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The anticancer drug tamoxifen (Nolvadex) increases the risk of cancer of the uterus in some women. It also causes cataracts and other eye problems. Women taking this drug may have hot flashes, menstrual changes, genital itching, vaginal discharge, and weight gain. Men who take tamoxifen may lose interest in sex or become impotent. Health care providers should keep in close contact with patients to assess the individual risks associated with taking this powerful drug.
Other anticancer drugsThese side effects are not common, but could be a sign of a serious problem. Health care providers should immediately be consulted if any of the following occur:
- black, tarry, or bloody stools
- blood in the urine
- diarrhea
- fever or chills
- cough or hoarseness
- wheezing or shortness of breath
| Anti Cancer Drugs (continued) | ||
| Generic (Brand Name) | Clinical Uses | Common Side Effects To Drug |
| Mitomycin (Mutamycin) | Bladder, breast, colon, lung, pancreas, rectum cancers, head and neck cancer, malignant melanoma | Bone marrow depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, possible tissue damage |
| Mitotane (Lysodren) | Cancer of the adrenal cortex (inoperable) | Damage to adrenal cortex, nausea, anorexia |
| Mitoxantrone (Novantrone) | Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia | Cardiac arrhythmias, labored breating, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fever, congestive heart failure |
| Paclitaxel (Taxol) | Advanced ovarian cancer | Bone marrow depression, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, hypotension, allergic reactions, slow heart action, muscle and joint pain |
| Pentastatin (Nipent) | Hairy cell leukemia unresponsive to alpha-interferon | Bone marrow depression, fever, skin rash, liver damage, nausea and vomiting |
| Pipobroman (Vercyte) | Chronic granulocytic leukemia | Bone marrow depression |
| Plicamycin (Mithracin) | Testucular tumors | Toxicity/damage to bone marrow, kidneys, and liver |
| Prednisone (Meticorten) | Used in adjunct therapy for palliation of symptoms in lymphomas, acute leukemia Hodgkin's disease | May be toxic to all body systems |
| Procarbazine (Matulane) | Hodgkin's disease | Bone marrow depression, nausea and vomiting |
| Streptozocin (Zanosar) | Islet cell carcinoma of pancreas | Nausea and vomiting, toxicity to kidneys |
| Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) | Advanced breast cancer in post menopausal | Nausea and vomiting, ocular toxicity, hot flashes |
| Teniposide (Vumon) | Acute lymphocytic leukemia in children | See Etoposide |
| Vinblastine (Velban) | Breast cancer, Hodgkin's disease, metastatic testicular cancer | Bone marrow depression, neurotoxicity |
| Vincristine (Oncovin) | Acute leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, lymphomas | Constipation, neurotoxicity, possible tissue necrosis |
- sores in the mouth or on the lips
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- swelling of the face
- red "pinpoint" spots on the skin
- redness, pain, or swelling at the place on the body where an injectable anticancer drug is given
- pain in the side or lower back
- problems urinating or painful urination
- dizziness or faintness
- fast or irregular heartbeat
Other side effects do not need immediate care, but should have medical attention. They are:
- joint pain
- skin rash
- hearing problems or ringing in the ears
- numbness or tingling in the fingers or toes
- trouble walking or balance problems
- swelling of the feet or lower legs
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- loss of taste
- seizures
- dizziness
- confusion
- agitation
- headache
- dark urine
- yellow eyes or skin
- flushing of the face
In addition, there are other possible side effects that do not need medical attention unless they persist or interfere with normal activities. These include changes in menstrual period, itchy skin, nausea and vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Other rare side effects may occur. Anyone who has unusual symptoms after taking anticancer drugs should contact the physician who prescribed the medication.
— Samuel Uretsky, PharmD
