Anti Cancer Drugs

Imatinib (Systemic)

Description
Imatinib ( i-MAT-in-ib) is a new type of medication that prevents and stops the growth of cancer cells. It helps your body fight against a type of cancer called chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). CML is a disease in which your body makes too many abnormal white blood cells which can cause you to become sick more often and also to feel weak or tired. Imatinib helps your body to stop making these abnormal white blood cells. GIST is a group of cancer cells that started growing in the wall of the stomach, intestines, or rectum. Imatinib helps your body to stop making these abnormal cells.

Before you begin treatment with imatinib, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.

Imatinib Mesylate	(Equivalent to 100 mg. Imatinib) Capsules
Common Brand Name :	Gleevec ™
Packing :	10 tablets per blister

Anastrozole

Description
Anastrozole (an-ASS-troh-zole ) is a medicine that is used to treat breast cancer. Many breast cancer tumors grow in response to estrogen. This medicine interferes with the production of estrogen in the body. As a result, the amount of estrogen that the tumor is exposed to is reduced, limiting the growth of the tumor.

Anastrozole	1 mg. Tablets
Common Brand name :	Arimidex ®
Packing :	10 tablets per blister

Letrozole (Systemic)

Description
Letrozole (LET-roe-zole) is used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women. Female hormones that occur naturally in the body can increase the growth of some breast cancers. Letrozole works by decreasing the amounts of these hormones in the body. This medicine is meant to be used only by women who have already stopped menstruating.

Letrozole	2.5 mg. Tablets
Common Brand name :	Femara®
Packing :	10 tablets per blister

Tamoxifen (Systemic)

Tamoxifen ( ta-MOX-i-fen) is a medicine that blocks the effects of the estrogen hormone in the body. It is used to treat breast cancer in women or men. It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.

Tamoxifen Citrate	(Equivalent to 10 mg. & 20 mg. Tamoxifen ) Tablets
Common Brand name :	Nolvadex ®
Packing :	10 tablets per blister

Tamoxifen also may be used to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women who have a high risk of developing breast cancer. Women at high risk for developing breast cancer are at least 35 years of age and have a combination of risk factors that make their chance of developing breast cancer 1.67% or more over the next 5 years. Your doctor will help to determine your risk of developing breast cancer.

The following are risk factors that may increase your chance of developing breast cancer:

• If you have close family members (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer
• If you have ever had a breast biopsy or if high-risk changes in your breast(s) have been found from a breast biopsy
• If you have never been pregnant or if your first pregnancy occurred at a late age
• If your first menstrual period occurred at an early age

The exact way that tamoxifen works against cancer is not known, but it may be related to the way it blocks the effects of estrogen on the body.

Before you begin treatment with tamoxifen, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.