6 FDA-approved medications to treat lung cancer

6 FDA-approved medications to treat lung cancer

One of the leading causes of cancer deaths, lung cancer has been known to claim more lives every year than prostate, colon, breast, and ovarian cancer together. It begins in the lungs and, depending on the stage, can spread to other parts of the body as well. Lung cancer has multiple causes. However, people who tend to smoke are at a higher risk of lung cancer. The risk increases with the length of time and the number of cigarettes smoked. Other causes include passive smoking, exposure to radon gas, exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens, and a family history of lung cancer.

Lung cancer causes coughing that doesn’t go away. Additionally, a person suffering from lung cancer can cough up blood, and experience shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, unexplained weight loss, bone pain, and headache. Treatment usually includes surgery and medications. The below-mentioned medications are FDA-approved and need to be taken only when prescribed by a medical expert.

  • Xalkori: Also known as crizotinib, Xalkori has been approved by the FDA for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Earlier prescribed to those with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, this medication is now recommended to those with ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer that had started spreading. It works as an inhibitor in targeted therapy. It blocks the changes in lung cancer cells and that interferes with the growth and spread of the cancerous cells.
  • Tagrisso: Also called osimertinib, Tagrisso is used for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. The medication is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI); it inhibits an enzyme known as tyrosine kinases, which is involved in cell signaling. Tyrosine kinases are involved in the stimulation of cell division and are active in the uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells. Tagrisso controls these enzymes and blocks the growth and spread of cancerous cells.
  • Alecensa: This medication is used for the treatment of ALK-positive metastatic (advanced) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ALK is the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene. In lung cancer patients, the chromosomal rearrangement of the gene causes the formation of fusion proteins in cancerous tissues. ALK then causes the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. Also known as alectinib, Alcensa targets and interrupts ALK from stimulating the growth of cancerous cells. Additionally, it blocks the growth of the tumor and causes cancer cells to die, thus reducing the size of the tumor.
  • Gilotrif: Also known as Afatinib and Giotrif, Gilotrif is an anti-cancer medication useful for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. It is used for targeted treatment with better outcomes and lesser side effects. This medication works as an irreversible inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases EGRF and HER2. It slows down the progression of lung cancer.
  • Iressa: Also known as gefitinib, Iressa is prescribed for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is generally recommended when NSCLC has spread to other parts of the body. Iressa is prescribed to those who have specific mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene and have not undergone any previous cancer treatments. This medication works as a kinase inhibitor and blocks the proteins that aid in the growth of cancer cells. It slows down the growth of cancerous cells and reduces the size of the tumor.
  • Alimta: This lung cancer medication is specifically prescribed for non-small cell lung cancer. It is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor. Alimta is generally used in combination with platinum chemotherapy and other medications.

    RECENT ARTICLE

  • Choosing an appropriate ride lawn mower
  • Some facts you should know about relapsed multiple myeloma
  • Effective Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care Products
  • Fifty years of microwaving

