Cancer (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division beyond the normal limits), invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood). These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, and do not invade or metastasize. Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not. The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer is oncology.
Cancer may affect people at all ages, even fetuses, but the risk for most varieties increases with age. Cancer causes about 13% of all human deaths. According to the American Cancer Society, 7.6 million people died from cancer in the world during 2007. Cancers can affect all animals.
Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells. These abnormalities may be due to the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents. Other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities may be randomly acquired through errors in DNA replication, or are inherited, and thus present in all cells from birth. The heritability of cancers is usually affected by complex interactions between carcinogens and the host's genome. New aspects of the genetics of cancer pathogenesis, such as DNA methylation, and microRNAs are increasingly recognized as important.
Genetic abnormalities found in cancer typically affect two general classes of genes. Cancer-promoting oncogenes are typically activated in cancer cells, giving those cells new properties, such as hyperactive growth and division, protection against programmed cell death, loss of respect for normal tissue boundaries, and the ability to become established in diverse tissue environments. Tumor suppressor genes are then inactivated in cancer cells, resulting in the loss of normal functions in those cells, such as accurate DNA replication, control over the cell cycle, orientation and adhesion within tissues, and interaction with protective cells of the immune system.
Diagnosis usually requires the histologic examination of a tissue biopsy specimen by a pathologist, although the initial indication of malignancy can be symptoms or radiographic imaging abnormalities. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research develops, treatments are becoming more specific for different varieties of cancer. There has been significant progress in the development of targeted therapy drugs that act specifically on detectable molecular abnormalities in certain tumors, and which minimize damage to normal cells. The prognosis of cancer patients is most influenced by the type of cancer, as well as the stage, or extent of the disease. In addition, histologic grading and the presence of specific molecular markers can also be useful in establishing prognosis, as well as in determining individual treatments.
Roughly, cancer symptoms can be divided into three groups:
Every symptom in the above list can be caused by a variety of conditions (a list of which is referred to as the differential diagnosis). Cancer may be a common or uncommon cause of each item.
Abiraterone works by reducing androgen production in the body. Androgens are male hormones that can promote tumor growth in the prostate gland. Abiraterone is used together with steroid medication (prednisone or methylprednisolone) to treat prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. abiraterone is used in men whose prostate cancer cannot be treated with surgery or other medicines.
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Everolimus is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their spread in the body. Everolimus is used to treat certain types of kidney cancer, breast cancer, or brain tumor. It is also used to treat certain types of advanced or progressive tumors of the stomach, intestines, or pancreas.
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Alkeran is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug. This medication is classified as an "alkylating agent.» Alkeran is used to treat multiple myeloma, ovarian cancer, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, breast cancer, melanoma. The tablets may also be used in some conditioning regimens prior to bone marrow transplant.
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Aromasin lowers estrogen levels in postmenopausal women, which may slow the growth of certain types of breast tumors that need estrogen to grow in the body. Aromasin is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It is often given to women whose cancer has progressed even after surgery, radiation, or other cancer medications have been tried without success.
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Generic Cytoxan is used for treating certain types of the following cancers: lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, mycosis fungoides, neuroblastoma, ovarian cancer, eye cancer and breast cancer. It is usually used in combination with other medicines. It may also be used to treat certain kidney problems (nephrotic syndrome) in children.
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Generic Femara - hormonal remedy, with Letrozole as an active ingredient, which lowers estrogen level in woman after menopause. It slows the growth of certain types of breast tumors that need estrogen to grow in the body. Letrozole is used to treat breast and uterus cancer after menopause It is often given to women who have been taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox) for 5 years.
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Ibrutinib is a type of cancer medication called a kinase inhibitor. Ibrutinib helps to slow down how quickly certain blood cancers progresses by working against cancerous B cells, a type of white blood cell. It does this by blocking Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) signaling. BTK is a protein found on B cells that instructs B cells to remain alive and multiple.
