Vincristine, ifosfamide, doxorubicin, etoposide (VIDE)
The drug combination VIDE is used for a type of bone cancer called Ewing's sarcoma. Find out when and how you have it.
VIDE is the name of a combination of chemotherapy drugs. It is made up of:
- vincristine
- ifosfamide
- doxorubicin
- etoposide
How you have VIDE chemotherapy
Doxorubicin is a red fluid. All the other drugs are colourless fluids. You have the drugs into your bloodstream (intravenously)
Central line
You might need a central line. This is a long plastic tube that gives the drugs into a large vein, either in your chest or through a vein in your arm. It stays in while you’re having treatment, which may be for a few months.
How often do you have VIDE?
You have VIDE as cycles of treatment. This means you have the chemotherapy and then a rest to allow your body to recover.
You may have up to 6 cycles. Each cycle of treatment lasts 3 weeks (21 days). So the whole course takes up to 18 weeks.
How long each drug goes over may vary between hospitals. Here is one way of having VIDE:
- You have vincristine as a drip into your bloodstream (intravenously) over 10 minutes.
- You have doxorubicin as a drip into your bloodstream over 4 hours.
- You have etoposide as a drip into your bloodstream over 1 hour.
- You have ifosfamide as a drip into your bloodstream over 3 hours.
- You have doxorubicin as a drip into your bloodstream over 4 hours.
- You have etoposide as a drip into your bloodstream over 1 hour.
- You have ifosfamide as a drip into your bloodstream over 3 hours.
- You have no treatment.
You then start the next cycle of treatment. This is called cycle 2 day 1 and follows the same pattern. You repeat the cycle up to 6 times.
Mesna and GCSF
You usually have ifosfamide with another drug called mesna. You have mesna either as a drip (infusion) into your bloodstream or as tablets.
Mesna is not a chemotherapy drug. It stops the ifosfamide from irritating your bladder and causing blood in your urine.
You usually also have a drug called granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF). You have this as an injection under the skin. This makes your 
produce more quickly after the chemotherapy. It helps lower your risk of getting an infection after having this treatment. As well as helping prevent your treatment from being delayed.
Your healthcare team will let you know what day to start your GCSF injections.
After VIDE
After the course of VIDE you usually have surgery to remove the sarcoma.
Then you have more chemotherapy treatment, with either VAI or VAC combination treatment.
Tests
You have blood tests before and during your treatment. They check your levels of blood cells and other substances in the blood. They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.
Side effects
Find out about possible side effects of VIDE and what to do if you have them.
Important information
Other medicines, foods and drink
Cancer drugs can interact with some other medicines and herbal products. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any medicines you are taking. This includes vitamins, herbal supplements and over the counter remedies.
Pregnancy and contraception
This treatment might harm a baby developing in the womb. It is important not to become pregnant or get someone pregnant while you're having treatment and for a few months afterwards.
Talk to your doctor or nurse about effective contraception before starting treatment. Let them know straight away if you or your partner become pregnant while having treatment.
Breastfeeding
Don’t breastfeed during this treatment because the drug may come through into your breast milk.
More information about this treatment
We haven't listed all the very rare side effects of this treatment. For further information see the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC) website.
You can report any side effect you have that isn’t listed here to the Medicines Health and Regulatory Authority (MHRA) as part of their Yellow Card Scheme.