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

  • 4 Websites to Buy the Samsung Galaxy S8 at the Best Price
    With the Samsung Galaxy S9 dominating the Android market, the Samsung Galaxy S8 pricing has become lower than ever. A dual sim model, this handheld device comes with an iris scanner and an infinity display. The smart autofocus for selfies makes the 8 MP camera even more powerful. For Android users, who want to see display become more real than ever, an S8 is entirely worth it. To make it yours, you may check out these portals to get the best price of Samsung Galaxy S8. Amazon Amazon has a lot of offers on S8 Galaxy. The best one of the lot is the S8 Galaxy unlocked 64GB Midnight Black version, which is available for $507.21. It is definitely the most trusted offer, and it comes with a Samsung warranty too. To avail of this deal, all you need to do is to log on to the portal and make the next Galaxy S8 yours with just a few clicks. Samsung Trust the maker to give you the best Samsung S8 prices. With an exchange offer that may save you up to $300, the official website of Samsung is selling an unlocked version of the S8 galaxy for $599. In addition, they have a fixed-period warranty and offer a significant saving on the Samsung Gear 360. T-Mobile The Samsung Galaxy S8 pricing is quite competitive on all the portals. However, T-Mobile is bundling up a $25 SIM card kit with the phone price of $600 plus taxes. Also, T-Mobile is one of the most trusted sellers in the country, making it a reliable source to purchase an expensive phone. Best Buy The reason why Best Buy does have the best deal for S8 is that the discount they are offering on same-day activation. You may make the Midnight Black or the Coral Blue model yours with immediate activation on the unlocked model by paying $549.99 right there and then, whereas if you want to activate your phone later, then you will have to spend an additional $50. The Depending upon whichever portal is offering you the best price of Samsung Galaxy S8, you may make a purchase and experience the superior Samsung world like never before. All you need to do is pick your deal!
  • Key Safety Features to look in for in a Diesel Pickup Truck
    As a diesel pickup truck owner, you must be worried about your safety while undertaking any professional assignment. Your diesel pickup truck should be well-equipped to deal with any emergency which might arise at any point. Below we list key safety features which your diesel pickup truck is equipped with. You might not be aware of these, read through this post and you will know more about the diesel pickup truck, you have been driving around. Disk Anti-lock Brakes: Any diesel pickup truck can handle the heavy load as it has high strength steel frame which can absorb the shock of any collision. The diesel pickup truck is equipped with disk anti lock brakes which prevent the wheel from locking when you might have to hit the brakes suddenly on a sharp turn. Central Locking system: The central locking system in your diesel pickup truck has also been intelligently designed. The central locking system prevents the vehicle from opening through any illegal means. This safety measure is of paramount importance since, at times, you might have to take supplies to isolated patches where the diesel pickup truck might have to be parked for a longer duration. Be assured that the comprehensive central locking system is capable of securing your truck, even when you are not around. Side Curtain Airbags and Door Beams: Airbags can prove to be the difference between life and death, in case your diesel pickup truck meets with an accident. The side curtain airbags in your truck deploy downwards and cover the side windows. Owing to the presence of these airbags, you can be assured that risk of any injury is highly reduced whenever any accident occurs. The door beams in your diesel pickup truck have been designed in such a manner that it will absorb the impact of any unintended force and will direct it away from the passenger who is seated sideways. The diesel pickup truck is also equipped with hill start to assist and rain brake support which will keep you safe and ensure that you return to your home safe after completing any professional assignment. Head confidently to your next task and be assured that your diesel pickup truck is safe for undertaking any task.
  • Diseases of the lungs
    The lungs suffer from many diseases, all of which are serious and life threatening. Some have no satisfactory cure and some need prolonged treatments. Listed below are the various diseases that affect the lungs: Pulmonary fibrosis is more of an occupational disease. This is the effect of constant exposure to coal, asbestos or silica particles. In this, the normal lung tissue is replaced with fibrous tissue. The lung loses it elasticity and capacity to breath. Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary condition in which the secretory cells of lungs and various glands get dehydrated. It is caused by an abnormal transport protein which leads to a decreased chloride ion travel out of cells and consequential sodium ions and water. When the cell walls dry up the mucus becomes more viscous, and the cilia cannot move them. They accumulate and cause restrictions for air flow. For some still not completely understood reasons, this encourages infection. The inevitable cough can cause large scale rupture of the alveoli leading to pneumothorax and lung collapse. In olden days, this was the major cause for infantile mortality. Research is opening new avenues including genetic engineering techniques. Lung cancer is still is the leading cancer deaths in the US in both genders and all most all are smokers. Lung cancer is the uncontrolled division of the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract lining (malignant hyperplasia). Since the entire blood passes through the lung the chances of lung cancer migrating to other parts of the body are extremely high. The reverse is also equally true. Symptoms can take years to develop and by the time symptoms are noticed the cancer is well advanced. Lung cancers are mainly of two types, small cell carcinoma and non-small cell carcinomas. Other type of cancers also affect the lungs. Persistent cough, sputum production and blockage of airways are the symptoms. Nervous system failures can cause respiratory disorders. One of the very common causes of sudden death of infants in the age group of 2 weeks to a year is sudden stoppage of respiration in sleep. This is known as 'Sudden Infant Death Syndrome'. The exact cause is controversial though lack of development of the respiratory center is suspected. While no cure has been found yet, the only thing that can be done is to place at risk babies on monitor which will sound an alarm when the baby stops breathing so that immediate medical aid be given.
  • A beginners guide to buying software
