Bleomycin is used to treat:

• squamous cell carcinoma (a skin cancer that can affect the mouth, throat, nose and sinuses, penis, vagina, or cervix);

• Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;

• testicular cancer; and

• malignant pleural effusion (a build-up of fluid in the outer tissues of the lungs, caused by certain types of cancer).

Bleomycin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

While you are being treated with this medicine, be sure you can get medical help quickly in case you have any serious side effects.

Call your doctor at once if you feel tired, light-headed, or short of breath, or if you have chest pain or discomfort, a dry cough, a decreased appetite, or weight loss.

Bleomycin comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid and injected intravenously (into a vein), intramuscularly (into a muscle), or subcutaneously (under the skin) by a doctor or nurse in a medical office or hospital outpatient department. It is usually injected once or twice a week. When bleomycin is used to treat pleural effusions, it is mixed with liquid and placed in the chest cavity through a chest tube (plastic tube that is placed in the chest cavity through a cut in the skin).

Bleomycin is given as an injection into a muscle or under the skin, or as an infusion into a vein. When treating pleural effusion, bleomycin is given through a chest tube.

A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Bleomycin is usually given once or twice per week, depending on the condition being treated. When given through a chest tube, bleomycin is usually given only once.

To make sure bleomycin is not causing harmful effects on your lungs, you may need to have chest X rays or other frequent lung function tests.

Your kidney function and liver function may also need to be checked.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are being treated with bleomycin.

You should not be treated with bleomycin if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• lung disease or breathing problems;

• kidney disease; or

• liver disease.

Bleomycin may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using bleomycin.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your bleomycin injection.

Since this medication is given by a healthcare professional in a medical setting, an overdose is unlikely to occur.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; fever, chills, confusion; wheezing, difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Bleomycin can cause life-threatening breathing problems. While you are being treated with bleomycin, be sure you can get medical help quickly in case you have any serious side effects.

Bleomycin may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, dry cough, tiredness;

• a light-headed feeling, feeling like you might pass out;

• loss of appetite, weight loss;

• sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, problems with vision or speech;

• blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing;

• unusual hardening of your skin; or

• swelling, numbness, tingling or cold feeling in your fingers.

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults.

Common side effects of bleomycin may include:

• skin redness, dark streaks, or discoloration;

• fingernail or toenail changes;

• fever, chills, vomiting, not feeling well;

• rash, itching; or

• hair loss.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Other drugs may affect bleomycin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.