Hello from Dr T Bear
I am an X-ray doctor or radiologist (ray-dee-ol-oh-jist)
Do you know what I do? Do you know what X-rays are?
X-rays let me look inside you and see if there are any problems.
Those funny-looking pictures can be tough to understand.
That’s where radiologists come in. They are doctors who are specialists in reading and making sense of these pictures, and they help other doctors figure out what’s going on inside. Radiologists often carry out treatments as well.
Your family doctor has asked us to see you as you have a lump that has been bothering you. We have talked about your lump with other doctors and we think bleomycin will help.
We have given your parents or carer a leaflet full of big words so they can understand about this medicine, but we think you are very important and so we have written this leaflet especially for you which
explains everything. We hope you find it useful. If you have any questions I have left a special bit at the end of the leaflet to write down your thoughts or questions.
Have a great day! Dr T Bear
Bleomycin is a long word – how do you say it?
blee-oh-mice-in or bleomousin! (Sorry terrible joke!)
Back to topWhat is bleomycin?
Bleomycin is a medicine that has been used for a long time in the treatment of other illnesses.
Your doctor thinks bleomycin is the best medicine to treat your lump (malformation).
Back to topWhy is it the best medicine?
- Bleomycin is the best type of medicine to help treat your malformation.
- Your malformation is in an area where we would want to avoid swelling as a result of treatment, such as near the eye.
- Other injections into your malformation have not helped.
- Your malformation is close to your skin.
Is it safe?
In a very few cases, when the medicine has been given in much higher amounts and has been given in a different way, it can cause problems with the lungs and the way they work.
Doctors think this is extremely unlikely to happen when bleomycin is being used to treat malformations such as yours, as the amount we give is much lower and the medicine is not given in the same way.
However, we will check your lungs before the procedure, usually using a chest x-ray and some very simple painless breathing tests. This gives us a picture of your healthy lungs and if we need to test your lungs again later, we will have this picture to help us.
We have asked your mummy, daddy or carers to:
- Inform your doctors or dentists that you have been treated with bleomycin before you receive any type of surgery.
- Make sure you carry a card (we will provide these) or wear a wrist bracelet (e.g., MEDICALERT®) to alert health care providers.
Can you make sure they do? I’m sure you will!
Always tell your mummy, daddy or carers if after treatment with bleomycin you:
- Feel wheezy
- Get a cough
- Feel unwell
- Find breathing harder
You should also let them know if any existing breathing problems get worse. If necessary, we can arrange for you to have tests to check your lungs.
Very rarely, bleomycin can cause some change of colour of the skin or nails or make some hair fall out. This usually gets better with time.
Your skin is more likely to go a funny colour because of any sticky pads or sticky plasters that may be stuck on you. It can also happen if you scratch your skin after treatment.
Therefore we will be very careful to put sticky plasters or pads onto parts of the skin that are not noticeable, we may also give you some medicine that helps you not to scratch.
Back to topWhat happens before treatment?
You will meet a radiology doctor in a clinic who will explain the treatment in more detail with your mummy, daddy or carer and discuss any questions they may have.
If you have any questions don’t be shy, remember it’s your malformation and your questions are important!
Your mummy, daddy or carer will be asked to sign a consent form giving permission for you to have sclerotherapy treatment.
It is important that you know you do not have to make a decision straight away; the reason we see you in clinic and give you patient information sheets such as these is so you and your parents or carers can talk about your treatment.
If you would like more time to think then please let the doctors know. There is a section at the end of this information sheet for any thoughts or questions you may have after you meet with the Radiologist.
You will also need to be checked to make sure you are well enough for the procedure and to confirm that your lungs are healthy. If you have any medical problems, please tell the nurses and doctors.
You may well see an anaesthetist (a doctor who puts people to sleep while they have an operation) who will talk to you about your anaesthetic (special medicine that makes sure you are asleep and free of pain during an operation or procedure).
Back to topFollow-up carried out after bleomycin sclerotherapy
We will send a letter to your family doctor so they are aware of the procedure you have had.
We will also provide you with a special card advising any medical professional that you have had bleomycin.
We will contact your parents or carer at one, four and eight weeks by phone when we will check how you are.
We will also review you at an outpatient appointment at three months.
Always remember I’m happy to talk with you.
Your nurse specialist team
(that means we rock!)
Interventional Radiology