    A new PC user with their first computer are always surprised to know that getting the right software can improve their computer's productivity. Buying the wrong software can spell disaster for your computer and your needs. Buying good software can help you enhance the user experience. If you've always wondered what to look for but weren't quite sure how to go about buying your first software package, we've got you covered. Here are top 5 tips for buying the right software. Choose Your Supplier: Custom made software designed by a private firm or an off-the-shelf product like MS Word offer to you different advantages. A good supplier will be able to point out which one will suit your needs best. They offer well established customer support and are reliable. Custom Made Vs. Off-The-Shelf: Off the shelf software programs come with yearly updates so they are safer bet. However, the downside is they are expensive and cannot be customized to your needs. They come set with certain features. The pros of getting custom made software is the customized support you need. The con is that you don't quite get a guarantee or warranty with it. Updates may not be available yearly and may depend on how frequently the developers provide them. Download Vs. DVD: Downloading software from the official developer's website is very convenient. However if you're going with off-the-shelf packages we suggest you stick with DVDs. This is a great option for people without an internet connection or for someone who wants a back-up. A DVD copy plus a software package from the developer's website can give you the best of both worlds. Consider that aspect and you're good to go. The only downside in sticking with solely DVDs is that whenever updates are released, you'll have to buy the new DVDs. This also depends on the supplier or developer you buy from and their policies. Some developers offer both online and offline updates for free whereas some will require you to buy a new package to get the latest updates. Licensing And Additional Stuff: Checking whether the software is licensed for commercial, personal, or educational use can help. If it's for commercial use like Photoshop CC 2017, you can use it to make designs and digital illustrations and sell it on the market. You will be infringing on copyright laws and can land in trouble if you use the personal version to make money. Which is why it is important to check the licensing. The licensing will also include terms and conditions and warranty periods. It is extremely important to review these before buying any software. You do not want to buy a product that does not extend its warranty if the custom installation option is chosen.
  • A quick guide on electric oven ranges
    Many people aren't aware of the differences and features of electric ovens. If you're going to shop a new unit for your kitchen, it's important to have a thorough knowledge about this. Let's have some ideas regarding the single electric oven ranges for better shopping and cooking. What are single oven electric ranges? Single oven electric ranges are usually known as built-in ovens and manufactured to place in a cavity inside the kitchen space. It's possible to place them underneath as well as are easy to fit away from the hob, differently inside a cavity. If you're looking for slim and trim design in your kitchen interior, this provides a sleek finish which is good for the functional aspect as well as for look and design. How to install electric ovens? It's mandatory to call a professional electrician unless the Electric oven runs off with 13 amperes along with a molded connection. There are three techniques through which single ovens can be installed.
    • With a standard supply of 13 amp along with molded connection.
    • Hardwired connection with 13 amp. Alternatively speaking, it's not associated with molded plug. Generally, works off with the main ring and no sign of exclusive fuse is there.
    • The last one is through 32 to 40 amp hard wired fuse point which is an exclusive point in case of the oven. If you take help from the installer, he will provide the necessary cables.
    It's crucial to know that ovens aren't inclusive with power cables unless particular, so the technician may charge extra to do the work. Types of single oven electric ranges Among the single electric oven ranges, there are various types. The traditional or conventional, one with a fan associated, as well as the multifunctional ones. The last one is the most useful and versatile as it comes with a lot of functions. This type of oven has pre-set programs for different types of cooking, like saute, deep fry, curry, heat, and so on. It makes the cooking process faster and easier and transforms the stressful cooking process into a more relaxing one. Fan ranges come with rotating fans in the oven space to distribute the heat evenly. These ovens make sure that the cooking goes evenly as well as faster than the conventional ones. Those ovens with fans (fan-assisted) have extra heating features on the top as well as at the bottom part of the cavity. Though it works almost similar to the fan-oven by spreading heat equally, the latter is far more superior in this aspect. But undoubtedly, these are better than the conventional ones as conventional ovens aren't capable of distributing the heat across the entire space cavity of the oven. The top part becomes hotter than the bottom part. Hence, before opting for some particular type, you must know all pros and cons of different types of single oven electric ranges to make the right choice.
  • The different variants of Samsung tablets over the years
    Samsung tablets promise its users an experience of entertainment wherever they are with their wide variety of tablet options. On 2nd September 2010, Samsung Electronics presented their first 7-inch Galaxy Tablet to the public at the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA - International Radio Show Berlin a.k.a. Berlin Radio Show). Post this, multiple models, including models with 10.1, 8.9 and 7.7-inch displays have been introduced to the market. Samsung tablets give the user the option to choose between Wi-Fi (comes with a GPS system) or 3G/4G (comes with cellular capability). Samsung tablets were the first Android-powered tabs ever that were introduced in the market. The original tablet known as Galaxy Tab 7.0 consists of a single 1 GHz Exynos core processor. It also had a 7-inch TFT LCD screen whose resolution was 1024x600 pixels. The operating system on this tab was Android 2.2 Froyo and it came with a few customized applications and skins. In 2011, again at the IFA Berlin, Samsung announced they would be releasing a new Tab 7.7. The screen size was 7.7-inch and had a Super AMOLED. The tab has a dual-core 1.4 GHz processor as well as 1GB memory. Most Samsung tablets also support a 32GB microSD card. The battery capacity is 5100 mAh and it has a dual camera (2-megapixel front facing and 3-megapixel rear facing cameras) with flash. The tablet was released in 3 variants - 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. It was released in the market in March 2012. The subsequent iterations did not see many differences apart from a battery with more capacity. Simultaneously, Samsung also introduced a tablet with a 10.1-inch HD display and a processor that was faster than the one used in the Tab 7.7. This announcement was made at the 2011 Mobile World Congress. It was set for a March 2011 release in the country. The operating system on this was going to be Android 3.0 Honeycomb. However, this model never released on the market. It was canceled after Apple released the iPad 2 as the company felt the tablet was inadequate. Instead, at the Samsung Unpacked Event (CTIA Wireless Convention) in March of 2011, a thinner and newer 10.1-inch Samsung tablet was released along with an 8.9-inch model. It was introduced into the market in June as Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v. The software used was Samsung’s custom TouchWiz. Post this Samsung has brought in multiple iterations and is currently at Tab S3. It was released in 2017 at the World Mobile Congress. This tablet supports HDR videos and has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. The other configurations are 4GB RAM, 6000mAh battery, new and improved S pen and 32GB of storage.