Your doctor has ordered palifermin to help treat your illness. The drug is given by injection into a vein.
You will probably be given three doses of palifermin before you receive your cancer chemotherapy treatment and three doses of palifermin after you receive your cancer chemotherapy treatment. You will not be given palifermin on the same day that you are given your cancer chemotherapy treatment. Palifermin must be given at least 24 hours before and at least 24 hours after chemotherapy.
This medication is used to:
- prevent swelling, irritation and sores on the lining of the mouth and throat that may be caused by chemotherapy used to treat cancers of the blood or bone marrow (spongy tissue inside of bones where blood cells are formed).
- speed the healing of the lining of the mouth and throat if it is damaged by chemotherapy used to treat cancers of the blood or bone marrow.
Palifermin is in a class of drugs known as human keratinocyte growth factors. It stops sores from forming in the lining of the mouth and throat and helps the lining of the mouth and throat heal faster if it is damaged.
Palifermin may not be safe to use to prevent and treat mouth sores in patients who have other types of cancer. Palfermin may cause some tumors to grow faster.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
- Kepivance®
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