Breastcancer.org has created this guide to help you quickly get information about the many medicines used to treat or lower the risk of breast cancer. Not included are pain medications or medicines used to treat side effects of breast cancer medicines.
Each listing includes:
- brand name
- chemical name
- how the medicine works
- uses, including whether it's given before surgery (neoadjuvant) or after surgery (adjuvant)
- form (pill, IV, injection)
- side effects
Abraxane (chemical name: albumin-bound paclitaxel)
Adriamycin (chemical name: doxorubicin)
Aranesp (chemical name: darbepoetin alfa)
Aredia (chemical name: pamidronate)
Arimidex (chemical name: anastrozole)
Aromasin (chemical name: exemestane)
Avastin (chemical name: bevacizumab)
Carboplatin (brand name: Paraplatin)
Cytoxan (chemical name: cyclophosphamide)
Daunorubicin (brand names: Cerubidine, DaunoXome)
Doxil (chemical name: doxorubicin)
Ellence (chemical name: epirubicin)
Epogen (chemical name: epoetin alfa)
Evista (chemical name: raloxifene)
Fareston (chemical name: toremifene)
Faslodex (chemical name: fulvestrant)
Femara (chemical name: letrozole)
Fluorouracil (also called 5-fluorouracil or 5-FU; brand name: Adrucil)
Gemzar (chemical name: gemcitabine)
Halaven (chemical name: eribulin)
Halotestin (chemical name: fluoxymesterone)
Herceptin (chemical name: trastuzumab)
Ixempra (chemical name: ixabepilone)
Leucovorin (brand names: Wellcovorin, Citrovorum Factor, Folinic Acid)
Lupron (chemical name: leuprolide)
Megace (chemical name: megestrol)
Methotrexate (brand names: Amethopterin, Mexate, Folex)
Mitomycin (chemical name: mutamycin)
Mitoxantrone (brand name: Novantrone)
Navelbine (chemical name: vinorelbine)
Neulasta (chemical name: pegfilgrastim)
Neupogen (chemical name: filgrastim)
Procrit (chemical name: epoetin alfa)
Tamoxifen (brand names: Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
Taxol (chemical name: paclitaxel)
Taxotere (chemical name: docetaxel)
Thiotepa (brand name: Thioplex)
Trelstar (chemical name: triptorelin)
Tykerb (chemical name: lapatinib)
Vincristine (brand names: Oncovin, Vincasar PES, Vincrex)
Xeloda (chemical name: capecitabine)
Xgeva (chemical name: denosumab)
Zoladex (chemical name: goserelin)
Zometa (chemical name: zoledronic acid)
Breastcancer.org's mission is to help women and their loved ones make sense of the complex medical and personal information about breast health and breast cancer, so they can make the best decisions for their lives. Medical information on the Breastcancer.org web site and in our printed materials is reviewed by members of our Professional Advisory Board, which includes over 60 practicing medical professionals from around the world who are leaders in their fields. We are a nonprofit organization supported by individuals, foundations, and corporations. Find more about us here.
