Bleomycin is used alone or together with other medicines or radiation therapy to treat certain cancers of the skin, lymph nodes and testicles.
This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Bleomycin injection is to be given intravenously (into the vein) or intramuscularly (into the muscle, usually into the muscles of the upper arm, thigh or buttocks).
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the type of your condition and your response to the medication.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Bleomycin.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- ataxia telangiectasia (rare inherited disease causing difficulties in movement coordination and risk of infections)
- lung infections
- history of lung damage caused by this medicine
as Bleomycin may not be suitable for you.
Do not use this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- lung cancer
- previous or current radiation therapy
- smoking
- moderate to severe kidney disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant.
It is important that you do not get pregnant while being treated with Bleomycin. Both men and women must use proven birth control methods during Bleomycin therapy and for 6 months after stopping the treatment. You may wish to discuss other reliable methods of birth control with your doctor.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Bleomycin to the elderly. Elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.
Inform your doctor if you have been recently vaccinated. Do not receive any vaccinations without first asking your doctor.
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Routine tests (e.g. liver, kidney and lung function) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Regular monitoring for signs of skin reactions may also be needed.
Bleomycin may cause any of the following side effects: nausea, vomiting, headache, hair loss, itchiness, and weight loss.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth
- signs and symptoms of a lung problem e.g. shortness of breath, chest pain, cough which may contain blood, extreme tiredness and weakness
- yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, dark coloured urine, tiredness, swelling in the legs and ankles
- unusual bleeding or bruising, frequent sore throat, mouth sores, fever, chills or sweating
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- other medicines for cancer e.g. cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate
- digoxin (medicine for heart disease)
- medicine used in organ transplants or certain immune disorders e.g. ciclosporin, tacrolimus
- certain antibiotics e.g. amikacin, gentamicin, ticarcillin
- phenytoin (medicine for epilepsy [fits or seizures])
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Bleomycin.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in the refrigerator, between 2-8°C.
Do not freeze Bleomycin otherwise, it will no longer be effective and should not be used.
If you notice that the injection has changed colour or has become cloudy, do not use it. Throw it away and use a new injection.
As Bleomycin is a cancer medicine, always return any unused or expired medicine to the clinic, hospital, or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
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