Mitomycin can cause a severe decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. This may cause certain symptoms and may increase the risk that you will develop a serious infection or bleeding. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, sore throat, ongoing cough and congestion, or other signs of infection; unusual bleeding or bruising.
Mitomycin may cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (a potentially life-threatening condition that involves injury to red blood cells, causing anemia and kidney problems). If you experience any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor immediately: red or bloody stools or diarrhea; decreased urination; swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests before and during your treatment to see if it is safe for you to receive mitomycin injection and to check your body’s response to mitomycin injection.
Mitomycin injection must be given in a hospital or medical facility under the supervision of a doctor who is experienced in giving chemotherapy medications for cancer.
The basics
Mitomycin (Brand name- Mitomycin-C) is an FDA-approved treatment used in combination with other medications for stomach or pancreas cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and has not improved or worsened after treatment with other medications, surgery, or radiation therapy.
It is a type of antibiotic that is only used in cancer chemotherapy. It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells in your body.
let us walk you through the key things you need to know about mitomycin.
How should I take mitomycin (Mitomycin-C)?
Mitomycin is injected intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. It is usually injected once every 6 to 8 weeks.
Your doctor may need to delay your treatment or change your dose if you experience certain side effects. It is important for you to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with Mitomycin injection. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.
Do not stop taking treatment without talking to your doctor. You can help them by tracking your side effects in Ankr.
What are the side effects of mitomycin?
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting (Emesis)
- Appetite loss (Anorexia)
- Abnormal weight loss
- Sores in the mouth and throat
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Hair Loss (Alopecia)
- Loss of strength and energy
- Rash
Serious side effects
- pain, itching, redness, swelling, blisters, or sores on the skin especially near the injection site
- shortness of breath
- difficulty breathing
- fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
- Fainting (Syncope)
Mitomycin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
Use the free Ankr platform or Ankr app to track your symptoms.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before receiving mitomycin
- tell your doctor about your allergies
- tell your doctor about other intakes
- tell your doctor if you have or ever had any other disease, symptom, or treatment
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed during your treatment with mitomycin.
While you are on mitomycin
- If you become pregnant while receiving Mitomycin-C injection, call your doctor immediately. The injection may harm the fetus.
- tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed while receiving mitocmycin and for 3 months after your final dose.
In case of an emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
Brand names
- Mitosol®
- Mutamycin®¶
Other names
- Mitomycin-C
¶This branded product is no longer on the market. Generic alternatives may be available.
Last Revised -06/18/2023, FDA updated- 03/15/2013, SG
Get 24×7 support for mitomycin (Mitomycin-C)
Don’t go through your cancer journey alone. Use Ankr to:
(1) find the best treatment for your cancer, and
(2) get advanced warning to cut side effects by upto 52%