Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths all over the world. The treatment selection depends on a number of factors from history of patient to performance status to age, health and more. The most common way is chemotherapy and now, a number of drugs have gained approved from FDA for lung cancer treatment. One such drug is Paclitaxel (Albumin-stabilized Nanoparticle Formulation). It belongs to the family of drugs called as mitotic inhibitors.
Treatment of NSCLC
It is prescribed for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is locally advanced or has metastasized and cannot be treated with surgery or radiation therapy. It is an FDA approved drug for use in combination with carboplatin for initial treatments of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The drug works to stop cancer cells from growing and dividing and may also kill them.
Treating Other Cancers
In addition to lung cancer, the drug is also used to treat breast cancer that has spread or has come back after chemotherapy within six months. It is used for the treatment of pancreatic cancer that has metastasized. It is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer as well.
Side Effects
It is a form of anticancer drug and comes with nearly no side effects. Some common side effects include nausea, fatigue, decreased appetite, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. If you face any severe symptom, you should contact your doctor immediately.
The information about the drug is only meant to be educational. It is not a substitute for medical advice. It may not cover all the possible uses or side effects of the drugs. Please consult your health care professional for the use of the drug.
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