Question

Drugs A & B are used to treat a specific type of cancer. Clinicians sometimes prescribe both. They observe that patients on the 2-drug regimen survive, on average, one year longer than patients on either Drug A or Drug B.

What is the phenomenon they are observing?

In this scenario, is it a positive phenomenon, or a negative phenomenon?

If you were the analyst, what are the calculations you would perform?

Answer 1

i) What is the phenomenon they are observing?
The main phenomenon of prescribing drugs is to cure by destroying all the cancer cells and also of lowering the chances of resurgence. The main decision on drug depends on factors such as the location of the cancer cells and its severity ,depending on the albeit cells which undergoes genetic changes, divides fast in the uncontrollable rate. These are toxic to normal cells and causes various side effects such as the hair loss, cardiac anomalies, bone marrow toxicity.The first drug or the combination of drug used to control these cancer cells are known as first line cells and the second further drug treated are called as the second-line. The decision of which drug to use according to age, history of patients caonditions and stage of cancer and Cycles that are followed by a rest period when no treatment is given but only the drugs are also been observed. The limitation of dose and cells actions after the drugs given , time taken for cells to get destroyed and in which way these drug interactions take place and prevents, cures the cancer cells without any side effects and making sure of its come back are observed. The adverse effects are be to required in order to reduce the drug dosage or the drug regimen should be changed to make much tolerable to patient's condition.

ii) In this scenario, is it a positive phenomenon, or a negative phenomenon?
Two drugs in a cycle prescribed may be called as Drug-Drug interaction according to the body cells. It is neither challenging to be stated as it is positive nor negative phenomenon in case of intaking both drugs. Since each and every drug taken is to be concerned with more risk and at the same time it may be beneficial to the one who's body cells can tolerate and work againts cancer cells. But also when drugs are used together theireffects can be additive, synergistic or antagonistic which depends upon the patient's health conditions. In case if the both drugs are suitable to the patient and does recover very well without any unfavourable circumstance it may be said as Positive Phenomenon regarding in concern to that specific patient. In most cases this is very risk to interact drug on elderly patients or even in some adults that their health condition may not support physically and hence can be said as Negative Phenomenon.

iii) If you were the analyst, what are the calculations you would perform?
Drugs are given on the basis of the age of patient, what kind of cancer, and according to the overall history of the patient and most importantly the stage of the cancer. As a analyst prescribed drug"s reactions and symptoms to be noted is the first major thing to be done.

1}​ If Drug A is given to the patient and after the concerned period of time with the dose prescribed by Clinician,  analyst should note the symptoms, other changes which encompassed in the patient and prepare a final result chart including the foods intaken, duration of bedtime and physical activities of the patient .
2} Next the same cycle to be continued with Drug B to the patient and with the final result, in which Drug the pateint's cancer cells slow down their growth and destroy the cancer cells and stop them from spreading is most preferable one to regain the patient for normal survival.

Usually, according to the length, timing, and number of cycles of drugs depends on the combination of these various drugs used and on which type of cancer it is used for. The oncologist sets the schedule of when and at which time these drugs to taken and may be the cycle changes are decided on how well the drug is working and tolerates. Overall dose is based on the body surface area (BSA) of the patient that includes of age, height, weight. Most drugs used to treat cancer are given by injections into a vein or taken orally by mouth. So, in concern with all these things the Analyst should perform the calculations.