Cancer and antineoplastic drugs

1. Drugs used in cancer treatment are antineoplastic drugs. They are
classified based on their origin or mechanism of action namely alkylating
agents, antimetabolites, antitumor antibiotics, plant alkaloids and hormonal
agents. Antineoplastic drugs are antiproliferative agents that affect the cell
division process, damage DNA, initiate apoptosis and prevent developing
and spreading of neoplastic cells.
We need to keep in mind antineoplastic drugs have a narrow therapeutic
index. So we need to be extremely careful when prescribing other
therapeutic agents to patients undergoing cancer treatment with
antineoplastic drugs. Even though the use of antineoplastic drugs may
either increase or decrease the tumor effects and the result can also be
successful or failure we can expect a definite interaction between
antineoplastic drugs and non-antineoplastic drugs. So when NSAIDs like
ibuprofen and aspirin were administered on patients who may be
thrombocytopenic due to myelosuppressive chemotherapy regimen may
affect the platelet system which in turn causes gastrointestinal irritation and
thereby increasing the risk of bleeding in patients with low platelet. This
kind of contraindication depends on the absorption, clearance and even
excretion of these antineoplastic drugs.
Common side effects of antineoplastic drugs being hair loss, weight loss,
fatigue, increased risk of getting affected with infectious diseases like cold
and flu, nausea, vomiting, digestive problems, localized and whole-body
pain, fertility problems in both male and female, impaired healing power,
suppression of growth.