Journal of Alcoholism & Drug Dependence
Open Access

Effect of Drugs on the Cancer Patients

Robert W Holloway^1* and Pedro Victori^{2 *}Correspondence: Robert W Holloway, Department of Oncology, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, Orlando, FL, USA, Email:

Author info »

About the Study

Drugs affect moods and attitudes, decision making, judgment, memory and, learning. But they can also source or get worse other health problems cancer, heart disease, liver function, lung disease, mental complaints, and infectious diseases such as HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Chronic drug usage can alter a person's brain construction and function, resulting in long-term psychological effects, such as: anxiety, depression, panic disorders, paranoia, increased aggression, hallucinations.

Substance misuse is connected to many health matters, such as lung or heart illness, lowered immune systems, mental health conditions, and cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, substance misuse and addiction make up about 30% of all cancer demises. Tobacco, for example, is linked to 80% of all lung cancer demises. There is also solid sign showing that alcohol intake can lead to numerous types of cancer, with most being a form of liver, oral, and colon cancer. In adding, illegal drugs such as Cocaine and Heroin often get varied with cancercausing cutting agents. Addiction to illicit drugs raises cancer risk; when carcinogenic elements such as tobacco and alcohol are mixed composed, risk of cancer only increases even further.

Anabolic steroids are elements with testosterone-like properties that are often used to increase muscle mass or improve physical performance. Steroids can be used to treat many medical situations but are often misused by athletes and body builders. The usage of steroids raises the risk of prostate cancer in men and endometrial cancer in women.

Usage and mismanagement of opioids increase the risk of many health complications, but there is currently no strong indication to show that opioids cause cancer. Using opioids through arterial injection can lead to contracting hepatitis, though, which can lead to chronic contagions that may result in liver cancer.

Illicit drugs, such as Cocaine and Heroin, are often assorted, or “cut,” with poisonous, cancer-initiating chemicals in order to generate more of the drug. A usually used cutting agent is Phenacetin, which has been related to cases of renal cell, pelvic, and ureteral cancer.

Cancer is an infection that fails the body and takes a toll on mental health as well. The most common sign in cancer patients is discomfort, produced by either the cancer itself or by the treatments used to try and remove the cancer cells from the body. Simple and chronic pain in cancer patients can be cured with pain controlling and prescription medicines that usually contain strong opioids. Prescription opioids often origin need even when used as directed and misuse of them is likely to lead to habit.

The most usually prescribed opioids for pain treatment in cancer patients are Hydrocodone, Morphine, Tapentadol, Tramadol, Methadone, Oxycodone, Hydromorphone, Oxymorphone, and Fentanyl. Any person that takes opioids is at danger of evolving an addiction, which is why the drugs should only be prescribed when they’re unconditionally necessary. Opioid acceptance occurs speedily, and there is a danger of addiction in cancer patients.

Not all cancer patients who take treatment opioids will become habituated, but it is significant to watch out for signs that may designate substance misuse. Preventing drug habit in cancer patients involves safeguarding drugs are taken only as prescribed and counting other therapeutic methods for pain management.

The intake of drugs will decrease the life span of the cancer patient and it increases the spreading of the cancer in the body by damaging the cells of the body.