PMitCEBO
PMitCEBO is used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
PMitCEBO
PMitCEBO is used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It may sometimes be used to treat other cancers. It is best to read this information about PMitCEBO with our general information about chemotherapy and the type of cancer you have.
PMitCEBO is named after the initials of the drugs used:
- P – prednisolone, a steroid
- Mit – mitoxantrone
- C – cyclophosphamide
- E – etoposide
- B – bleomycin
- O – vincristine (also called Oncovin).
Your cancer doctor will talk to you about this treatment and its possible side effects before you agree (consent) to have treatment.
More information about this treatment
This information is correct at time of publishing. But sometimes the types of cancer this treatment is used for, or treatment side effects, may change between revision dates.
You can talk to your cancer team if you want more detailed information about this treatment. Or visit the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) website, which has patient information leaflets (PIL) for individual drugs.
How PMitCEBO is given
A chemotherapy nurse will give you PMitCEBO in the chemotherapy day unit or during a stay in hospital.
During a course of treatment, you usually see a:
- cancer doctor
- chemotherapy nurse or a specialist nurse
- specialist pharmacist.
This is who we mean when we mention doctor, nurse or pharmacist in this information.
Before or on the day of each treatment, a nurse or person trained to take blood (phlebotomist) will take a blood sample from you. This is to check that it is safe for you to have chemotherapy.
You will speak to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist before you have chemotherapy. They will talk to you about your blood results and ask how you have been feeling. If your blood results are okay, the pharmacy team will prepare your chemotherapy.
Your nurse usually gives you anti-sickness (anti-emetic) drugs before the chemotherapy. You may have the chemotherapy drugs through:
- a cannula – a short, thin tube the nurse puts into a vein in your arm or hand
- a central line – a fine tube that goes under the skin of your chest and into a vein close by
- a PICC line – a fine tube that is put into a vein in your arm and goes up into a vein in your chest
- an implantable port (portacath) – a disc that is put under the skin on your chest or arm and goes into a vein in your chest.
You take prednisolone as tablets.
Your course of chemotherapy
You usually have a course of several cycles of treatment over a few months. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will talk to you about how the treatment will be given. They may give you a copy of a treatment plan to take home.
Each course of PMitCEBO takes 14 days.
On day 1, your nurse will give you:
- mitoxantrone (a blue liquid) as a slow injection or as a drip (infusion) into a vein (intravenous)
- cyclophosphamide as a slow injection or as a drip into a vein
- etoposide as a drip into a vein
- prednisolone tablets to take every day for 14 days – take these exactly as your doctor, nurse or pharmacist has explained.
On day 8, your nurse will give you:
- vincristine as a slow injection or as a drip into a vein
- bleomycin as a slow injection or as a drip into a vein.
After the 14 days, you start your second cycle of PMitCEBO. This cycle is the same as the first cycle.
You take prednisolone tablets every day for the first 4 weeks of treatment. After the 4 weeks, you take the prednisolone tablets every other day. You keep taking your prednisolone like this until your course of PMitCEBO is complete.
About side effects
We explain the most common side effects of this treatment here. We also include some that are less common.
You may get some of the side effects we mention, but you are unlikely to get all of them. And you may have some side effects, including rarer ones, that we have not listed here.
Always tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about any side effects you have. They can give you:
- drugs to help control some side effects
- advice about managing side effects.
It is important to take any drugs exactly as explained. This means they will be more likely to work for you.
Serious and life-threatening side effects
Some cancer treatments can cause serious side effects. Sometimes, these may be life-threatening. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can explain the risk of these side effects to you.
Contact the hospital
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will give you 24-hour contact numbers for the hospital. If you feel unwell or need advice, you can call at any time of the day or night. Save these numbers in your phone or keep them somewhere safe.
Side effects while treatment is being given
Allergic reaction
Some people have an allergic reaction while having this treatment. Signs of a reaction can include:
- feeling hot or flushed
- shivering
- itching
- a skin rash
- feeling dizzy or sick
- a headache
- feeling breathless or wheezy
- swelling of your face or mouth
- pain in your back, tummy or chest.
Your nurse will check you for signs of a reaction during your treatment. If you feel unwell or have any of these signs, tell them straight away. If you do have a reaction, they can treat it quickly.
