• What is the most important information I should know about doxorubicin?

  Doxorubicin hydrochloride may cause serious side effects including:

  • Heart failure. Doxorubicin hydrochloride may cause heart muscle damage that may lead to heart failure, which is a condition in which the heart does not pump well. Heart failure is irreversible in some cases and can lead to death. Heart failure can happen during your treatment with doxorubicin hydrochloride or months to years after stopping treatment. Your risk of heart muscle damage increases with higher total amounts of doxorubicin hydrochloride that you receive in your lifetime. Your risk of heart failure is higher if you:
    • already have other heart problems
    • have had or are currently receiving radiation therapy to your chest
    • have had treatment with certain other anti-cancer medicines
    • take other medicines that can have severe side effects on your heart

  Tell your doctor if you get any of these symptoms of heart failure during or after treatment with doxorubicin hydrochloride:

  • extreme tiredness or weakness
  • fast heartbeat
  • shortness of breath
  • swelling of your feet and ankles

  Your doctor will do tests to check the strength of your heart muscle before, during, and after your treatment with doxorubicin hydrochloride.

  • Risk of new cancers. You may have an increased risk of developing certain blood cancers called acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after treatment with doxorubicin hydrochloride. Talk with your doctor about your risk of developing new cancers if you take doxorubicin hydrochloride.
  • Skin damage near the vein where doxorubicin hydrochlorideis given (Injection site reaction).Doxorubicin hydrochloride can damage the skin if it leaks out of the vein. Symptoms of infusion reaction include blisters and skin sores at injection site which may require skin grafts.
  • Decreased blood cell counts. Doxorubicin hydrochloride can cause a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cells important in fighting bacterial infections) and platelets (important for clotting and to control bleeding). This may lead to a serious infection, the need for blood transfusions, treatment in a hospital and death. Your doctor will check your blood cell count during your treatment with doxorubicin hydrochloride and after you have stopped your treatment. Call your doctor right away if you get a fever (temperature of 100.4ºF or greater) or chills with shivering.
• What is doxorubicin?
• Who should not receive doxorubicin?
• What should I tell my doctor before receiving doxorubicin?
• How will I receive doxorubicin?
• What are the possible side effects of doxorubicin?
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Doxorubicin Injection. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is bleomycin?

  Bleomycin sulfate is an antibiotic that comes from the bacterium Streptomyces verticillus and is used as a chemotherapy drug. It stops or slows the growth of cancer cells and other rapidly growing cells by damaging their DNA.

  Bleomycin sulfate is approved to be used alone or with other drugs as palliative treatment of:

  • Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.
  • Testicular cancer.

  Bleomycin sulfate is also approved to treat malignant pleural effusion and keep it from recurring (coming back).

  Bleomycin sulfate is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Bleomycin Injection. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is vincristine sulfate?

  Vincristine sulfate is a prescription medicine used to treat acute leukemia and is sometimes used with other drugs to treat Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and Wilms tumor. Vincristine sulfate stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. It is a type of vinca alkaloid. Vincristine is the active ingredient of vincristine sulfate.

  Vincristine sulfate is approved to treat adults and children with:

  • Acute leukemia.

  Vincristine sulfate is sometimes used to treat adults and children with other types of cancer, including:

  • Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Neuroblastoma.
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma.
  • Wilms tumor.

  Vincristine sulfate is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Vincristine Injection. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is etoposide phosphate?

  Etoposide phosphate is a prescription medicine used with other drugs to treat small cell lung cancer and certain types of testicular cancer. Etoposide phosphate blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair, and it may kill cancer cells. It is a type of podophyllotoxin derivative and a type of topoisomerase inhibitor.

  Etoposide phosphate is approved to be used with other drugs to treat:

  • Small cell lung cancer. It is used with cisplatin as first-line therapy.
  • Testicular cancer. It is used in patients who have already been treated with surgery, radiation therapy, or other chemotherapy and have not gotten better.

  Etoposide phosphate is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Etoposide Injection. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is prednisone?

  Prednisone is a corticosteroid drug that is used to calm inflammation by suppressing an overactive immune system. This can help to relieve symptoms like swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions. Prednisone is approximately four times more potent than cortisol at lowering inflammation.

  It is used to treat:

  • Allergic disorders
  • Skin conditions
  • Lupus
  • Psoriasis
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

  This medication may be used alone or with other medications to treat issues related to low corticosteroid levels. It works replacing steroids that are normally produced by the body.

  Prednisone may also be used to treat conditions in people with normal corticosteroid levels. These conditions include:

  • Certain types of arthritis
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Lupus
• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Prednisone. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.

• What is cyclophosphamide?

  Cyclophosphamide is a prescription medicine used to treat many types of cancer and a certain type of kidney disease in children. Cyclophosphamide damages the cell’s DNA and may kill cancer cells. It may also lower the body’s immune response. Cyclophosphamide is a type of alkylating agent.

  Cyclophosphamide is approved to be used alone or with other drugs to treat:

  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children.
  • Acute monocytic leukemia.
  • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
  • Breast cancer.
  • Chronic granulocytic leukemia.
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
  • Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
  • Hodgkin lymphoma. It is used in patients with stage III or stage IV disease.
  • Multiple myeloma.
  • Mycosis fungoides (a type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma) that is advanced.
  • Neuroblastoma that is disseminated.
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It is used in patients with stage III or stage IV NHL, including the following types:
    • Lymphocytic lymphoma (nodular or diffuse).
    • Mixed-cell type lymphoma.
    • Histiocytic lymphoma.
    • Burkitt lymphoma.
  • Ovarian cancer.
  • Retinoblastoma.

  Cyclophosphamide is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

• References

These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Cyclophosphamide. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.