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Generic Kisqali (ribociclib) is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. It is used to treat hormone-related breast cancer in women. Ribociclib is used only if your cancer tests negative for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). HER2 protein can speed the growth of cancer cells. This medicine is used when cancer has progressed or has spread to other parts of the body after other treatments. Kisqali is usually given in combination with another cancer medicine such as letrozole (Femara) or fulvestrant (Faslodex).
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Lenalidomide works on the immune system. It makes immune responses to slow up tumor growth.
Lenalidomide is used to cure anemia (a lack of red blood cells in the body), multiple myeloma (cancer resulting from a progressive blood disease), and mantle cell lymphoma (a rare cancer of the lymph nodes).
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People use melatonin to adjust the body's internal clock. It is used for jet lag, for adjusting sleep-wake cycles in people whose daily work schedule changes (shift-work disorder), and for helping blind people establish a day and night cycle. Melatonin is also used for the inability to fall asleep (insomnia); delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS); rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD); insomnia associated with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); insomnia due to certain high blood pressure medications called beta-blockers; and sleep problems in children with developmental disorders including autism, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities. It is also used as a sleep aid after discontinuing the use of benzodiazepine drugs and to reduce the side effects of stopping smoking. Some people use melatonin for Alzheimer's disease or memory loss (dementia), bipolar disorder, a lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), insomnia caused by beta-blocker drugs, endometriosis, ringing in the ears, depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), mild mental impairment, nonalcoholic liver disease, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, an inflammatory disease called sarcoidosis, schizophrenia, migraine and other headaches, age-related vision loss, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bone loss (osteoporosis), a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia (TD), acid reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), exercise performance, infertility, epilepsy, aging, for menopause, metabolic syndrome, for recovery after surgery, agitation caused by anesthesia, stress, involuntary movement disorder (tardive dyskinesia), changes in heart rate when you move from laying down to sitting up (postural tachycardia syndrome), delirium, inability to control urination, jaw pain, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis), and for birth control. Daily nighttime melatonin reduces blood pressure in male patients with essential hypertension. Taking melatonin leads to an average reduction in total cholesterol.
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NeoMercazole tablets contain carbimazole, an anti-thyroid drug used to treat hyperthyroidism or over-active thyroid, also known as Grave’s Disease or goitre, to reduce high levels of thyroid hormone.
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Generic Nolvadex is used for treating breast cancer that has spread to other sites in the body. It is also used along with other medicines to treat other types of breast cancer. It is used in women who are at high risk for breast cancer and in women with DCIS (after surgery and radiation) to decrease the risk of developing breast cancer.
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Pomalidomide is used to treat multiple myeloma (cancer resulting from a progressive blood disease). Pomalidomide is usually given after at least two other medications have been tried without success.
Pomalidomide is also used to treat AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma when other medications did not worked or have stopped working. Pomalidomide can also be used to treat Kaposi Sarcoma in adults who are HIV-negative.
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Generic Premarin is used for treating certain symptoms of menopause (eg, hot flashes, vaginal dryness or itching). It is used to prevent osteoporosis (weak bones) after menopause in certain patients. It is also used in certain patients to treat low estrogen levels, prostate cancer or breast cancer.
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Generic Rheumatrex is used for treating certain types of cancer, severe psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis in certain patients.
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Dasatinib is a cancer medicine that slows the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Dasatinib is used in adults and children to treat a type of blood cancer called Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Dasatinib also treats Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults and children.
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Generic Synthroid is used for treating low thyroid activity and treating or suppressing different types of goiters. It is also used with surgery and other medicines for managing certain types of thyroid cancer.
*The bottle of Synthroid 88 mcg contains 50 tablets in one. The rest of dosages are manufactured as 100 tablets in one bottle.
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Generic Tarceva (erlotinib) is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their spread in the body. Erlotinib is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer or pancreatic cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). Erlotinib is usually given after other cancer medicines have been tried without success.
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Nilotinib is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Nilotinib is used to treat a type of blood cancer called Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in adults and children who are at least 1 year old. Nilotinib is usually given after other medications have been tried without success.
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