Mitomycin
About
Mitomycin belongs to a group of medicines known as 'anti-cancer' used in cancer therapy. It is most effective in the treatment of advanced metastatic stomach cancer (stomach carcinoma), advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer (breast carcinoma), cancer of the respiratory tract (non-small cell bronchial carcinoma), and advanced cancer of the pancreas (pancreatic carcinoma). Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific body part grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can attack and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes begins in one body part before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis.
Mitomycin contains Mitomycin, an anti-cancer medication that is cytotoxic (causes cell death). It works by inhibiting the genetic material's development (DNA) in a cell (cancer cell), thereby stopping cancer cells from dividing. As a result, cancer cell growth and spread stopped or slowed.
Healthcare professionals administer Mitomycin. It is intended to be used as an injection or infusion into a blood vessel. Depending upon your medical condition, you are advised to take Mitomycin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss, kidney disorders, fever, and lung disorders. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Before taking Mitomycin, inform your doctor if you have any infection because Mitomycin may worsen the infection. Some patients may experience increased sensitivity to light while taking Mitomycin, and avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight is recommended. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant as Mitomycin can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using this Mitomycin should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. You should not take this Mitomycin during breastfeeding. Inform your doctor if you take Mitomycin. Use the Mitomycin with caution in elderly patients. Do not take live vaccines three months after your last chemotherapy. Before starting therapy, your doctor may recommend you undergo tests for lung, kidney, and liver function to exclude any diseases.
Uses of Mitomycin
Medicinal Benefits
Mitomycin belongs to the group of anti-cancer medicines containing Mitomycin. It works by inhibiting the genetic material's development (DNA) in a cell (cancer cell), thereby destroying quickly dividing cells. As a result, the growth and spread of cancer cells in stopped or slowed down.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Mitomycin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Increased risk of infection
- Hair loss
- Skin rashes
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
- Thrombocytopenia (decreased number of platelets)
- Leucopenia (decreased number of white blood cells)
- Dyspnoea
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Numbness, swelling, and painful redness on palms and soles
- Kidney disorders
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Before taking the Mitomycin, inform your doctor if you have any active infection. Some patients may experience increased sensitivity to light while taking Mitomycin and avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight is recommended. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant as Mitomycin can cause harmful effects on the unborn baby. Both women and men using this Mitomycin should use birth control to avoid pregnancy. You should not take Mitomycin during breastfeeding. Use the Mitomycin with caution in elderly patients. Inform your doctor if you have impaired lung, kidney, or liver function, urinary bladder inflammation, or are undergoing radiation therapy. Mitomycin is not recommended for use in children and adolescents.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Mitomycin may interact with certain medicines used to treat cancer (e.g. doxorubicin) and certain medicines used to treat bacterial infections (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin).
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid alcohol consumption to avoid unpleasant side effects.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Bleeding disorders, myelosuppression(bone marrow suppression), renal dysfunction, infections.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou are recommended to avoid alcohol intake while taking Mitomycin to avoid unpleasant side-effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeMitomycin should not be used during pregnancy because it causes harm to the fetus (newborn baby). Both women of childbearing potential and men must use an effective contraception method while taking Mitomycin and at least six months afterwards. Discuss with your doctor any concerns regarding this.
Breast Feeding
unsafeMitomycin should not be taken during breastfeeding as it passes into the breastmilk and may harm the nursing baby. It is contraindicated in breastfeeding mothers.
Driving
cautionMitomycin may cause dizziness and drowsiness, do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you feel dizzy.
Liver
cautionInform your doctor before receiving the Mitomycin if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Kidney
cautionInform your doctor before receiving the Mitomycin if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Children
unsafeMitomycin should not be used by children, as the efficacy and safety have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Include leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fatty fish, berries, yoghurt, apples, peaches, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, beans, and herbs in your dialy diet.
- Avoid fast, fried, processed meats, refined carbs, and added sugars.
- Get optimal sleep, and rest well.
Special Advise
- Regularly monitor your blood tests to monitor your liver function, electrolyte levels, and blood cell count in your blood.
- Avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV light (such as tanning booths) and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Mitomycin may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
- Mitomycin should be taken under strict medical supervision. The doctor will regularly monitor your condition while taking Mitomycin.
- Consult a doctor immediately if you notice any signs of infection, fever, diarrhoea, chills, etc.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Breast cancer: Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in breast cells stimulated by a female sex hormone called estrogen. Breast cancer may form in lobules (glands that produce milk), ducts of the breast (the pathway that brings milk from glands to the nipple), fatty tissue, or fibrous connective tissue within the breast. The tumour cells invade other healthy breast cells and travel to lymph nodes, a primary pathway for the cancer cells to move to other body parts. Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or tissue thickening, which feels different than the normal surrounding tissues, breast pain, redness, swelling, and nipple discharge other than breast milk.
Stomach Cancer (gastric cancer): It is a type of cancer that develops from the stomach lining. Risk factors may include smoking, a highly processed or salty diet, and severe bacterial infection of H. pylori. Symptoms of stomach cancer include feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after eating small amounts of food, nausea, heartburn, or indigestion.
Pancreatic cancer: The malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas. Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer include pain, diarrhoea, jaundice, and weight loss. Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor contributing to this type of cancer.
Lung cancer: It happens when cells in the lung begin to grow in an uncontrolled manner. The most common form of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It happens when cells that form the lining of the lung start growing uncontrollably. Persons who smoke are at high risk of lung cancer. A common symptom of NSCLC is a cough that does not go easily, followed by shortness of breath. Cancerous lung cells spread off and travel through the bloodstream to distant regions of the body and grow.
FAQs
Mitomycin contains Mitomycin is an anti-cancer medication that interferes with the growth of genetic material (DNA) of the cancer cells. This slows the growth of cancer cells and eventually kills them.
Yes, Mitomycin may change the results of blood tests and other laboratory tests. Inform the person doing the tests that you are taking Mitomycin as regular monitoring of liver and kidney functions tests, electrolyte level, and blood cells is required.
Mitomycin might affect the fertility (ability to have children) in both men and women. You may not be able to become pregnant or father a child after treatment with Mitomycin. However, it is essential to talk to your doctor before starting treatment with Mitomycin if you think you may want to have a baby in the future.
The most common sign of lung cancer is a cough that lasts long and gets worse with time. Sometimes, a patient may notice blood in the cough. Chest pain is also a sign of lung cancer followed by coughing. However, symptoms/signs vary from person to person.
Your doctor will decide the number of treatment cycles and the frequency of Mitomycin to be taken, depending on the type and stage of cancer treated.
While taking Mitomycin, make sure you visit your doctor at all the appointments to ensure that treatment is working. Regular monitoring of blood and urine tests, weight checks are required. An effective way of contraception should be used by both men and women while taking Mitomycin.
Yes, you might become more sensitive to sunlight while taking Mitomycin, so it is important to protect your skin with a high sun protection factor (SPF) while going out as it can lead to a skin rash if you are not using a strong SPF.
Mitomycin can make you more likely to get infections or may worsen any current infections. Avoid contact with people who have infections that may spread to others (such as chickenpox, measles, flu). Consult your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for more details.
