What is sodium iodide I 131, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Sodium iodide I 131 is an oral medication used to treat hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) and some cases of thyroid cancer. It falls under the category of an anti-thyroid drug but differs from the other anti-thyroid drugs, propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole …
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What is megestrol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Megestrol is a synthetic female hormone belonging to the progesterone group. It is used for stimulating appetite and treating breast cancer. Progesterone is a hormone produced by the body, especially in women, that helps control the menstrual period as well as other body functions. How megestrol stimulates appetite or …
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What is capecitabine (Xeloda), and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Capecitabine is an oral medication for treating advanced breast cancer that is resistant to combination therapy with the drugs of choice, paclitaxel (Taxol) and a drug from the anthracycline family of drugs, for example, doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Capecitabine is converted by the body to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a drug which …
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Facts you should know about triple-negative breast cancer Share Your Story Picture of Breast Cancer Symptoms Triple-negative breast cancer is an uncommon kind of breast cancer in which the cancer cells test negative for three common markers, the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and a protein involved in cell growth known as HER2. The triple-negative status of a cancer …
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What is ondansetron oral disintegrating tablet, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Ondansetron is an anti-nausea medication most often used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy agents increase secretion of serotonin which stimulates serotonin (5-HT3) receptors in the brain, causing nausea and vomiting. Ondansetron works by selectively blocking serotonin (5-HT3) receptors, reducing the effect of …
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What is dronabinol-oral, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Dronabinol (Marinol) is a man-made compound that contains cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant (Cannabis sativa L). Dronabinol contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in standardized concentrations and does not contain other compounds found in street marijuana that is not approved by the FDA for medical use. Dronabinol activates cannabinoid receptors causing …
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What is Ibrance and how is it used? Ibrance is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with: an aromatase inhibitor as initial endocrine-based therapy in postmenopausal women or in men; or fulvestrant in patients with disease progression following endocrine therapy. New …
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What is daratumumab (Darzalex), and how is it used? Darzalex is a prescription medicine used to treat multiple myeloma: In combination with the medicines bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone, in people with newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who cannot receive a type of stem cell transplant that uses their own stem cells (autologous stem cell transplant). In combination with the medicines …
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What is Opdivo (nivolumab), and how does it work? Opdivo is a prescription medicine used to treat: people with a type of skin cancer called melanoma: that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery (advanced melanoma). You may receive Opdivo alone or in combination with ipilimumab, or to help prevent melanoma from coming back after it and lymph nodes …
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What is atezolizumab, and how is it used? Tecentriq is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with: a type of bladder and urinary tract cancer called urothelial carcinoma. Tecentriq may be used when your bladder cancer has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and if you have any one of the following conditions: you are not able to …
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