Prednisone and Cancer

Prednisone is also a steroid drug that is used by cancer patients. The glucocorticosteroid is a manmade version of a natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands. These types of steroid drugs (glucocorticosteroids) have a wide range of actions in many parts of the body. One way prednisone aids cancer patients is it helps prevent white blood cells from traveling to areas of the body where they might add to swelling problems, like around tumors. Prednisone also seems to help with the treatment of some blood cancers (leukemias) by causing some cancerous WBCs to commit suicide.

There are a number of ways in which Prednisone can be used in cancer treatment:

• helps increase appetite
• prevents or treats nausea and vomiting caused by chemo drugs
• helps prevent or treat allergic reactions to certain drugs
• helps treat blood cancers like lymphomas and leukemias along with other times of cancer
• helps lower blood calcium levels in people with cancers in the bonds

Prednisone has been approved for usage in reducing inflammation and suppressing the lower body’s immune response. Some of the cancers that the drug is used to treat include Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, Mycosis fungoides, Non-Hodkin lymphoma, prostate cancer, Thymoma and thymic carcinoma.

Some of the potential side effects of Prednisone are: fluid retention, feeling bloated, stomach irritation, delay in healing of wounds, increased appetite/weight gain, susceptibility to infection, increased blood glucose levels, headaches, and dizziness. Patients need to be aware of the drugs side effects even though each patient will have his or her own experiences.

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• Prednisone for Cats: Benefits, Dosage, and Side Effects
• Prednisone for Children: What Parents Need to Know
• Prednisone Dosage: What You Need to Know for Safe and Effective Use
• Prednisone Safety: What You Need to Know Before Starting Treatment
• Prednisone for Seniors: Safety, Dosage, and Potential Side Effects