Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Patient Education Mitoxantrone ( mye-toe-ZAN-trone) Brand Names Novantrone® (There may be other brand names for this medication). How is it Administered? MItoxantrone is given as an injection into a vein (intravenous or IV). What is it Used For? Mitoxantrone is used with steroid medications for men with advanced prostate cancer who did not respond to hormone therapy. It is also used to treat leukemia (AML), breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. How Does it Work? Cancer is a group of diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Both normal and cancer cells go through cycles that include a resting phase, active growing phases, and division. Your chemotherapy schedule is based upon the type of cancer you have, the rate at which they divide, and the times when each drug is the most likely to be effective. This is why chemotherapy is typically given in cycles. The faster cells are dividing (reproducing), the more likely it is that chemotherapy will damage/kill the cells. Unfortunately, chemotherapy does not know the difference between cancer cells and normal cells that reproduce frequently. The cells in your body that are the most likely to be affected by chemotherapy are the cells that line the digestive tract (mouth, stomach, intestines), hair follicles, and blood cells. These normal cells will eventually grow back and be healthy. During treatment, however, you may experience side effects from the chemotherapy’s effects cells. Mitoxantrone is an antitumor antibiotic, in a class of drugs called anthracenediones. It acts upon and interferes with the cells during certain phases of the cells’ reproductive cycle and slows or stops the growth of the cancer. What Should I Tell My Doctor Before I Begin Receiving Mitoxantrone? Tell your doctor if you: have had an allergic reaction to any mitoxantrone have or have ever had any blood-clotting problems, anemia (decreased amount of red blood cells in the blood), or liver disease are pregnant or breastfeeding This drug may interact with other medications, increasing or decreasing their effectiveness or causing harmful side effects. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription or over-thecounter medications, vitamins, herbal or diet supplements that you are taking. © 2010 Roswell Park Cancer Institute What Are Some Possible Side Effects I May Experience? Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and/or diarrhea Constipation Sores and/or dryness of the mouth, tongue, or throat; bleeding in your mouth Runny or stuffed nose, sneezing, and/or swollen glands in your neck Thinning or loss of hair Changes in the area around or under fingernails and toenails Missed or irregular menstrual periods Extreme tiredness and/or weakness Headache and/or back pain How Can I Manage These Side Effects? Ask your doctor about medication to help prevent or lessen nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and diarrhea. Eat small, frequent meals. Talk to your doctor or nurse about obtaining a wig before you experience hair loss. Keep your bowels moving. Your health care provider may prescribe a stool softener to help prevent constipation. Drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluid every 24 hours, unless you were told to restrict your fluid intake. Talk to your doctor before taking any type of medication for constipation. Mouth care is very important. Rinse your mouth with a mixture of ½ tsp of baking soda in 8 oz of water after every meal and at bedtime. Brush your teeth and gums often with a soft toothbrush. (Soften it further by running it under warm water before brushing.) Avoid smoking, alcohol, and mouthwashes that contain alcohol. If you are dizzy or fatigued, avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert. When Should I Call the Doctor? 2 Let your doctor or nurse know immediately if you experience any of the following side effects: any sign of infection: fever of 100.5F (38C) or higher, chills, cough, sore throat, pain or burning upon urination; redness or tenderness along a vein, or at an IV site or wound of any kind any sign of an allergic reaction: itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing, dizziness, or palpitations unusual bruising or bleeding: bleeding lasts more than 10-15 minutes or that causes dizziness; black or bloody stools; vomit that is bloody or that looks like coffee grounds; blood in your urine or phlegm /mucus, © 2010 Roswell Park Cancer Institute unusually heavy menstrual bleeding, spontaneous bleeding from your gums or nose, or superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a rash of pinpoint-sized reddish-purple spots (petechiae) Call your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you experience any of the following side effects: sores in mouth and on lips stomach pain decrease in urination sore, red eyes or yellow eyes blue skin, pain, or redness at place of injection, yellow skin and/or skin rash What Else Should I Know About Mitoxantrone? Mitoxantrone injection may cause damage to your heart at any time during your treatment or months to years after your treatment has ended. This heart damage can be serious and may cause death and can occur even in people without any risks for heart disease. Your doctor will examine you and perform certain tests to check how well your heart is working before beginning treatment with mitoxantrone and if you show any signs of heart problems. It is very important that you keep all your doctor and lab appointments. This drug may cause bone marrow depression, which can increase your risk for infection, fatigue, and bleeding. To help avoid infections, stay away from crowds or people with colds, flu, or other infections. Wash your hands often. Be careful when handling sharp objects. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Use an electric razor. Talk to your doctor before you have any vaccinations. Mitoxantrone may increase your risk for developing leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells), especially when it is given in high doses or together with certain other chemotherapy medications. Mitoxantrone is dark blue and may cause the white parts of your eyes to have a slight blue color for a few days after you receive each dose. It may also change the color of your urine to a blue-green color for about 24 hours after you receive a dose. While you are receiving mitoxantrone, your doctor may want you to drink extra fluids to help prevent kidney problems. If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using mitoxantrone. If you have any additional questions about mitoxantrone, please ask your doctor. © 2010 Roswell Park Cancer Institute 3