There are some examples of anticancer medications for breast cancer:

Common Chemotherapy drugs
Generic Name(Brand Name)	Usage	Possible side effects
cyclophosphamide(Cytoxan)	For early-stage and advanced cancer	Hair loss Nausea and vomiting Drop in blood cell count May affect fertility
doxorubicin(Adriamycin)	For early-stage and advanced cancer	Hair loss Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Drop in blood cell count May affect fertility Heart damage(rarely)
methotrexate(Mexate)	For early-stage and advanced cancer	Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Drop in blood cell count Rash Mouth sores
5-fluorouracil(Adrucil)	For early-stage and advanced cancer	Fatigue Drop in blood cell count Rash Diarrhea Mouth or lip sores
epirubicin(Ellence)	For early-stage and advanced cancer	Hair loss Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Drop in blood cell count

Chemotherapy Drugs: Taxanes
Generic Name(Brand Name)	Usage	Possible side effects
docetaxel(Taxotere)	For early-stage and advanced cancer	Hair loss Fatigue Fluid retention Drop in blood cell count Neuropathy (numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, usually after long-term use)
paclitaxel (Taxol)	For early-stage and advanced cancer

Chemotherapy Drugs: Advanced Cancer
Generic Name(Brand Name)	Usage	Possible side effects
capecitabine(Xeloda)	Used mainly for advanced cancer	Fatigue Diarrhea Mouth sores Hand-foot syndrome Drop in blood cell count
gemcitabine(Gemzar)	Used mainly for advanced cancer	Fever Rash Hair loss Drop in blood cell count
vinorelbine(Navelbine)	Used mainly for advanced cancer	Hair loss Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Muscle and bone aches Neuropathy(numbness and tingling in the hands and feet)

Hormonal Medications
Generic Name(Brand Name)	Usage	Possible side effects
anastrozole(Arimidex)	Used for early-stage and advanced hormone receptor-positive cancers in postmenopausal women	Hot flashes Mild nausea Rashes Bone loss Pain in joints or muscles
exemestane(Aromasin)	Used for advanced hormone-receptor-positive cancers in postmenopausal women	Hot flashes Mild nausea Bone loss Fatigue Joint pain
goserelin(Zoladex)	Sometimes used to treat hormone-receptor-positive cancers in premenopausal women and women approaching menopause (perimenopausal)	Menopausal symptoms: Hot flashes Vaginal dryness Reduced libido
letrozole(Femara)	Used for early-stage and advanced hormone receptor positive cancers in postmenopausal women	Hot flashes Bone loss Pain in back, joint or muscle Hair loss
leuprolide(Lupron)	Sometimes used to treat hormone receptor-positive cancer in pre- and perimenopausal women	Menopausal symptoms: Hot flashes Vaginal dryness Reduced libido
megastrol(Megace)	Used for advanced hormone receptor-positive cancers	Weight gain Increased appetite Shortness of breath
tamoxifen(Nolvadex)	Used for early-stage and advanced cancer	Hot flashes Vaginal discharge Fatigue Nausea Headaches Blood clots(deep venous thrombosis) Blood clots traveling to the lungs(pulmonary emboli) Possibly stroke Uterine cancer cataracts
fulvestrant(Faslodex)	Used for advanced hormone receptor-positive cancers in postmenopausal women	Hot flashes Vomiting Nausea Constipation Diarrhea Headache Sore throat

Targeted Therapy
Generic Name(Brand Name)	Usage	Possible side effects
trastuzumab(Herceptin)	Used for advanced cancers with high levels of HER2; Used in clinical trials for early-stage cancer	Early, temporary allergic reaction that may include: shortness of breath Fever, and chills Rarely, serious side effects include: allergic shock respiratory distress, and damage to the heart

Standard-Dose Chemotherapy

Generally, breast cancer women receive chemotherapy drugs in cycles, which each treatment period is followed by a rest period to allow the body to recover.

One of the side effects of chemotherapy drugs is the drop in blood cell count which means that both of the level of red blood cells and white blood cells in the body decrease. Therefore, chemotherapy drugs can not be prolonging used in patients with giving them a resting time. During the rest period, white blood cells which are important to fight against infection can be increased to the normal safe levels. Besides, it is essential to let the red blood cells to rise to normal levels since they play a very important role to carry oxygen to each tissue in the body. Otherwise, fatigue due to anemia can occur.

For example, combination AC is usually given in four cycles. Each cycle is separated by a three-week rest period. Both medications are given on day one of the cycle.

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