Carmustine (Systemic)

Brand Names : BiCNU, BCNU

Category

• Antineoplastic

Description

Carmustine (kar-MUS-teen) belongs to the group of medicines known as alkylating agents. It is used to treat cancer of the lymph system, cancerous brain tumors, and a certain type of cancer in the bone marrow. It may also be used to treat other kinds of cancer, as determined by your doctor.

Carmustine interferes with the growth of cancer cells, which are eventually destroyed. Since the growth of normal body cells may also be affected by carmustine, other effects will also occur. Some of these may be serious and must be reported to your doctor. Other effects, like hair loss, may not be serious but may cause concern. Some effects may not occur for months or years after the medicine is used.

Before you begin treatment with carmustine, you and your doctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.

Carmustine is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. It is available in the following dosage form:

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• BiCNU

In Canada -

• BiCNU

Another commonly used name is BCNU .