What safety measures should you take when your child is using fludarabine?
Fludarabine has sometimes been associated with a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood, also known as hemolytic anemia. Your child will be monitored using blood tests to make sure this does not occur. If you notice your child looking paler and feeling much more tired than usual, let your child's doctor, nurse, or pharmacist know.
Your child will receive medicine to prevent upset stomach and throwing up caused by fludarabine.
Fludarabine can lower the number of white blood cells in the blood temporarily, which increases your child's chances of getting an infection. Your child can take the following precautions to prevent infections, especially when the blood count is low:
- Avoid people with infections, such as a cold or the flu.
- Avoid places that are very crowded with large groups of people.
- Be careful when brushing or flossing your child's teeth. Your doctor, nurse or dentist may suggest different ways to clean your child's mouth and teeth.
- You and your child should not touch your child's eyes or inside their nose without washing hands first.
- Your child's nurse will review with you what to do in case of fever.
Fludarabine can lower the number of platelets in the blood, which increases your child's risk of bleeding. You can take the following precautions:
- Be careful not to cut your child when using a razor, fingernail scissors, or toenail clippers.
- Be careful when shaving or waxing.
- Your child should not receive a permanent tattoo or any kind of body piercing.
- Your child should avoid contact sports where bruising or injury could occur.
- Before your child has surgery, including dental surgery, inform the doctor or dentist that your child is taking fludarabine.
Your child should not receive any immunizations (vaccines) without your child's doctor's approval. Your child and anyone else in your household should not get oral polio vaccine while your child is being treated for cancer. Tell your child's doctor if anyone in your household has recently received oral polio vaccine. Your child should avoid contact with anyone who has recently received this vaccine. Other live vaccines that your child should not get include measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and chickenpox vaccine.
Your child may lose their hair. It will grow back once your child is no longer receiving fludarabine. Its colour and texture may change. Use a gentle shampoo and a soft brush.
Fludarabine may cause sores in the mouth. Rinse your child's mouth with a mouthwash made from baking soda to help keep it clean. Your nurse or pharmacist can review this with you. Avoid store-bought mouthwash as it may sting and cause dry mouth.
Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription or non-prescription or herbal products).
