stethoscope How is melphalan given? If you have any questions about your treatment, speak to your medical team. They are the best people to ask if you have questions Melphalan can be given as a tablet or intravenously (into a vein). about your individual situation. The information in this publication is not meant to replace their advice. Melphalan tablets are most often given in combination with other anti-myeloma drugs, for example, the steroid prednisolone and the immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) thalidomide (combination known as MPT); the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade®) and prednisolone (VMP); the steroid dexamethasone (mel-dex). It is important that you follow the instructions for taking melphalan as prescribed. If you are sick shortly after taking it or if you miss a dose, you should contact your doctor immediately for advice before taking We’re here for everything the next dose. a diagnosis of myeloma brings A high dose of intravenous melphalan is also used as part of a treatment procedure in myeloma called stem cell transplantation. Get in touch to find out more about how we can support you
The tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water, Call the Myeloma Infoline on preferably on an empty stomach. If you suffer from indigestion 0800 980 3332 or stomach irritation you can take the tablets with food. Email Ask the Nurse at [email protected] Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, you should drink Melphalan plenty of fluids. This helps the kidneys to remove the drug Visit our website at from your body and avoid some of the side effects. myeloma.org.uk
Your doctor will measure your height and weight to calculate the correct dose of melphalan for you. Treatment Guide
Myeloma UK 22 Logie Mill, Beaverbank Business Park, Other information about melphalan Edinburgh EH7 4HG Published by: Myeloma UK 0131 557 3332 Publication date: January 2019 Women must not take melphalan if they are pregnant, and Last updated: January 2019 [email protected] Review date: January 2022 must not become pregnant whilst taking melphalan, as it Registered Charity No: SC026116 is expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. This means you must use effective methods of contraception while on treatment and for up to a year after treatment has finished if you are a woman of childbearing potential or if you are a man We appreciate your feedback and your partner is a woman of child bearing potential. Please fill in a short online survey about our patient information at myeloma.org.uk/pifeedback or email any comments to [email protected] For a list of references used to develop our resources, visit myeloma.org.uk/references What is melphalan? Possible Nausea, vomiting and Low blood Sore mouth side effects appetite loss counts and throat Melphalan is a chemotherapy drug Melphalan has a number of Melphalan can cause nausea and/ Melphalan can decrease the Melphalan can sometimes cause used in the treatment of myeloma. possible side effects which can or vomiting. This can begin 2 – 3 number of red blood cells, white a sore mouth and throat (oral It belongs to a class of vary considerably from patient to hours after taking the treatment blood cells and platelets in your mucositis) which can result in patient. It is important to report any and may last for up to 24 hours. You blood. This can cause anaemia mouth ulcers and mouth infections. chemotherapy drugs called side effects to your doctor or nurse may be given anti-sickness (anti- and fatigue, as well as making you If this occurs, it can sometimes alkylating agents. as soon as possible so they can be emetic) drugs to prevent or reduce more susceptible to infection and make eating, drinking and treated or managed promptly. nausea and vomiting. You must increasing your risk of bleeding. swallowing difficult. You may need take them as prescribed rather than If necessary, you can be given intravenous fluids and/or nutritional Side effects of melphalan are more waiting until you feel sick. There supportive treatment to help with supplements until you are able common in the parts of the body are several types of anti-emetic these side effects and to boost your to resume eating and drinking where there are rapidly dividing available and if the one you have is blood cell counts. normally. How does it work? cells, i.e. the hair follicles, bone not effective, ask your doctor to marrow, skin and the lining of the It is important you maintain good Melphalan works by damaging try another. mouth and digestive tract. oral hygiene if you have mucositis. the DNA within myeloma cells. 