Sometimes a reaction happens a few hours after treatment. If you develop any of these signs or feel unwell after you get home, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number.
The drug leaks outside the vein
The drug may leak outside the vein. If this happens it can damage the tissue around the vein. This is called extravasation. Extravasation is not common but if it happens it is important that it is dealt with quickly. Tell your nurse straight away if you have any stinging, pain, redness or swelling around the vein.
Pain along the vein
This treatment can cause pain:
- at the place where the drip (infusion) is given
- along the vein.
If you feel pain, tell your nurse straight away. They can check the site. They may give the drug more slowly or flush it through with more fluid to reduce pain.
Flu-like symptoms
You may have flu-like symptoms while bleomycin is being given or several hours afterwards. Symptoms include:
- feeling hot or cold
- feeling shivery
- having a headache
- aching.
If you have any of these symptoms, tell your nurse or doctor straight away. Contact the hospital if the symptoms are severe or do not improve within 24 hours.
Common side effects
Risk of infection
This treatment can reduce the number of white blood cells in your blood. These cells fight infection. If your white blood cell count is low, you may be more likely to get an infection. A low white blood cell count is called neutropenia.
An infection can be very serious when the number of white blood cells is low. It is important to get any infection treated as soon as possible. If you have any of the following symptoms, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number:
- a temperature above 37.5°C
- a temperature below 36°C
- you feel unwell, even with a normal temperature
- you have symptoms of an infection.
Symptoms of an infection include:
- feeling shivery and shaking
- a sore throat
- a cough
- breathlessness
- diarrhoea
- needing to pass urine (pee) often, or discomfort when you pass urine.
It is important to follow any specific advice your cancer treatment team gives you.
Your white blood cell count will usually return to normal before your next treatment. You will have a blood test before having more treatment. If your white blood cell count is low, your doctor may delay your treatment for a short time, until your cell count increases.
You may be given a drug called G-CSF. This encourages the body to make more white blood cells. You have it as a small injection under the skin.
Bruising and bleeding
This treatment can reduce the number of platelets in your blood. Platelets are cells that help the blood to clot.
If the number of platelets is low, you may bruise or bleed easily. You may have:
- nosebleeds
- bleeding gums
- heavy periods
- blood in your urine (pee) or stools (poo)
- tiny red, brown or purple spots that may look like a rash – these spots can be harder to see if you have black or brown skin.
If you have any unexplained bruising or bleeding, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number. You may need a drip to give you extra platelets. This is called a platelet transfusion.
Anaemia (low number of red blood cells)
This treatment can reduce the number of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body. If the number of red blood cells is low, this is called anaemia. You may feel:
- very low in energy
- breathless
- dizzy and light-headed.
If you have these symptoms, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number. You may need treatment for anaemia. If you are very anaemic, you may need a drip to give you extra red blood cells. This is called a blood transfusion.
Feeling sick
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will prescribe anti-sickness drugs to help prevent or control sickness. Take the drugs exactly as they tell you to, even if you do not feel sick. It is easier to prevent sickness than to treat it after it has started.
If you feel sick, take small sips of fluid often and eat small amounts regularly. It is important to drink enough fluids. If you continue to feel sick, or if you are sick (vomit) 1 to 2 times in 24 hours, contact the hospital on the 24-hour number as soon as possible. They will give you advice. They may change your anti-sickness treatment. Let them know if you still feel sick.
Constipation
This treatment can cause constipation. Constipation means that you are not able to pass stools (poo) as often as you normally do. It can become difficult or painful. Here are some tips that may help:
- Drink at least 2 litres (3½ pints) of fluids each day.
- Eat high-fibre foods, such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread.
- Do regular gentle exercise, like going for short walks.
If you have constipation, contact the hospital on the 24-hour number for advice. They can give you drugs called laxatives to help.
If you have not been able to pass stools for over 2 days and are being sick, contact the 24-hour number straight away.
Diarrhoea
This treatment may cause diarrhoea. Diarrhoea means passing more stools (poo) than is normal for you, or having watery or loose stools. You may also have stomach cramps. If you have a stoma, it may be more active than usual.
