The treatment of breast cancer with drugs is clinically known as chemotherapy. Depending on the medical situation, the type and dosage of drug varies from woman to woman. Following are the names of some of the drugs commonly used to treat breast cancer. However, it should be noted here these is not a thorough list of all breast cancer treatment drugs.

• Zometa (generic name, zoledronic acid)

• Adriamycin (doxorubicin)

• Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)

• Chemotherapy Regimens

• Xeloda (Capecitabine)

• Abraxane (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension)

• Herceptin (trastuzumab)

• Zoladex (goserelin acetate)

• Aredia (generic name, pamidronate disodium)

• Femara (letrozole)

• Megace (megestrol)

• Taxotere (docetaxel)

• Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)

• Taxol (paclitaxel)

• Ellence (epirubicin)

• Arimidex (anastrozole)

• Fareston (epirubicin)

• Aromasin (exemestane)

A combination of the above medicines is generally used to treat breast cancer. Following are the most widely used drug combinations:

• CMF that combines the medicines 5-FU, methotrexate, and Cytoxan

• AC that combines Cytoxan and Adriamycin. Taxotere or Taxol may be sometimes added

If your breast cancer is estrogen receptor-positive abbreviated as ER+, an aromatase inhibitor or hormone therapy with tamoxifen may be an option. For women who have not yet completed their menopauses aromatase inhibitors are not effective.

If your breast cancer tests show positive human epidermal growth factor abbreviated as HER-2/neu, then after chemotherapy and surgery Herceptin may be used.