Cancer Medicines Explained

Plain-language guides to the most-searched cancer drugs — what each medicine is and its drug class in everyday words, the cancers it treats, how it is given, common side effects, and the warning signs to report. Covers immunotherapies like Keytruda and Opdivo, targeted therapies like Tagrisso and Gleevec, and classic chemotherapy and hormone drugs. Educational only — the amounts and schedules that apply to you live in your own prescription, never on these pages.

Cancer Medicines Explained
5-FU (Fluorouracil): What It Is and What to Expect
Fluorouracil injection, known as 5-FU: what it does to DNA, the four cancers it is approved for, the doses on the label, and the DPD deficiency warning that comes before the first dose.
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Adriamycin (Doxorubicin): What It Is and What to Expect
Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) is a type of chemotherapy called an anthracycline used to help treat breast cancer, lymphomas, and other cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Afinitor (Everolimus): What It Is and What to Expect
Afinitor (Everolimus) is a targeted therapy called an mTOR inhibitor used to help treat some breast, kidney, and neuroendocrine cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Arimidex (Anastrozole): What It Is and What to Expect
Arimidex (anastrozole) blocks the aromatase enzyme so the body makes less estrogen. One 1 mg tablet a day, three labeled indications, and monitoring for bone, cholesterol and heart.
7 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Avastin (Bevacizumab): What It Is and What to Expect
Avastin (Bevacizumab) is a targeted therapy that blocks tumor blood-vessel growth used to help treat colorectal cancer and some lung, kidney
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Blincyto (Blinatumomab): What It Is and What to Expect
Blincyto (Blinatumomab) is a type of immunotherapy called a bispecific antibody used to help treat some B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Brand-Name vs. Generic Cancer Drugs
A brand name is a company's trademarked name for a drug. A generic uses the drug's own name and has the same active ingredient. Here's how they compare.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Carboplatin: What It Is and What to Expect
Carboplatin is a type of chemotherapy (a platinum drug). Its FDA label covers advanced ovarian cancer, and it is also used off-label in many other cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Cisplatin: What It Is and What to Expect
Cisplatin is a type of chemotherapy (a platinum drug). Its FDA label covers advanced testicular, ovarian and bladder cancer.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Cyclophosphamide: What It Is and What to Expect
Cyclophosphamide is a type of chemotherapy called an alkylating agent used to help treat lymphomas, leukemias, and other cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Darzalex (Daratumumab): What It Is and What to Expect
Darzalex (Daratumumab) is a targeted therapy called a monoclonal antibody used to help treat multiple myeloma.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Erbitux (Cetuximab): What It Is and What to Expect
Erbitux (Cetuximab) is a targeted therapy called a monoclonal antibody used to help treat some colorectal cancers and head and neck cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Femara (Letrozole): What It Is and What to Expect
Femara (Letrozole) is a hormone therapy for breast cancer used to help treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Gleevec (Imatinib): What It Is and What to Expect
Imatinib blocks BCR-ABL, KIT and PDGFR. What the FDA label says about its approved uses, its doses, the food rule, and the blood and liver tests that go with it.
7 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Herceptin (Trastuzumab): What It Is and What to Expect
Herceptin (trastuzumab) is a HER2-targeted monoclonal antibody. What HER2 testing decides, the infusion schedules on the label, the boxed warning, and why heart function is checked before the first dose.
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Ibrance (Palbociclib): What It Is and What to Expect
Ibrance (Palbociclib) is a CDK4/6 inhibitor used with another treatment for hormone-receptor-positive advanced breast cancer.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Imfinzi (Durvalumab): What It Is and What to Expect
Imfinzi (Durvalumab) is a type of immunotherapy called an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to help treat lung cancer, bladder cancer, and other cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Imlygic (Talimogene): What to Expect
Imlygic (Talimogene laherparepvec) is a modified live virus injected into melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes that surgery cannot remove.
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Jemperli (Dostarlimab): What It Is and What to Expect
Jemperli (Dostarlimab) is a type of immunotherapy called an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to help treat endometrial (uterine) cancer and some other
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab): What It Is and What to Expect
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) is a type of immunotherapy called an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to help treat melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Kymriah (Tisagenlecleucel): What It Is and What to Expect
Kymriah (Tisagenlecleucel) is a type of immunotherapy called CAR T-cell therapy used to help treat some B-cell leukemias in children and young adults
7 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Lumakras (Sotorasib): What It Is and What to Expect
Lumakras (Sotorasib) is a targeted therapy used for lung and bowel cancers that carry a KRAS G12C change.
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Lynparza (Olaparib): What It Is and What to Expect
Lynparza (Olaparib) is a targeted therapy called a PARP inhibitor used to help treat some ovarian, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Methotrexate: What It Is and What to Expect
Methotrexate is a type of chemotherapy called an antimetabolite used to help treat leukemias, lymphomas, and other cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Opdivo (Nivolumab): What It Is and What to Expect
Opdivo (Nivolumab) is a type of immunotherapy called an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to help treat melanoma, lung cancer, and other cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Paclitaxel: What It Is and What to Expect
Paclitaxel is a type of chemotherapy called a taxane used to help treat breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Pluvicto (Lutetium-177): What to Expect
Pluvicto (Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) is a targeted radioactive medicine (radioligand therapy) used to help treat advanced prostate cancer
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Retevmo (Selpercatinib): What It Is and What to Expect
Retevmo (Selpercatinib) is a targeted therapy for lung, thyroid and other solid tumors that carry a RET gene change.
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Rituxan (Rituximab): What It Is and What to Expect
Rituxan (Rituximab) is a targeted therapy called a monoclonal antibody used to help treat some non-Hodgkin lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Saving Money on Cancer Medicines
Cancer medicines can be costly, but there are safe ways to lower the price.
4 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Soltamox (Tamoxifen): What It Is and What to Expect
Soltamox (Tamoxifen) is a hormone therapy for breast cancer used to help treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer (in women and men) and reducing
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Tagrisso (Osimertinib): What It Is and What to Expect
Tagrisso (Osimertinib) is a targeted therapy called a kinase inhibitor used to help treat non-small cell lung cancer with an EGFR gene change.
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Tecentriq (Atezolizumab): What It Is and What to Expect
Tecentriq (Atezolizumab) is a type of immunotherapy called an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to help treat lung cancer, liver cancer, and other cancers.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Trodelvy (Sacituzumab): What to Expect
Trodelvy (Sacituzumab govitecan) is a targeted therapy called an antibody-drug conjugate used to help treat triple-negative breast cancer and some
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Venclexta (Venetoclax): What It Is and What to Expect
Venclexta (venetoclax) blocks BCL-2. Why the dose is built up gradually, why the first doses are watched so closely, and the interactions that force your team to change the plan.
7 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Vitrakvi (Larotrectinib): What It Is and What to Expect
Vitrakvi (larotrectinib) is chosen by a gene fusion rather than by organ. Who the label covers, the twice-daily dose, the fixed liver test schedule, and the response rates by tumor type.
8 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Welireg (Belzutifan): What It Is and What to Expect
Welireg (Belzutifan) is a targeted therapy called a HIF-2 alpha inhibitor used to treat certain kidney cancers, von Hippel-Lindau tumors, and some adrenal tumors.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Xalkori (Crizotinib): What It Is and What to Expect
Xalkori (Crizotinib) is a targeted therapy called a kinase inhibitor used to help treat non-small cell lung cancer with an ALK or ROS1 change and some
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Xtandi (Enzalutamide): What It Is and What to Expect
Xtandi (Enzalutamide) is a hormone therapy for prostate cancer used to help treat prostate cancer.
5 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Yervoy (Ipilimumab): What It Is and What to Expect
Yervoy (ipilimumab) blocks CTLA-4. Its seven approved settings, the dose that changes with each one, and the immune-mediated reactions the label tracks.
7 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Yescarta (Axicabtagene): What to Expect
Yescarta (Axicabtagene ciloleucel) is a type of immunotherapy called CAR T-cell therapy used to help treat some large B-cell lymphomas that have come
6 min read · Beginner
Cancer Medicines Explained
Zelboraf (Vemurafenib): What It Is and What to Expect
Zelboraf (vemurafenib) blocks BRAF V600E. What the FDA label says about the test that must come first, the 960 mg twice-daily dose, the skin checks every two months, and why it is now usually paired with a MEK inhibitor.
6 min read · Beginner

