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Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide is a type of chemotherapy. It interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Cyclophosphamide works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells. The DNA is the genetic material of cells. Cyclophosphamide also has immunosuppressive properties.

Cyclophosphamide can be given on its own, or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.

On this page:

Indications

It is a treatment for several different types of cancer. Examples include:

  • Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL)
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma such as Burkitt lymphoma and DLBCL
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)
  • Mycosis fungoides (MF)
  • Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
  • Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia (WM)

Administration

The amount of cyclophosphamide you will receive depends on many factors including:

  • Height and weight
  • General health or other health problems
  • Type of lymphoma being treated

How is it given

  • Cyclophosphamide is given in the chemotherapy day unit or during a stay in hospital.
  • Cyclophosphamide can be given alone or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.
  • You have cyclophosphamide as a drip into your bloodstream (intravenously).
  • Cyclophosphamide can be taken as tablets that you swallow whole with plenty of water.

 

Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of fluid (unless you are fluid restricted) for 2 days after treatment with cyclophosphamide. Patients should also empty their bladder often (at least every 2-4 hours for first 24 hours post receiving cyclophosphamide).

Possible side effects

Common side effects may include:

  • Low blood counts
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Stomach pain
  • Diarrhoea
  • Hair loss
  • Changes in skin colour
  • Changes in nails
  • Soreness and redness of the palms
  • Headaches
  • Mouth sores
  • Cough or hoarseness
  • Fever or chills
  • Lower back or side pain
  • Painful or difficult urination

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Please note: Lymphoma Australia staff are only able to reply to emails sent in English language.

For people living in Australia, we can offer a phone translation service. Have your nurse or English speaking relative call us to arrange this.

Useful Definitions

  • Refractory: This means the lymphoma does not get better with treatment. The treatment didn’t work as hoped.
  • Relapsed: This means the lymphoma came back after being gone for a while after treatment.
  • 2nd line treatment: This is the second treatment you get if the first one didn’t work (refractory) or if the lymphoma comes back (relapse).
  • 3rd line treatment: This is the third treatment you get if the second one didn’t work or the lymphoma comes back again.
  • Approved: Available in Australia and listed by the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA).
  • Funded: Costs are covered for Australian citizens. This means if you have a Medicare card, you shouldn’t have to pay for the treatment.[WO7]

You need healthy T-cells to make CAR T-cells. For this reason, CAR T-cell therapy cannot be used if you have a T-cell lymphoma – yet.

For more information on CAR T-cells and T-cell lymphoma click here. 

Special Note: Although your T-cells are removed from your blood for CAR T-cell therapy, most of our T-cells live outside of our blood – in our lymph nodes, thymus, spleen and other organs.