Abraxane

An anti cancer drug Abraxane is also known by its generic name of Paclitaxel protein-bound. This cytotoxic drug is basically a plant alkaloid with a taxane and antimicrotubule agent.

What are the uses of Abraxane?

This drug is basically used to treat breast cancer where even combination chemotherapy has shown failure for the metastatic disease or in other words relapse of breast cancer within 6 months of chemotherapy, this drug is has rendered its usefulness when anthracycline chemotherapy has been used to treat breast cancer until and unless anthracycline chemotherapy has been clinically disapproved by the doctors.

How is this drug administered?

As in all anti-cancer drugs the amount of Abraxane administered depends upon several factors right from the age, weight, height, the overall health and the type and stage of cancer that you are suffering from. The dosage as well as the time schedule also depends upon the above mentioned factors.

What are the side effects of this drug?

As such there are no noted side effects of this drug but then like all cancer drugs there are certain side effects which appear at the onset of the treatment and tend to disappear at the end of the treatment cycle. The severity of the side effects also depends upon the dosage. The side effects can be easily taken care of and there are other preventive measures to minimize the effects of this drug.

It has been found that there is a low count of white blood cells and red blood cells which leads to anemia and infections, apart from this there are complaints of hair loss, nausea, peripheral neuropathy or where you get a tingling or numbness feeling in your hands and legs, joint and muscular pains, fatigue vomiting, breathlessness, etc. You need to consult your doctor if you experience fever with chills, nausea and vomiting for 24 hours, if you are unable to eat, bleeding, passing of blood in stools and urine etc.

Some precautionary methods:

You need to consult your doctor about all the other medications that you are presently on which includes vitamin and other oral supplements. You should also avoid immunization, vaccination, getting pregnant, and breast feeding etc.

Self Help tips:

Abraxane is known to cause dizziness, so avoid the use of machineries while on abraxane, drink plenty of fluids, avoid crowded place as you are prone to infections, use soft bristles to avoid bleeding of the gums and mouth sores, avoid activities where there are chances of getting hurt, use anti-nausea medications and have smaller meals at regular intervals, follow a strict regime of nutritious diet, getting a regular blood test done helps monitor the proper working of the internal body organs.

Cancerous cells are known to control the normal cells and thus there is a rapid division of cells and this is done through cell cycle which can be termed as mitosis. Abraxane works on damaging the cell structure thus inducing self destruction and also helps in causing the cancerous tumor to shrink. Abraxane is a plant alkaloid which is known to attack the cells during the various cell division stages thus preventing it from cell division.