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....
What is bone cancer? What is metastatic bone cancer? Illustration of Bone Cancer Bone cancer is a malignant tumor that arises from the cells that make up the bones of the body. This is also known as primary bone cancer. Primary bone tumors are tumors that arise in the bone tissue itself, and they may...
Bladder cancer facts Picture of Bladder Cancer The bladder is a hollow organ that collects urine from the kidneys through the ureters for storage and eventual removal from the body through the urethra. Bladder cancer is the abnormal growth of bladder cells and is a common cancer; men have a higher risk of getting bladder...
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...
What is Halaven? What is Halaven used for? Eribulin mesylate is a chemotherapeutic medicine approved to treat metastatic breast cancer, an advanced form of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Microtubules are dynamic intracellular structures that are responsible for various kinds of movements including cell division, organization of intracellular structure,...
What is sonidegib? What is sonigegib used for? Odomzo (sonidegib) is an oral medication used to treat a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. Sonidegib is an inhibitor of the hedgehog biological signaling pathway, a pathway that promotes the growth of both normal and cancer cells. Sonidegib binds to and inhibits smoothened, a...
Erythropoietin (EPO) definition and facts Measuring blood levels of erythripoietin, a hormone involved in red blood cell production, can diagnose some medical conditions. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone produced by the kidney. Erythropoietin promotes the formation of red blood cells by the bone marrow. The erythropoietin hormone level can be detected and measured in the...
What is Xofigo? What is Xofigo used for? Radium Ra 223 (Xofigo) is a radioactive medicine (radiotherapeutic drug) that is used to treat male patients with symptoms of advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones, but not to other parts of the body. The radioactive particles emitted by radium Ra 223 helps kill...
What is pertuzumab? What is pertuzumab used for? Pertuzumab is an intravenous drug that is used to treat breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast (metastasized). It belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. Other monoclonal antibodies used for treating breast cancer include trastuzumab (Herceptin) and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla). The cells of...
Male breast cancer facts Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers. Male breast cancer is rare and accounts for only about 1% of all breast cancers. Breast cancer risk in men is increased by elevated blood levels of estrogen, previous radiation exposure, and a family history of breast cancer. Mutations in...