Taxol for Cancer Treatment

Taxol, known generically as paclitaxel, is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. For some cancers, it is administered by itself, while for others it is given in combination with other drugs.

• Taxol is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent.

Origins

• According to OncoLink, Taxol is classified as a "plant alkaloid," having been derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree.

How It Works

• Taxol slows or halts the spread of cancerous cells by inhibiting their ability to reproduce through cell division.

What Cancers Can It Treat?

• Taxol is used to treat cancers of the bladder, breast, cervix, endometrium, head and neck, lung and ovaries, as well as Kaposi's sarcoma and leukemia, according to OncoLink.

How It Is Administered

• Taxol is most often injected intravenously over a three-hour period, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Such treatments are scheduled every three weeks. Some oncologists prefer IV administration of smaller amounts every week.

Side Effects

• Common side effects, according to the ACS, include mild nausea and/or vomiting; numbness or tingling of the extremities; diarrhea; hair loss; lowered white and/or red blood cell counts; and allergic reactions, such as itching, fever and flushing.