Daunorubicin
Chemical name: Daunorubicin
Brand names: Cerubidine, DaunoXome
Class: Anthracycline chemotherapy. Adriamycin, Doxil, Ellence, and mitoxantrone are other anthracyclines.
How it works: Anthracyclines kill cancer cells by damaging their genes and interfering with their reproduction.
Uses: Daunorubicin usually is given in combination with other chemotherapy medicines. It's typically used:
- after surgery and other treatments to reduce the risk of early-stage breast cancer coming back
- before surgery to shrink large advanced-stage breast cancer tumors
- to treat advanced-stage breast cancer
How it's given: Daunorubicin is given intravenously.
Side effects:
- nausea
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- stomach pain
- diarrhea
- difficulty swallowing
- hair changes
- skin sensitivity
- rash
- nail changes
- irregular periods — this can include temporary cessation (usually resume after medication is completed) or permanent cessation of menstrual periods depending on your age and other factors

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