bleomycin
; may be mixed into larger bags of fluids
- In combination with other drugs for treating many different types of cancer, such as germ cell, lymphomas
- Tell your health care team if you have or had:
- kidney or liver disease
- lung disease, or if you smoke
- radiation therapy to the chest
- any allergies
- or if you had bleomycin before and had severe side effects
Remember to:
- Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
- Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
Talk to your health care team about:
- How this medication may affect your sexual health.
- How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
- If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until 6 months after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
- Do not breastfeed while on this medication.
- This drug is given through an IV (injected into a vein). Talk to your health care team about your treatment schedule.
- If you missed your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.
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Will this medication interact with other medications or natural health products?
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This medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products. Interactions can make the treatment not work as well or cause severe side effects.
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Tell your health care team about all of your:
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prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications and all other drugs, such as marijuana (medical or recreational)
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natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
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Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
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What should I do if I feel unwell, have pain, a headache or a fever?
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Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)).
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Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
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If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
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How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
- You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
OR
- 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
- 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
If you do have a fever:- Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
- Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
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Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
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Talk to your health care team before you start taking Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
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Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
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What to DO while on this medication:
- DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
What NOT to DO while on this medication:
- DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting bleomycin. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on bleomycin.
Common Side Effects (26 to 50 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Darkening or thickening of skin; What to look for?
The rash may be seen in areas where you have had radiation before.
Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
Fever, Flu-like symptoms You may feel like you have the flu for around 2 days after your IV treatment. These flu-like symptoms may not be signs of an infection. What to look for?
What to do?
|
Talk to your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
Hair thinning or loss (generally mild) What to look for?
What to do?
|
Talk to your health care team if this bothers you |
Mouth sores What to look for?
To help prevent mouth sores:
Ask your health care team for the Oral Care (Mouth Care) pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team as soon as you notice mouth or lip sores or if it hurts to eat, drink or swallow |
Low appetite, weight loss What to look for?
Ask your health care team for the Loss of Appetite pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 25 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Nausea and vomiting (usually mild) What to look for?
To help prevent nausea:
|
Talk to your health care team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if severe |
Nail changes What to look for?
|
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe |
Cough and feeling short of breath (may be severe) What to look for?
Rarely this may be severe with chest pain, trouble breathing or coughing up blood.
|
Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- trouble seeing, speaking, or using your arms and legs
- any new pain in your belly or arms
- pain, swelling and hardening of the vein in an arm or leg
- itchiness, rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, chest and throat tightness, usually during or shortly after the medication was given
- pain, burning, redness, or swelling of your skin where the medication was injected
- yellowish skin or eyes, unusually dark (or red-brown) pee
- feeling unusually tired, bruising easily
- peeing less than usual, new pain in your lower back, swelling in your hands, ankles, feet or other areas of your body
- weight gain that is not normal for you
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.