About your treatment  

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.

Other uses for this medicine  

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.

In case of emergency/overdose  

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• thick tongue
• change in color of tongue
• change in ability to taste food
• increased or decreased sensitivity to touch, especially in and around the mouth
• burning or tingling, especially in and around the mouth
• joint pain
• rash
• warm, red skin
• itching
• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• fever

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