Articles about Cancer Medicines Explained

5-FU (Fluorouracil): What It Is and What to Expect

Adriamycin (Doxorubicin): What It Is and What to Expect

Afinitor (Everolimus): What It Is and What to Expect

Arimidex (Anastrozole): What It Is and What to Expect

Avastin (Bevacizumab): What It Is and What to Expect

Blincyto (Blinatumomab): What It Is and What to Expect

Brand-Name vs. Generic Cancer Drugs

Carboplatin: What It Is and What to Expect

Cisplatin: What It Is and What to Expect

Cyclophosphamide: What It Is and What to Expect

Darzalex (Daratumumab): What It Is and What to Expect

Erbitux (Cetuximab): What It Is and What to Expect

Femara (Letrozole): What It Is and What to Expect

Gleevec (Imatinib): What It Is and What to Expect

Herceptin (Trastuzumab): What It Is and What to Expect

Ibrance (Palbociclib): What It Is and What to Expect

Imfinzi (Durvalumab): What It Is and What to Expect

Imlygic (Talimogene): What to Expect

Jemperli (Dostarlimab): What It Is and What to Expect

Keytruda (Pembrolizumab): What It Is and What to Expect

Kymriah (Tisagenlecleucel): What It Is and What to Expect

Lumakras (Sotorasib): What It Is and What to Expect

Lynparza (Olaparib): What It Is and What to Expect

Methotrexate: What It Is and What to Expect

Opdivo (Nivolumab): What It Is and What to Expect

Paclitaxel: What It Is and What to Expect

Pluvicto (Lutetium-177): What to Expect

Retevmo (Selpercatinib): What It Is and What to Expect

Rituxan (Rituximab): What It Is and What to Expect

Saving Money on Cancer Medicines

Soltamox (Tamoxifen): What It Is and What to Expect

Tagrisso (Osimertinib): What It Is and What to Expect

Tecentriq (Atezolizumab): What It Is and What to Expect

Trodelvy (Sacituzumab): What to Expect

Venclexta (Venetoclax): What It Is and What to Expect

Vitrakvi (Larotrectinib): What It Is and What to Expect

Welireg (Belzutifan): What It Is and What to Expect

Xalkori (Crizotinib): What It Is and What to Expect

Xtandi (Enzalutamide): What It Is and What to Expect

Yervoy (Ipilimumab): What It Is and What to Expect

Yescarta (Axicabtagene): What to Expect

Zelboraf (Vemurafenib): What It Is and What to Expect

Explore more topics