1 parent cell You should keep1 parent drinking cell to avoid Diarrhoea Your nurse will show you how to Damaging the DNA stops the 46 dehydration, especially46 if you care for your mouth and how to myeloma cells multiplying and chromosomes have been vomiting. Ifchromosomes vomiting In most cases, diarrhoea is keep it clean with mouthwashes (23 pairs) Hair thinning (23 pairs) results in their death. is prolonged and you can’t keep temporary and your normal and brushes or foam sticks. Your DNA or loss anything down, youDNA should contact bowel pattern should return once doctor can prescribe painkillers PL AT ON PL AT ON treatment has finished. You should You may have some thinning of your doctor or nurse for advice. which should help to ease any pain. maintain a good fluid intake to all your hair but it is unlikely that you all chromosomes Sometimes, melphalanchromosomes can alter prevent dehydration and a eat duplicate will lose it completely. Thinning or duplicate your sense of taste and smell and balanced diet low in highly spiced or Effects on loss of your hair will usually start this may contribute to your loss of fatty foods. You may be prescribed fertility within two to four weeks of your first appetite, nausea and/or vomiting. anti-diarrhoeal medications and if dose of melphalan. You may also Melphalan may affect your ability to chromosomes This is usually temporarychromosomes and the your diarrhoea is severe and you separate have thinning or loss of eyelashes, separate become pregnant or father a child. taste changes should disappear may need intravenous fluids via eyebrows and other body hair. Talk to your doctor or nurse about M LPHALAN whenM LPHALAN you have finished your a drip. LL LL how this may affect you and what prevents the cell D D S Hair thinning or loss is nearly treatment.prevents the cell D D S from dividing from dividing your options are. It is possible that always only temporary and your melphalan may bring on an early hair should normally start to grow 2 23 2 23 menopause in women who have back a month or so after finishing daughter pairs daughter pairs not yet gone through it. cells each treatment. During this time, you cells each F TH D S ON should try to avoid hair dyes and F TH D S ON Figure 1: Mechanism of action of melphalan use a very mild shampoo to avoid scalp irritation.
daughter cells daughter cells stethoscope How is melphalan given? If you have any questions about your treatment, speak to your medical team. They are the best people to ask if you have questions Melphalan can be given as a tablet or intravenously (into a vein). about your individual situation. The information in this publication is not meant to replace their advice. Melphalan tablets are most often given in combination with other anti-myeloma drugs, for example, the steroid prednisolone and the immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) thalidomide (combination known as MPT); the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade®) and prednisolone (VMP); the steroid dexamethasone (mel-dex). It is important that you follow the instructions for taking melphalan as prescribed. If you are sick shortly after taking it or if you miss a dose, you should contact your doctor immediately for advice before taking We’re here for everything the next dose. a diagnosis of myeloma brings A high dose of intravenous melphalan is also used as part of a treatment procedure in myeloma called stem cell transplantation. Get in touch to find out more about how we can support you
The tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water, Call the Myeloma Infoline on preferably on an empty stomach. If you suffer from indigestion 0800 980 3332 or stomach irritation you can take the tablets with food. Email Ask the Nurse at [email protected] Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, you should drink Melphalan plenty of fluids. This helps the kidneys to remove the drug Visit our website at from your body and avoid some of the side effects. myeloma.org.uk
Your doctor will measure your height and weight to calculate the correct dose of melphalan for you. Treatment Guide
Myeloma UK 22 Logie Mill, Beaverbank Business Park, Other information about melphalan Edinburgh EH7 4HG Published by: Myeloma UK 0131 557 3332 Publication date: January 2019 Women must not take melphalan if they are pregnant, and Last updated: January 2019 [email protected] Review date: January 2022 must not become pregnant whilst taking melphalan, as it Registered Charity No: SC026116 is expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. This means you must use effective methods of contraception while on treatment and for up to a year after treatment has finished if you are a woman of childbearing potential or if you are a man We appreciate your feedback and your partner is a woman of child bearing potential. Please fill in a short online survey about our patient information at myeloma.org.uk/pifeedback or email any comments to [email protected] For a list of references used to develop our resources, visit myeloma.org.uk/references What is melphalan? Possible Nausea, vomiting and Low blood Sore mouth side effects appetite loss counts and throat Melphalan is a chemotherapy drug Melphalan has a number of Melphalan can cause nausea and/ Melphalan can decrease the Melphalan can sometimes cause used in the treatment of myeloma. possible side effects which can or vomiting. This can begin 2 – 3 number of red blood cells, white a sore mouth and throat (oral It belongs to a class of vary considerably from patient to hours after taking the treatment blood cells and platelets in your mucositis) which can result in patient. It is important to report any and may last for up to 24 hours. You blood. This can cause anaemia mouth ulcers and mouth infections. chemotherapy drugs called side effects to your doctor or nurse