If you are passing loose stools 3 or more times a day and this is not normal for you, contact the hospital as soon as possible on the 24-hour number. Follow the advice they give you about:
- taking anti-diarrhoea medicines
- drinking enough fluids to keep you hydrated and to replace lost salts and minerals
- any changes to your diet that might help.
They might also ask you for a specimen of your stool to check for infection.
Tummy pain or indigestion
Steroids can irritate the stomach lining. If you have indigestion or pain in your tummy, let your nurse or doctor know. They can prescribe drugs to help reduce stomach irritation.
To help protect your stomach, you should take your tablets with food. Some steroid tablets are coated to help reduce irritation.
Increased appetite
Steroids can make you feel hungrier than usual, and you may gain weight. Your appetite should go back to normal when you stop taking steroids. If you are worried about gaining weight, talk to your doctor or nurse.
Sore mouth and throat
This treatment may cause a sore mouth and throat. You may also get mouth ulcers. This can make you more likely to get an infection in your mouth or throat. Use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth or dentures in the morning, at night and after meals.
If your mouth or throat is sore:
- tell your nurse or doctor – they can give you a mouthwash or medicines to help
- try to drink plenty of fluids
- avoid alcohol, tobacco and foods that irritate your mouth and throat.
Changes to your taste
Some foods may taste different or have no taste. Try different foods to find out what tastes best to you. You may also get a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you advice. It might help to try:
- sucking sugar-free sour or boiled sweets
- eating cold foods
- eating sharp-tasting fresh fruit.
Taste changes usually get better after treatment ends. We have more information about coping with changes to taste.
Feeling tired
Feeling tired is a common side effect of this treatment. It is often worse towards the end of treatment and for some weeks after it ends. Try to pace yourself and plan your day so you have time to rest. Gentle exercise, like short walks, can help you feel less tired.
If you feel sleepy, do not drive or use machinery.
Hair loss
Your hair will get thinner. Or you may lose all the hair from your head. You may also lose your eyelashes and eyebrows, as well as other body hair. Hair loss usually starts after your first or second treatment.
If you want to cover up hair loss, there are different ways you can do this. Your nurse will give you information about coping with hair loss.
Remember to protect your skin from the sun. Use suncream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 on your scalp. Or cover up with a hat or scarf.
Hair loss is almost always temporary. Your hair will usually grow back after treatment ends.
Skin changes
This treatment may affect your skin. Your doctor or nurse can tell you what to expect. If your skin feels dry, try using an unperfumed moisturising cream every day. Other possible effects are:
- Etoposide can cause a rash, which may be itchy. Rarely, this may become severe. If you have pain in your skin and a blister like rash, contact the hospital straight away.
- Your skin may darken in patches during treatment. Bleomycin can cause long thin streaks that look a bit like scratches. These may appear on 1 or more areas of skin.
- If you have had radiotherapy either recently or in the past, the area that was treated may become red or sore.
- During and after treatment, your skin may be more sensitive to the sun and your skin may burn more easily. You need to use a suncream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. You should also cover up with clothing and a hat.
Always tell your doctor or nurse about any skin changes. They can give you advice and may prescribe creams or medicines to help. Any changes to your skin are usually temporary and improve when treatment finishes.
Nail changes
This treatment can affect your nails. They may grow more slowly or break more easily. You might notice ridges or white or dark lines across your nails. These changes usually disappear as the nails grow out after treatment. Sometimes nails can become loose or fall out.
If the skin around your nails becomes sore and swollen, contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number. These might be signs of an infection.
Tips to look after your nails:
- Keep your nails clipped short and clean.
- Avoid using very hot water when washing your hands or bathing.
- Moisturise your nails and cuticles regularly.
- It is okay to use water-based nail polish - but ask your cancer team if you want to use false nails, gels or other acrylics during treatment.
- Wear gloves to protect your nails when working in the house or garden.
- If your toenails are affected, wear well-fitting shoes, or shoes with open toes to cushion them.
Tell your doctor or nurse about any changes to your nails. They can give you advice or arrange for you to see a podiatrist. They are a foot care specialist.
Numb or tingling hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy)
This treatment may affect the nerves in your fingers and toes. This can cause numbness, tingling or pain in your hands or feet. This is called peripheral neuropathy. You might find it hard to do fiddly tasks such as fastening buttons or tying shoelaces.
