Dasatinib

Dasatinib has a trade name of Sprycel. This like camptosar is also a target drug therapy and is classified under the signal transduction inhibitor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Dasatinib is used when the treatment has shown intolerance to previous mode of treatment.

Dasatinib is taken orally and can be taken either before or after meal. The most important thing that you need to know is that this tablet should not be crushed or chewed. In case you miss out a dose you need to take the next dose at its next regular time. You should strictly avoid taking two doses of this anti-cancer medication at the same time. The amount of medication that you receive depends upon a few body factors like your overall health, type of cancer and stage of cancer.

As such there are no side effects related to this mode of treatment but then like all cancer drugs this too has certain common side effects that are visible at the onset of the treatment and remain until the completion of the treatment cycle. The side effects are reversible and they can be managed apart from that there are ways to minimize the effects of this medication.

Side effects are vomiting, nausea, decrease in the blood count, anemia, hair loss, loss of appetite, bleeding, low platelet count, pain in the muscles and bones, fatigue, diarrhea, rashes, headache, fever etc.

It has also been found that due to this medication there is retention of fluid especially around the legs and eyes. In very severe cases there is accumulation of fluid in the lungs, abdominal cavities, breathlessness etc.

Dasatinib is also known to increase your weight, another side effect is that it affects the sex organs i.e. it affects the male and female fertility thus making you physically infertile or impotent.

You need to consult your doctor immediately in case you have a sudden rise in temperature with chills, nausea and vomiting in spite of taking anti-nausea medications, bleeding , developing bruises, feeling fatigue even with little exertion, swelling, sudden weight gain, passing of blood in the urine or stool etc.

You need to inform your doctor about the present medications that you are on even those herbal supplements, avoid taking aspirin or its products, do not get yourself vaccinated or immunized without your doctor’s consent, inform your doctor of your impending pregnancy as Dasatinib is harmful for the growth of the fetus, avoid breast feeding, avoid conceiving.

Certain self-care tips

Avoid crowded place as you are prone to infection due to low immunity, increase the intake of fluids, follow a regime of good health hygiene, prevent mouth sores by using toothbrush with soft bristles, rinse your mouth with water in which salt or baking soda is added, avoid contact sports, don’t get yourself to direct sunlight use sunblock lotions and wear protective gear. Take plenty of rest and have a well-balanced nutritional diet. Get your blood tests done regularly to monitor the proper working of the internal organs.

Target therapy helps identify those cancerous cells in the body and destroy them without damaging the normal cells that surround these cancerous cells. Anti-angiogenesis inhibitors are known to target the blood vessels which are known to supply oxygen to these cells thus starving them of oxygen and inducing self-destruction.