Abraxane is the brand name of a prescription injectable medication known as protein or albumin bound paclitaxel. Doctors prescribe Abraxane for use in breast cancer tumors that have not responded to other types of treatment or for breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Function
Abraxane works by causing structures within cancerous cells to become stable or rigid instead of fluid. This prevents the cancer cells from replicating and leads to their eventual death.
Time Frame
Doctors administer Abraxane within six months of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. An Abraxane infusion treatment lasts 30 minutes and is typically given once every three weeks, according to RxList.
Features
During the course of your treatment with Abraxane, your doctor will order regular blood tests to check that the drug is working properly and that you are not experiencing any harmful effects from the treatment, such as shortages of red or white blood cells.
Risks
Side effects of Abraxane include diarrhea, vomiting, hair loss, shortness of breath, weakness, muscle or joint pain, and low blood pressure. Abraxane is derived from donor blood, and although the risk is very minimal, there is a slight chance of contracting a virus or other illness from using the medication, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Warning
Because Abraxane poses a significant risk to fetal development, women of child-bearing age must use some type of birth control while undergoing treatment to prevent pregnancy. During treatment with Abraxane, a man should not father a child, because of the risk of birth defects or other fetal abnormalities, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
If you have a history of liver disease, chronic infections, neutropenia or sensory neuropathy, it might not be safe for you to be treated with Abraxane, warns the Mayo Clinic.
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