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CHILDREN'S CANCER - Drugs and their Side Effects


  How individuals are affected by chemotherapy will vary. This is a list of possible side effects. Your doctor will discuss with you those which are likely to occur during your child's treatment.

 

Drug Temporary side effects Longer term effects for which children will be monitored*
Actinomycin (intravenous) Bone marrow suppression, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, occasional liver disturbance
Asparaginase (subcutaneous; intramuscular) Allergic reaction
Bleomycin (intravenous) Fever, hair loss, nausea and tiredness, shortness of breath, sore mouth and skin Liver damage, lung damage
Carboplatin (intravenous) Bone marrow suppression, nausea and vomiting
Chlorambucil (oral) Bone marrow suppression Risk of reduced fertility
Cisplatinum (intravenous) Bone marrow suppression, nausea and vomiting, damage to kidneys and hearing Damage to kidneys and hearing
Cyclophosphamide and Ifosfamide (intravenous) Bone marrow suppression, hair loss, bladder irritation, nausea and vomiting Damage to kidneys, risk of reduced fertility
Cytosine Arabinoside (Ara-C) (injection) Bone marrow suppression, diarrhoea, hair loss, nausea and vomiting
Daunorubicin and Epirubicin (intravenous) Bone marrow suppression, nausea, hair loss, sore mouth Weakened heart muscle
Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) (intravenous) Bone marrow suppression, hair loss, nausea and vomiting Weakened heart muscle
Etoposide (VP16) (intravenous; oral) Allergic reaction, bone marrow suppression, hair loss, nausea and vomiting
Mercaptopurine (oral) Bone marrow suppression, skin rashes
Methotrexate (intravenous; oral; intrathecal) Bone marrow suppression, diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to sunlight
Prednisolone and Dexamethasone (oral; intravenous) Big appetite, fat cheeks, risk of infection, raised blood sugar
Procarbazine (oral) Bone marrow suppression, nausea and vomiting
Thioguanine (oral) Bone marrow suppression
Vincristine and Vinblastine (intravenous) Constipation, hair loss, pain in the jaw, tingling fingers and weak ankles (occasionally)

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