Currently, chemotherapy is a standard procedure for cancer treatment since it has shown positive results in eradicating malignant cancer cells. Basically, chemotherapy is a procedure which combines various potent drugs which is administered into the patient thus causing the damage and destruction of cancerous cells. Even though these drugs are used quite often in a clinical setting, several side effects can occur such as nausea, weight loss, memory deficiency and even hair loss. These side effects are the results of the chemotherapy drug potency which can also damage normal or healthy cells.

There are various different types of chemotherapy drugs since different types of cancer can be diagnosed in different stages of malignancy. Chemotherapy drugs that are used today have gone through extensive clinical trials to assess its efficiency and effectiveness. Plus, several factors influence the side effects of chemotherapy such as the patient’s age and general health during treatment. With the advancement of modern medical science and technology, several types of chemotherapy medications are available today.

The first type of chemotherapy treatment is Alkylating medications which is regularly administered for cancer of the lungs, breasts and ovaries. This type of chemotherapy medication inhibits cancer cell DNA replication subsequently destroying cancer cells during any phase of malignancy. Several Alkylating medications available in the market today include busulfan, cispaltin, oxalipaltin and many more.

Next is a chemotherapy medication classified as Anti – tumor antibiotics. Basically, Anti – tumor antibiotics is derived specifically from soil fungus streptomycin. Pharmacologically, these drugs are active throughout various phases of the cancer cell cycle thus inhibiting cancer cell growth and promoting cancer cell destruction. But basically it actively interferes with the cancer cells’ DNA. This dispruption inhibits several enzymes and alters the cancer cells’ membrane causing problems in cell division. Several Anti – tumor antibiotics include dactinomycin, plicamyacin, mitomycin and more.

The following chemotherapy drugs are Antimetabolite medications. Pharmacologically, it efficiently inhibits several enzymes located within cancerous cells. Subsequently, it actively inhibits DNA and RNA development of the cancer cell. Antimetabolites are quite effective for the duration of the Synthesis phase of the cancer cell cycle.

Next are a category of chemotherapy medications called plant alkaloids. Obviously from its name, these drugs are produced naturally from various herbs, plants, and shrubs. Several plant alkaloids include docetaxel, paclitaxel, taxanes and vinca.

The next category of chemotherapy drugs is Anthracyclines. These drugs are quite effective since its main function is to inhibit several enzymes need to reproduce DNA in a cancer cell. At times Anthracycline drugs can be combined with other types of antibiotics for cancer treatment. Several Antracycline drugs used today include bleomycin, mitomycin and doxorubicin.

Finally another type of chemotherapy drugs is Topoisomerase inhibitors. These chemotherapy drugs are responsible for managing DNA structure exploitation. Several Topoisomerase inhibitors are available in the market today for chemotherapy which includes teniposide, ironotecan, etoposide phosphate and topotecan.

Although there are various types of chemotherapy medications as explained above, it is quite essential to understand the specific type that you may undergo. If you have any questions or would like to know more about a certain type of chemotherapy medication, it is wise to consult your physician.