If you are curious (like me!) about the drugs used in the treatment of your cancer, check out the glossary below.
This is not an exhaustive list but the agents mentioned are well established in clinical use. There are many new treatments still under investigation.
Please scroll down to see the details of the drugs used.
A chemotherapy drug (generic name doxorubicin) commonly used to treat Hodgkin’s disease and other forms of lymphoma.
A pain relieving drug. Common types are Aspirin, Acetaminophen, and Ibuprofen.
Potent anti-oestrogen hormone used for breast cancer. An agent with a big future.
A drug that kills or reduces the growth of bacterial infection.
A drug that reduces or prevents nausea or vomiting.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to deal with mild or moderate pain.
A monoclonal antibody in clinical trials as a treatment for B-cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Agent widely used for testicular, head and neck as well as some of the pelvic and lung cancers.
Drug used in treatment of leukaemia.
Important cisplatin derivative with fewer side-effects than the parent compound.
A tablet form of chemotherapy, often used in low grade lymphoma.
One of the most important chemotherapy drugs, very widely used in testicular, ovarian, head and neck and other cancers. Intravenous only.
Standard drug reigmen used in the treatment of breast cancer (see cyclophosphamide, methodrexate and fluorouracil).
Analgesic for mild or moderate pain.
Drug for stronger pain relief; best used in conjunction with a laxative.
Analgesic for mild or moderate pain.
Analgesic to deal with mild or moderate pain.
Chemotherapy drug used in treatment of breast cancer (see CMF).
Anti-androgen agent widely used in the treatment of prostate cancer.
A potent steroid drug widely used for brain tumours; also for chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Opiate used in severe pain. Extremely valuable.
Anti-inflammatory agent used for moderate pain.
Drug for stronger pain relief (codeine derivative); best used in conjunction with a laxative, as very constipating.
Anti-nausea drug.
Chemotherapy drug, with a wide spectrum of activity. Toxic to the heart in high dosage. A part of the CHOP chemotherapy regimen used to treat NHL.
Chemotherapy drug used in treatment of testicular cancer, small-cell lung cancers and others.
Drug used in treatment of breast cancer (see CMF), large bowel cancer and many other indications. An anti-metabolite.
Drug for long-term palliation and symptom control of prostate cancer. Also used in some breast cancer patients.
Anti-nausea drug widely used for chemotherapy side effects.
Drug used for some types of leukaemia.
Anti-inflammatory agent.
Drug used in treatment of melanoma, myeloma, and chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Newer drug used for large bowel cancers.
Chemotherapy drug; can be given by mouth.
Chemotherapy drug used in treatment of breast cancer (see CMF), leukaemia and other sites.
Useful chemotherapy drug, often used as a radiosensitiser.
Strong opiate drug.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to deal with mild or moderate pain.
Chemotherapy drug; a toxic agent but with impressive activity in lymphoma and certain types of solid cancer.
Anti-nausea drug widely used for chemotherapy side effects.
Newer platinum-derivative drug used in metastatic large-bowel cancer.
Very valuable for mild to moderate pain.
A form of steroid therapy very widely used.
A female hormone preparation, used in breast cancer and uterine treatment.
Oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor – may well transform treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Highly active anti-oestrogen drug effective for breast cancer.
Important taxane agent used to treat several types of cancer.
After a disastrous start, this drug is now finding a useful role, e.g. for drug-resistant myeloma.
Semi-natural chemotherapy drug, initially synthesised from the yew tree. One of the taxane group.
Widely used agent, a ‘spindle-cell poison’ capable of stopping cancer cell division. Other similar agents: vinblastine, vindesine. Originally derived from the common periwinkle Catharantus roseus. Can cause peripheral neuropathy in some patients.