Neupogen Has Anyone Had This Shot

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SueS
SueS Member Posts: 14
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband has been having the Neulasta shot after he finishes each chemo treatment. In a few days he will be 65 and starting Medicare.As of 10/01/06 Medicare will no longer pay for Neulasta shot as it is too expensive($4,100.)and so my husband will have to take Neupogen which I am told you have a shot each day for 5 days. Neulasta was just one shot. Has anyone had Neupogen shots and are there any side effects?

Hugs to all
Sue S

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  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #2
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    I have had it and had no sideeffects. The problem is that my onc says the effects only last a few days wheras the Neulasta lasts for several weeks. It's a shame that Medicare only goes by the expense and not the effectiveness of the drugs.
    ****
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #3
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    I had the neupogen shots and my arms were just a bit sore. However, after chemo I couldn't even move my arms. Couldn't change my shirts or clip my bra it hurt bad. Good news it didn't last long if I remembeer it was a rough 2 weeks. The onc wouldn't say it was from the shots but I'm saying that it was. You have to remember we are all different.
  • neon356
    neon356 Member Posts: 137 Member
    #4
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    I've had it, it helped, and had no side effects. It can have side effects, especially spleen enlargement. Severe shoulder pain or stomach pain are two of the symptoms.
    Carl
  • tennislover
    tennislover Member Posts: 64
    #5
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    I am on this shot and I havent had many side effects. A little irritation around the shot site. I do get the occasional bone aches but they said that should be expected. The good thing is that it is working so I can deal with these few effects!! Good luck!
  • andyc56
    andyc56 Member Posts: 42
    #6
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    My wife had neupogen injections throughout her folfox6 chemo. My understanding is/was that it is essentially the same agent as neulasta, just a different dosage. No major side effects, other than an enlarged spleen, which apparently has now returned to normal. Hope this helps.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #7
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    With my rectal cancer, I had neupogen shots...no problem, other than having to go to the center each day....
    With my subsequent breast cancer, I had Neulasta. Same stuff, different delivery. I had SO MANY troubles....wanted to return to neupogen....
    BOTH worked to do their job...my white count went back up where it belonged.

    My onc was a minimalist....no steroids, anti-nausea stuff, etc until absolutely necessary. Sounds a little barbaric...but I had less to remove from my body when everything was said and done....

    Hugs, Kathi

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