may be given anti-sickness (anti- and fatigue, as well as making you If this occurs, it can sometimes alkylating agents. as soon as possible so they can be emetic) drugs to prevent or reduce more susceptible to infection and make eating, drinking and treated or managed promptly. nausea and vomiting. You must increasing your risk of bleeding. swallowing difficult. You may need take them as prescribed rather than If necessary, you can be given intravenous fluids and/or nutritional Side effects of melphalan are more waiting until you feel sick. There supportive treatment to help with supplements until you are able common in the parts of the body are several types of anti-emetic these side effects and to boost your to resume eating and drinking where there are rapidly dividing available and if the one you have is blood cell counts. normally. How does it work? cells, i.e. the hair follicles, bone not effective, ask your doctor to marrow, skin and the lining of the It is important you maintain good Melphalan works by damaging try another. mouth and digestive tract. oral hygiene if you have mucositis. the DNA within myeloma cells. 1 parent cell You should keep1 parent drinking cell to avoid Diarrhoea Your nurse will show you how to Damaging the DNA stops the 46 dehydration, especially46 if you care for your mouth and how to myeloma cells multiplying and chromosomes have been vomiting. Ifchromosomes vomiting In most cases, diarrhoea is keep it clean with mouthwashes (23 pairs) Hair thinning (23 pairs) results in their death. is prolonged and you can’t keep temporary and your normal and brushes or foam sticks. Your DNA or loss anything down, youDNA should contact bowel pattern should return once doctor can prescribe painkillers PL AT ON PL AT ON treatment has finished. You should You may have some thinning of your doctor or nurse for advice. which should help to ease any pain. maintain a good fluid intake to all your hair but it is unlikely that you all chromosomes Sometimes, melphalanchromosomes can alter prevent dehydration and a eat duplicate will lose it completely. Thinning or duplicate your sense of taste and smell and balanced diet low in highly spiced or Effects on loss of your hair will usually start this may contribute to your loss of fatty foods. You may be prescribed fertility within two to four weeks of your first appetite, nausea and/or vomiting. anti-diarrhoeal medications and if dose of melphalan. You may also Melphalan may affect your ability to chromosomes This is usually temporarychromosomes and the your diarrhoea is severe and you separate have thinning or loss of eyelashes, separate become pregnant or father a child. taste changes should disappear may need intravenous fluids via eyebrows and other body hair. Talk to your doctor or nurse about M LPHALAN whenM LPHALAN you have finished your a drip. LL LL how this may affect you and what prevents the cell D D S Hair thinning or loss is nearly treatment.prevents the cell D D S from dividing from dividing your options are. It is possible that always only temporary and your melphalan may bring on an early hair should normally start to grow 2 23 2 23 menopause in women who have back a month or so after finishing daughter pairs daughter pairs not yet gone through it. cells each treatment. During this time, you cells each F TH D S ON should try to avoid hair dyes and F TH D S ON Figure 1: Mechanism of action of melphalan use a very mild shampoo to avoid scalp irritation.
daughter cells daughter cells What is melphalan? Possible Nausea, vomiting and Low blood Sore mouth side effects appetite loss counts and throat Melphalan is a chemotherapy drug Melphalan has a number of Melphalan can cause nausea and/ Melphalan can decrease the Melphalan can sometimes cause used in the treatment of myeloma. possible side effects which can or vomiting. This can begin 2 – 3 number of red blood cells, white a sore mouth and throat (oral It belongs to a class of vary considerably from patient to hours after taking the treatment blood cells and platelets in your mucositis) which can result in patient. It is important to report any and may last for up to 24 hours. You blood. This can cause anaemia mouth ulcers and mouth infections. chemotherapy drugs called side effects to your doctor or nurse may be given anti-sickness (anti- and fatigue, as well as making you If this occurs, it can sometimes alkylating agents. as soon as possible so they can be emetic) drugs to prevent or reduce more susceptible to infection and make eating, drinking and treated or managed promptly. nausea and vomiting. You must increasing your risk of bleeding. swallowing difficult. You may need take them as prescribed rather than If necessary, you can be given intravenous fluids and/or nutritional Side effects of melphalan are more waiting until you feel sick. There supportive treatment to help with supplements until you are able common in the parts of the body are several types of anti-emetic these side effects and to boost your to resume eating and drinking where there are rapidly dividing available and if the one you have is blood cell counts. normally. How does it work? cells, i.e. the hair follicles, bone not effective, ask your doctor to marrow, skin and the lining of the It is important you maintain good Melphalan works by damaging try another. mouth and digestive tract. oral hygiene if you have mucositis. the DNA within myeloma cells. 