VUMON®
Teniposide (ten IP oh side)
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about Vumon. It does not contain all the information that is known about Vumon. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.

What Vumon is used for
Vumon is used to treat types of cancer known as Hodgkin's disease and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It may also be used to treat leukaemia, bladder cancer and brain cancer, as well as some other forms of cancer.
Vumon belongs to a group of medicines called cytotoxic medicines. You may also hear of these being called chemotherapy medicines.
Vumon works by killing cancer cells.
Vumon may be used in combination with other medicines to treat your cancer.
Your doctor may have prescribed Vumon for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Vumon has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you are given Vumon
When you must not be given it
Do not have Vumon if you have an allergy to teniposide, polyoxyethylated castor oil or any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet, unless you have discussed it with your doctor.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing or a tight feeling in your chest
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching, hives or flushed, red skin
dizziness or light headedness
fast heart beat
Do not have Vumon if you have, or have had, any of the following medical conditions unless you have discussed it with your doctor:
low white blood cell count
low blood platelet count
low red blood cell count
liver problems
kidney problems
lowered immunity due to treatment with medicines such as corticosteroids, cyclosporin or other medicines used to treat cancer
reduced bone marrow reserve
Tell your doctor if you have an infection or high temperature.
Your doctor may decide to delay your treatment until the infection has gone. A mild illness, such as a cold, is not usually a reason to delay treatment.
You should advise your doctor if you have had surgery, radiotherapy or other cancer treatment recently.
Females: tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Like most cytotoxic medicines, Vumon is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If there is any need to consider Vumon during your pregnancy, your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of using it. Vumon may affect your developing baby if you are given it during pregnancy.
Males: tell your doctor if your partner intends to become pregnant while you are using Vumon or shortly after you have stopped using Vumon. As Vumon may decrease male fertility, preservation of sperm may be considered for the purpose of later fatherhood.
You should use some kind of birth control while you are using Vumon and for at least 12 weeks after you stop using it.
Vumon may cause birth defects if either the male or female is using it at the time of conception.
Do not breastfeed while taking Vum