Contents:
- Medical Video: Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy
- How do Taxanes work in the body?
- What are the side effects of Taxanes?
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss
- There is pressure on the bone marrow
- Hypersensitivity reaction
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Things that must be considered during treatment
Medical Video: Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy
Taxanes are drugs that function to block cell growth by stopping parts of cells. Taxanes can interfere with the structure of microtubules and can be used in healing cancer. One type of mitotic inhibitor and an important anti-microtubule for the body and taxanes can be used in conjunction with adjuvant or neo-adjuvant in chemotherapy. Paclitaxel and docetaxel are types of taxanes that are compatible with adjuvant.
How do Taxanes work in the body?
Taxanes inhibits the tumor and prevents it from entering the cell. The process of cell division is carried out by inhibiting it through microtubule polymerization. In addition, taxanes are known to stimulate apoptosis which can inhibit cancer cells.
Microtubules have a structure similar to a tube in a cell. Microtubules consist of tubulin heterodimers which function as skeletons, form cells and place organelles. Micrototubules are also useful as transportation networks that transport proteins to the parts of the body that need them, contribute to cell division, separate chromosomes and carry out cell division. The microtubule process is carried out through a dynamic recycling process in which the microtubules can change into long or short sizes as needed.
Microtubules naturally grow from each end of the bond. Taxanes artificially stabilize the ends of bonds, damage clotting and stop mitotic cell division. Cleavage in microtubules can cause serious side effects from taxanes, sensory neuropathy or sensory nerve damage.
Taxanes also causes apoptosis to have a secondary effect on the accumulation of microtubules or can become phosphorylation which is a deadly chemical from proteins. This phosphorylation inhibits apoptosis in cancer cells.
What are the side effects of Taxanes?
Taxanes functions to damage the microtubules in the cancer cells and stop them. Treatment of taxanes has several side effects, including:
Nausea and vomiting
Common side effects due to the use of taxanes are nausea and vomiting. Although these symptoms include mild symptoms, doctors will prescribe anti-nausea such as ondansetro and granisetron.
Hair loss
Hair loss or alopecia are symptoms that usually occur due to the side effects of chemotherapy taxanes. Patients may experience hair loss at the beginning of treatment for 10 to 14 days.
There is pressure on the bone marrow
Pressure in the bone marrow can occur when the patient is on a taxanes treatment. Red blood cells and platelets will decrease in number during treatment of taxanes. In addition, treatment also causes fatigue and decreases the number of white blood cells. This is what causes body bruising and bleeding. If this happens, treatment will be delayed until the number of white blood cells improves in about 21 days.
Hypersensitivity reaction
Patients who use paclitaxel and docetaxel infusions usually experience hypersensitivity reactions, such as redness of the skin, itching, or shortness of breath. Treatment, including anti-histamines and corticosteroids, can reduce excessive reactions that may arise.
Peripheral neuropathy
Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet is called peripheral neuropathy which is a side effect of the use of paclitaxel or docetaxel. Damage or irritation to nerves in the area can cause numbness or tingling.
Things that must be considered during treatment
Always consult a doctor before choosing a taxanes treatment. Also tell your doctor if you are pregnant, there are plans to get pregnant, or you are also breastfeeding. Also, tell your doctor if there are supplements or herbal medicines that you are taking or if you have allergies to drugs.