1 parent cell You should keep1 parent drinking cell to avoid Diarrhoea Your nurse will show you how to Damaging the DNA stops the 46 dehydration, especially46 if you care for your mouth and how to myeloma cells multiplying and chromosomes have been vomiting. Ifchromosomes vomiting In most cases, diarrhoea is keep it clean with mouthwashes (23 pairs) Hair thinning (23 pairs) results in their death. is prolonged and you can’t keep temporary and your normal and brushes or foam sticks. Your DNA or loss anything down, youDNA should contact bowel pattern should return once doctor can prescribe painkillers PL AT ON PL AT ON treatment has finished. You should You may have some thinning of your doctor or nurse for advice. which should help to ease any pain. maintain a good fluid intake to all your hair but it is unlikely that you all chromosomes Sometimes, melphalanchromosomes can alter prevent dehydration and a eat duplicate will lose it completely. Thinning or duplicate your sense of taste and smell and balanced diet low in highly spiced or Effects on loss of your hair will usually start this may contribute to your loss of fatty foods. You may be prescribed fertility within two to four weeks of your first appetite, nausea and/or vomiting. anti-diarrhoeal medications and if dose of melphalan. You may also Melphalan may affect your ability to chromosomes This is usually temporarychromosomes and the your diarrhoea is severe and you separate have thinning or loss of eyelashes, separate become pregnant or father a child. taste changes should disappear may need intravenous fluids via eyebrows and other body hair. Talk to your doctor or nurse about M LPHALAN whenM LPHALAN you have finished your a drip. LL LL how this may affect you and what prevents the cell D D S Hair thinning or loss is nearly treatment.prevents the cell D D S from dividing from dividing your options are. It is possible that always only temporary and your melphalan may bring on an early hair should normally start to grow 2 23 2 23 menopause in women who have back a month or so after finishing daughter pairs daughter pairs not yet gone through it. cells each treatment. During this time, you cells each F TH D S ON should try to avoid hair dyes and F TH D S ON Figure 1: Mechanism of action of melphalan use a very mild shampoo to avoid scalp irritation.
daughter cells daughter cells stethoscope How is melphalan given? If you have any questions about your treatment, speak to your medical team. They are the best people to ask if you have questions Melphalan can be given as a tablet or intravenously (into a vein). about your individual situation. The information in this publication is not meant to replace their advice. Melphalan tablets are most often given in combination with other anti-myeloma drugs, for example, the steroid prednisolone and the immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) thalidomide (combination known as MPT); the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade®) and prednisolone (VMP); the steroid dexamethasone (mel-dex). It is important that you follow the instructions for taking melphalan as prescribed. If you are sick shortly after taking it or if you miss a dose, you should contact your doctor immediately for advice before taking We’re here for everything the next dose. a diagnosis of myeloma brings A high dose of intravenous melphalan is also used as part of a treatment procedure in myeloma called stem cell transplantation. Get in touch to find out more about how we can support you
The tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water, Call the Myeloma Infoline on preferably on an empty stomach. If you suffer from indigestion 0800 980 3332 or stomach irritation you can take the tablets with food. Email Ask the Nurse at [email protected] Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, you should drink Melphalan plenty of fluids. This helps the kidneys to remove the drug Visit our website at from your body and avoid some of the side effects. myeloma.org.uk
Your doctor will measure your height and weight to calculate the correct dose of melphalan for you. Treatment Guide
Myeloma UK 22 Logie Mill, Beaverbank Business Park, Other information about melphalan Edinburgh EH7 4HG Published by: Myeloma UK 0131 557 3332 Publication date: January 2019 Women must not take melphalan if they are pregnant, and Last updated: January 2019 [email protected] Review date: January 2022 must not become pregnant whilst taking melphalan, as it Registered Charity No: SC026116 is expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. This means you must use effective methods of contraception while on treatment and for up to a year after treatment has finished if you are a woman of childbearing potential or if you are a man We appreciate your feedback and your partner is a woman of child bearing potential. Please fill in a short online survey about our patient information at myeloma.org.uk/pifeedback or email any comments to [email protected] For a list of references used to develop our resources, visit myeloma.org.uk/references