the chemotherapy drugs it is difficult to distinguish its side effects. There has been very few of the side effects that have been practically experienced or noticed. If you experience any of the side effect mentioned below, immediately discuss it with your doctor.

• Taste change
• Headache
• Diarrhea or soft stools that may cause discomfort or colic (wind)
• Tiredness
• Limb and joint pain
• Irritability and mood changes

Also known as Amethopterin, Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug, which is used for the treatment of cancer and auto-immune diseases. These drugs are commonly used for the treatment of different types of cancers including breast, skin, lung etc.

Dosage : 50mg/2m

How it is Administered

• Directly injected into the vein (intravenously) using a fine tube (cannula) inserted into the vein
• Through central line in the form of drip inserted under the skin into a vein near the collarbone or into PICC line, which is inserted into a vein in the crook of the arm
• By infusion as a drip in the vein through cannula or line
• Around the spinal cord through a lumbar puncture
• Through injection either under the skin (subcutaneous) or into a muscle (intramuscular) or even into an artery (intra-arterial).

Side Effects
There may be a few side effects associated with the drug, particularly, in case of patients with poor lung function. However, patients are advised to immediately contact the doctor in case any of the symptoms given below.

• Lowered resistance to infection
• Bruising or bleeding
• Anemia
• Sore mouth and ulcers
• Change of taste
• Diarrhea
• Tiredness and weakness
• Kidney malfunction
• Gritty eyes due to inflammation of the cornea

Precautions

• The high dosage of the drug or injection around the spinal cord or into the brain, can cause headaches, dizziness, tiredness, blurred vision etc. Report these effects to your doctor
• A rescue drug, Folonic acid may be given within 24 hours after Methotrexate treatment
• Inform your doctor about all of the medications you are taking, including OTC drugs and natural remedies as these could increase the risk of Methotrexate toxicity
• It is advisable to avoid pregnancy or becoming father during the course of treatment.