Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is a disease marked by the abnormal growth and spread of cells in the body.

Treatment for cancer includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. However, some drugs have been proven to decrease the death rate caused by cancer.

Aspirin

Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to relieve pain, reduce fever, and decrease inflammation. Studies have shown that aspirin reduces the risk of death in patients with colorectal cancer.

A clinical trial known as the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) showed that daily low-dose aspirin reduced the risk of death from cancer in the elderly.

Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is an estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that is used to treat breast cancer. It works by blocking the effects of estrogen, a female hormone that can stimulate the growth of some breast cancer cells.

Studies have shown that tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Letrozole

Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor that is used to treat breast cancer. It works by blocking the production of estrogen, a female hormone that can stimulate the growth of some breast cancer cells.

Studies have shown that letrozole reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Imatinib

Imatinib is a kinase inhibitor that is used to treat certain types of leukemia. It works by blocking the activity of proteins that promote the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Studies have shown that imatinib improves the survival rate of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Rituximab

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that is used to treat certain types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

It works by binding to a protein called CD20 on the surface of cancer cells, causing the cells to die. Studies have shown that rituximab improves the survival rate of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Bevacizumab

Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that is used to treat certain types of cancer, including colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and kidney cancer.

It works by blocking the activity of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which promotes the growth of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells. Studies have shown that bevacizumab improves the survival rate of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Cetuximab

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that is used to treat certain types of cancer, including colorectal cancer and head and neck cancer.

It works by binding to a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the surface of cancer cells, blocking the signals that promote cell growth and division. Studies have shown that cetuximab improves the survival rate of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Sunitinib

Sunitinib is a kinase inhibitor that is used to treat certain types of cancer, including kidney cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). It works by blocking the activity of proteins that promote the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Studies have shown that sunitinib improves the survival rate of patients with metastatic kidney cancer.

Crizotinib

Crizotinib is a kinase inhibitor that is used to treat certain types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer that has a specific genetic abnormality known as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene.

It works by blocking the activity of the abnormal protein produced by the gene. Studies have shown that crizotinib improves the survival rate of patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer.

Olaparib

Olaparib is a PARP inhibitor that is used to treat certain types of cancer, including ovarian cancer and breast cancer that has a specific genetic abnormality known as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

It works by blocking the activity of the PARP enzyme, which is involved in DNA repair. Studies have shown that olaparib improves the survival rate of patients with ovarian cancer and breast cancer with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.