Vincristine
What Vincristine Is Used For:
- Cancers treated with Vincristine include: acute leukemia, Hodgkin’s and non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, Wilms’ tumor, multiple myeloma, chronic leukemias, thyroid cancer, brain tumors.
- It is also used to treat some blood disorders.
Note: If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians sometimes elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it might be helpful.
How Vincristine Is Given:
- Vincristine is given through a vein by intravenous injection (IV push) or infusion (IV). There is no pill form.
- Vincristine is a vesicant. A vesicant is a chemical that causes extensive tissue damage and blistering if it escapes from the vein. The nurse or doctor who gives Vincristine must be carefully trained. If you notice pain, redness or swelling at the IV site while you are receiving Vincristine sulfate, alert your health care professional immediately.
- The amount of Vincristine you will receive depends on many factors, including your height and weight, your general health or other health problems, and the type of cancer you have. Your doctor will determine your dose and schedule.