If you have these symptoms, always tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They sometimes need to change the drug or the dose of the drug. The symptoms usually improve slowly after treatment ends. But for some people they continue and are a long-term side effect of treatment.
Mood and behaviour changes
Steroids can affect your mood and behaviour. They can cause:
- feelings of anxiety or restlessness
- mood swings (moods that go up and down)
- low mood or depression.
Sometimes, when taken in higher doses, steroids can cause confusion or changes in thinking. This can include having strange or frightening thoughts.
If you notice any changes in your mood or behaviour, tell your doctor or nurse. They may make some changes to your treatment if the side effects are causing you problems.
Raised blood sugar levels
Steroids can raise your blood sugar levels. Your nurse will check your blood regularly for this. They may also test your urine for sugar. If you have a raised blood sugar level, you may:
- feel thirsty
- need to pass urine (pee) more often
- feel tired.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you have these symptoms.
If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels may be higher than usual. Your doctor will talk to you about how to manage this. You may need to change your insulin or tablet dose.
Build-up of fluid
You may gain weight, or your ankles and legs may swell. This is because of fluid building up. It is caused by steroids and is more common if you are taking them for a long time. Tell your doctor or nurse if this happens.
If your ankles and legs swell, it can help to put your legs up on a foot stool or cushion. The swelling will go down after your treatment ends.
Bladder irritation
Cyclophosphamide may irritate your bladder and cause discomfort when you pee (pass urine).
- Drink at least 2 litres (3½ pints) of fluids every day, especially during the 24 hours after chemotherapy.
- Empty your bladder regularly and to try to pee as soon as you feel the need to.
- Contact the hospital straight away if you feel any discomfort or stinging when you pee, or if you notice any blood in your urine.
Effects on the heart
This treatment can affect how the heart works. You may have tests to check how well your heart is working. These may be done before, during and after treatment.
If the treatment is causing heart problems, your doctor may change the type of treatment you are having.
Contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number if you have any of these symptoms during or after treatment:
- breathlessness
- dizziness
- changes to your heartbeat
- swollen feet and ankles.
Other conditions can cause these symptoms, but it is important to get them checked by a doctor.
Always call 999 if you have:
- chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest
- difficulty breathing.
Effects on the lungs
This treatment can cause changes to the lungs. You may have tests to check your lungs before and during treatment. Contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number if you develop:
- a cough that does not go away
- wheezing
- breathlessness.
You should also tell them if any existing breathing problems get worse.
Smoking increases your risk of lung problems. If you smoke, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice about stopping.
After treatment with bleomycin, breathing in high doses of oxygen can cause lung problems. If you need to have a general anaesthetic or oxygen therapy for any reason, always tell the doctor that you have had bleomycin. Some people choose to wear a medical alert identifier.
You should not scuba dive for 1 year after treatment with bleomycin. After this, you should have tests to check whether scuba diving is safe for you. Your cancer doctor can give you more information about this.
Effects on the kidneys and livers
PMitCEBO can affect how your kidneys and liver work. This will usually go back to normal after treatment ends. You will have regular blood tests to check how well your kidneys and liver are working.
Jaw pain
Vincristine may cause pain in your jaw. Tell your nurse or doctor if you notice this.
Muscle or joint pain
You may get pain in your muscles or joints for a few days after treatment. If this happens, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They can give you painkillers and advice. They can also tell you if any of the painkillers you usually take are suitable.
Tell them if the pain does not get better. Having warm baths and resting regularly may help.
Tumour lysis syndrome (TLS)
The first cycle of this treatment may cause cancer cells to die and break down quickly. When cancer cells break down very quickly, it can cause a sudden release of large amounts of chemicals into the blood. This is called tumour lysis syndrome (TLS).
Your kidneys can usually keep these chemicals balanced. But they might not be able to cope with very large amounts. The chemical imbalance can affect how well your kidneys work and cause problems with your heart rhythm.
You will have regular blood tests to check the levels of these chemicals.
If you are at risk of TLS, your doctor can give you treatment to help prevent it. You may have:
- extra fluids through a drip
- medicines such as rasburicase or allopurinol.
Drinking at least 2 litres (3½ pints) of fluid a day will also help.
