Cytoblastine

Cytoblastine is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Cytoblastine is used to treat Hodgkin's disease, certain types of lymphoma, testicular cancer, breast cancer, choriocarcinoma (a type of uterine cancer), Kaposi's sarcoma, and Letterer-Siwe disease. Cytoblastine is often used in combination with other cancer medications.

You should not receive Cytoblastine if you have severely low white blood cell counts, or an untreated or uncontrolled bacterial infection.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when Cytoblastine is injected.

You should not receive Cytoblastine if you are allergic to it, or if you have: severely low white blood cell counts; or an untreated or uncontrolled bacterial infection.

To make sure Cytoblastine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have: liver disease; wasting syndrome (decreased weight with loss of muscle tissue); skin ulcers, bed sores; coronary artery disease, a history of blood clot or stroke (including "mini-stroke"); or cancer than has spread to your bone marrow.

Do not use Cytoblastine if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Cytoblastine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine. 

Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Cytoblastine, and avoid coming into contact with anyone who has recently received a live vaccine. There is a chance that the virus could be passed on to you. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

This medicine can pass into body fluids (urine, feces, vomit). For at least 48 hours after you receive a dose, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or other surfaces. Caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up a patient's body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have: severe constipation; easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin; problems with vision, hearing, speech, balance, or daily activities; bronchospasm--wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing; signs of infection--fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores; or increased blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath.

Common side effects may include: temporary hair loss; jaw pain, tumor pain, bone pain; nausea, vomiting; or general ill feeling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.