Colon Cancer General Drug List

This drug index provides general information about many of the drugs used to treat colorectal cancer.

Adrucil(fluorouracil, 5-FU) Adrucil is a chemotherapy drug that interferes with the growth of cancer cells. It can be used to treat many types of cancers, including cancer of the colon, rectum, breast, stomach, head, and neck.

Avastin (bevacizumab)  Avastin is the brand name for bevacizumab. Avastin can be used to treat colon and kidney cancer, and is usually given with traditional chemotherapy drugs.

Camptosar (irinotecan) Simply put, Camptosar kills cancer cells. It's a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of several types of cancers, including ovarian, lung, and colorectal cancer. Camptosar can be administered by itself or with other chemotherapy drugs.

Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) Eloxatin is also a chemotherapy drug that kills cancer cells. It's used to treat colorectal cancer and can be administered by itself or with other chemotherapy drugs.

Erbitux (cetuximab)  Erbitux targets a type of protein (EGFR) that's present on the surface of colorectal cancer cells. Ultimately, Erbitux interferes with the growth of these cells and causes them to die.

Vectibix (panitumumab)  Vectibix acts in a similar manner to Erbitux but is made by a different company (Amgen). Vectibix targets cells that have EGFR proteins and interferes with their ability to survive.

Wellcovorin (leucovorin)  Wellcovorin is a vitamin complex used to treat advanced colon cancer. By itself, Wellcovorin isn't able to fight cancer at all. Rather, it helps patients by increasing the effectiveness of another drug, fluorouracil..

Xeloda (capecitabine)  Xeloda is a chemotherapy drug that decreases the size of tumors. It comes in tablet form and is used to treat breast and colorectal cancer.

A Passionate Reminder

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

                                                                                                            Steve Jobs

     I am not a technology wannabe.  I am grateful that technology has made my life easier but I do not seek all the bells and whistles it has to offer. I mourn the loss of a great man and appreciate how his life has impacted mine. I do not have a smart phone or an Ipad, my laptop is simple but essential and my Ipod is a hand-me-down. And while I appreciate the inventions and accomplishments of Mr. Jobs, I am humbled and encouraged by the endurance, the vision and the strength of the inner man, the man who persevered while living with cancer. The quote above has hit home. There are things I wish to accomplish before I die, and when you have cancer, no matter how positive you are, death looms and your time on this earth is something of a crapshoot. His words were a reminder for me to quit waiting to do the things I wish to do. A reminder that my personal fight to beat the odds is no guarantee that I will beat the odds and if I am to follow my heart, my passion, I need to quit waiting….. for what?  I have a goal, a positive pursuit and I have put it on the back burner for no good reason. Perhaps I am afraid to fail? Well even if I do, the mere act of trying is an accomplishment, an affirmation of following what I love.  I begin, in earnest, tomorrow, to complete what I have started in publishing a children’s book. To use my poetic talent, good or bad, and my love of writing to check this item off my bucket list.  I will overcome the technical unknowns, the need for an illustrator, and will research the process and I will make this happen. Everything else is secondary.