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Ifosfamide is a chemotherapy drug| that is usually used to treat sarcoma, testicular| cancer and some types of lymphomas|. Occasionally, it may be used to treat other types of cancer. This information should ideally be read with our general information about chemotherapy| and your type of cancer|.
Ifosfamide is a colourless fluid.
Ifosfamide may be given as a drip (infusion) in one of the following ways:
Ifosfamide can also be given as an injection into the vein (intravenously) through a cannula.
Chemotherapy is usually given as a course of several sessions (cycles) of treatment over a few months. The length of your treatment and the number of cycles you have will depend on the type of cancer you're being treated for. Your nurse or doctor will discuss your treatment plan| with you.
Before you begin your treatment your doctor will arrange for you to have blood tests. You'll usually be given anti-sickness drugs before and/or during your treatment.
Each person’s reaction to chemotherapy is different. Some people have very few side effects while others may experience more. The side effects described below won't affect everyone who is given ifosfamide and may be different if you are having more than one chemotherapy drug|.
We have outlined the most common side effects but haven't included those that are rare and unlikely to affect you. If you notice any effects that aren't listed below, discuss them with your doctor or nurse.
Ifosfamide can reduce the number of white blood cells, which help fight infection|. White blood cells are produced by the bone marrow. If the number of your white blood cells is low you will be more prone to infections. A low white blood cell count is called neutropenia.
Neutropenia begins seven days after treatment, and your resistance to infection is usually at its lowest 10-14 days after chemotherapy. The number of your white blood cells will then increase steadily and usually return to normal before your next cycle of chemotherapy is due.
You will have a blood test before having more chemotherapy to check the number of white blood cells. Occasionally, your treatment may need to be delayed if the number of your blood cells (blood count) is still low.
Ifosfamide can reduce the production of platelets, which help the blood to clot. Tell your doctor if you have any unexplained bruising or bleeding, such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood spots or rashes on the skin. You may need to have a platelet transfusion| if your platelet count is low.
Ifosfamide can reduce the number of red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. A low red blood cell count is called anaemia. This may make you feel tired| and breathless|. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have these symptoms. You may need to have a blood transfusion| if the number of red blood cells becomes too low.
This may begin 2-3 hours after the treatment is given and can last for up to two weeks. Your doctor can prescribe very effective anti-sickness (anti-emetic) drugs to prevent or greatly reduce nausea and vomiting|. If the sickness isn't controlled, or if it continues, tell your doctor; they can prescribe other anti-sickness drugs that may be more effective.
Some anti-sickness drugs can cause constipation|. Let your doctor or nurse know if this is a problem.
Your hair may fall out completely or just thin. This usually starts 3-4 weeks after starting treatment, although it may occur earlier. You may also have thinning and loss of eyelashes, eyebrows and hair in other areas of the body. |
Hair loss is temporary, and your hair will grow back once the treatment has finished. Your hair may grow back straighter, curlier, finer or a slightly different colour than it was before. Your nurse can give you advice about coping with hair loss.
You'll probably feel extremely tired|. This is a very common side effect and it's important to get plenty of rest. Try to balance this with some gentle exercise, such as short walks, which will help. You’ll probably tire easily and feel fairly weak for several more months after your treatment.
Ifosfamide may irritate the bladder. It’s important to drink as much fluid as you can (at least two litres a day) during the treatment. You’ll usually be given fluids through a drip (infusion) along with a drug called mesna| (Uromitexan®) to help prevent bladder irritation. Your urine will be measured and tested for blood. If there’s any blood in your urine you’ll be given more mesna.
Your nails may become brittle, chipped and ridged. These changes usually grow out slowly over a few months once the treatment has ended.
Treatment with ifosfamide may cause changes in the way your liver| works, although it will return to normal when the treatment finishes. You're very unlikely to notice any problems, but your doctor will take regular blood samples to check your liver is working properly.
Ifosfamide can cause a rash or dry skin, which may be itchy. Your doctor can prescribe medicine to help with this. Areas of skin that have previously been treated with radiotherapy| may become red and sore. Let your doctor know if this happens. Rarely, your skin may darken. If it does, it usually returns to normal a few months after the treatment has finished. During treatment, and for several months afterwards, you'll be more sensitive to the sun and your skin may burn more easily than normal. You can still go out in the sun but should wear a suncream with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and cover up with clothing and a hat.
These side effects are very rare and only occur with high-dose treatment. If you notice any of these effects it's important to tell your doctor straight away.
It’s important to let your doctor know straight away if you feel unwell or have any severe side effects, even if they’re not mentioned above.
Cancer can increase the risk of developing a blood clot (thrombosis), and chemotherapy may increase this risk further.
A blood clot may cause symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling in a leg, or breathlessness and chest pain. Blood clots can be very serious, so it’s important to tell your doctor straight away if you notice any of these symptoms. Most clots can be treated with drugs that thin the blood. The doctor or nurse can give you more information.
Some other medicines, including those you can buy in a shop or chemist, can be harmful to take when you're having chemotherapy. Tell your doctor about any medicines you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs, complementary therapies| and herbal drugs|.
Your ability to become pregnant or father a child may be affected by having this treatment. It's important to discuss fertility| with your doctor before starting treatment.
It's not advisable to become pregnant or father a child while having ifosfamide as it may harm the developing baby. It’s important to use effective contraception while having this drug and for at least a few months afterwards. You can discuss this with your doctor.
It’s not known whether chemotherapy drugs can be present in semen or vaginal fluids. To protect your partner, it’s safest to either avoid sex or use a barrier form of contraception for about 48 hours after chemotherapy.
There's a potential risk that chemotherapy drugs may be present in breast milk. Women are advised not to breastfeed during chemotherapy and for a few months afterwards.
If you’re admitted to hospital for a reason not related to the cancer, it’s important to tell the doctors and nurses looking after you that you're having chemotherapy treatment. You should tell them the name of your cancer specialist so that they can ask for advice.
It’s a good idea to know who you should contact if you have any problems or troublesome side effects when you’re at home. Your chemotherapy nurse or doctor will give you details of who to contact for advice. This should include ‘out-of hours’ contact details if you need to call someone at evenings, overnight or at the weekend.
This section is based on our ifosfamide fact sheet, which has been compiled using information from a number of reliable sources, including:
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
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