PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

Bleomycin 15,000 IU Powder for Injection

• The active substance is bleomycin
• There are no other ingredients

1. What Bleomycin Powder for Injection is and what it is used for

Bleomycin Powder for Injection is an anti-cancer medicine, in the form of a powder for solution for injection (a powder which is made into a solution which can be given as an injection). Treatment with an anti-cancer medicine is sometimes called cancer chemotherapy.

The medicine is presented in glass containers called vials. Each vial contains 15,000 IU (international units) of bleomycin. It is available in packs containing 1 vial or 10 vials.

Bleomycin is used in the treatment of a number of types of cancer, for example: cancers of the mouth, nose, throat, skin, cervix (neck of the womb), testicles and Hodgkin’s disease. It may also be given in combination with other anti-cancer medicines or radiotherapy.

2. Before Bleomycin Powder for Injection is used

3. How Bleomycin Powder for Injection is used

The dose of medicine given to you will depend upon your medical condition, your age and how well your kidneys are working.

The medicine will be dissolved e.g. with saline (a weak salt solution that mixes well with body fluids) before it is given to you. It is usually given into a muscle or vein but can be given into an artery, intrapleurally (an injection into the cavity around the lungs) or intraperitoneally (an injection into the cavity of the abdomen). Bleomycin can also be injected directly into a tumour. If it is given into a vein, it can either be given as an injection or as a slow injection via a drip (infusion).

As this medicine will be given to you whilst you are in hospital it is unlikely that you will be given too little or too much, however tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.

You will probably be given weekly chest x-rays whilst you are having bleomycin therapy, and for up to 4 weeks after your treatment finishes.

4. Possible side-effects

Like all medicines, bleomycin can have side-effects.

If any of the following happen, tell the doctor immediately:

• severe breathlessness
• pneumonia – fever, chills, shortness of breath or a cough
• severe allergic reaction – you may experience a sudden itchy rash (hives), swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth or throat (which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing), and you may feel you are going to faint.

These are very serious side-effects. You may need urgent medical attention. All of these very serious side-effects are rare.

If you experience any of the following tell your doctor as soon as possible:

• fever on the day of treatment
• loss of appetite
• tiredness
• feeling sick
• low blood pressure (you may feel dizzy or faint, particularly when standing up or getting out of bed)
• pain, swelling, redness or tenderness at the site of the injection
• sores on the skin and the lining of the mouth
• darkening of the skin, which may be itchy
• hardening, thickening, redness, tenderness or swelling of the tips of the fingers
• ridging of nails, blisters on pressure points e.g. elbows
• hair loss
• mouth ulcers
• reduced blood flow to the fingers, toes and tip of the nose

If you notice any side-effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

 

Some of the side-effects mentioned above such as breathing difficulties can be made worse if additional oxygen treatment is used. As oxygen is given along with general anaesthetics, remember to tell the doctor about your treatment with bleomycin before you have any operations.

Radiotherapy treatment may make both breathing difficulties and skin effects worse if used with bleomycin.

5. Storing Bleomycin Powder for Injection

Keep out of the reach of children.

The vials should not be stored above 25°C.

The vials should be kept in the outer carton to protect from light.

This medicine should not be used after the expiry date printed on the vial label.