Less common side effects
Blue urine
Mitoxantrone may turn your urine (pee) a blue-green colour after you have had your treatment. This may last for up to 48 hours. It is not harmful.
Eye changes
The whites of your eyes may have a blue tint while you are having mitoxantrone. This goes away when treatment finishes.
Effects on the nervous system
Vincristine can affect the nervous system. Tell your doctor straight away if you:
- feel dizzy or unsteady
- have problems moving or walking
- have problems speaking.
Rarely, this treatment can cause fits (seizures).
If you notice any of these effects, it is important not to drive or operate machinery.
Hearing changes
Second cancer
Other important information
Blood clot risk
Cancer and some cancer treatments can increase the risk of a blood clot. Contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number if you have any of these symptoms during or after treatment:
- throbbing pain or swelling in a leg or arm
- reddening of the skin in the area – if you have black or brown skin, this can be harder to notice, but the skin might become darker
- suddenly feeling breathless or coughing.
Always call 999 if you have:
- chest pain
- difficulty breathing.
A blood clot is serious, but it can be treated with drugs called anticoagulants. These thin the blood. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you more information about preventing and treating blood clots.
Alcohol
Etoposide given as an infusion into a vein contains alcohol. If having alcohol is a problem for you, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Your blood alcohol level may be above the legal limit after you have the treatment. Do not drive or operate machinery for a few hours after having this treatment, even if you feel okay. Tell the nurse, pharmacist or doctor if you notice any effects of the alcohol after having this treatment.
Drinking alcohol during treatment with cyclophosphamide can increase the risk of feeling and being sick.
Foods to avoid
You should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while on cyclophosphamide. It can make the side effects worse.
You should avoid having liquorice while taking prednisolone as it can increase how much medicine is in your body.
Other medicines
Some medicines can affect how this treatment works or be harmful while you are having it. Always tell your cancer doctor, nurse or pharmacist about any drugs you are taking or planning to take, such as:
- medicines you have been prescribed
- medicines you buy in a shop, pharmacy or online
- vitamins or supplements
- herbal drugs and complementary or homeopathic therapies
- recreational drugs – for example, cannabis.
Vaccinations
Doctors usually recommend that people with cancer have vaccinations for flu and for coronavirus (covid). These help reduce your risk of serious illness from these infections. Most people can have these vaccines, including people with weak immune systems.
If your immune system is weak, you should not have live vaccinations. Live vaccines can make you unwell because they contain a very weak version of the illness they will protect you against. Live vaccines include Zostavax®, which is a shingles vaccine, and the yellow fever vaccine.
It is important to ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice about having vaccinations. They can explain what vaccines are right for you and when it is best to have them.
Contraception
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will advise you not to get pregnant or make someone pregnant while having this treatment and for some time afterwards. The drugs may harm a developing baby. It is important to use contraception to prevent pregnancy. Follow their advice about:
- what types of contraception to use
- how long after treatment you should continue to use contraception.
Breastfeeding
You are advised not to breastfeed while having this treatment, or for some time after treatment ends. This is because the drugs could be passed to the baby through breast milk.
Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you more information.
Fertility
Some cancer drugs can affect whether you can get pregnant or make someone pregnant. If you are worried about this, it is important to talk with your doctor before you start treatment.
Sex
It is possible that small amounts of chemotherapy may be passed on through vaginal fluids or semen. If you have sex in the first few days after treatment, your cancer team will usually advise using condoms or a dental dam to protect your partner.
Changes to periods
If you have a period, these may become irregular or stop while you are having this treatment. This may be temporary, but it can sometimes be permanent. Your menopause may start sooner than it would have done. Your doctor or nurse can give you more information.
Medical and dental treatment
If you need medical treatment for any reason other than cancer, always tell the healthcare professional that you are having cancer treatment. Give them the contact details for your cancer doctor or cancer team so they can ask for advice.
If you have appointments with a dentist, always tell them you are having cancer treatment. Talk to your cancer team before you have any dental treatment.
About our information
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References
Visit the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) to download a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) for more detailed information. The leaflet lists all known side effects.
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Reviewers
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert health professionals and people living with cancer.
Our cancer information has been awarded the PIF TICK. Created by the Patient Information Forum, this quality mark shows we meet PIF’s 10 criteria for trustworthy health information.
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We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
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Date reviewed
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