white blood cell support newlasta

pattioregon
pattioregon Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
I am very new to this discussion page. just joined today. I have intrauterine CA stage I C. I was diagnosed Dec. 2008 and have been receiving chemo/taxol/carboplatin every 21days and also a sandwiched in radiation. During my blood tests for chemo #5, my white blood cell count was down and I was asked to get a shot to boost my count. Has anyone had this shot. Any information would be helpful. thanks very much. pattioregon

Comments

  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732
    #2
    Welcome Patti!
    Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but happy that you have found this discussion board. Lots of good info and supportive ladies here.
    I have had a Neulasta injection after each of my chemo treatments. I am also getting carbo/taxol every 21 days. I have completed 5 cycles and currently trying to get my blood counts up enough to get #6. My doctor tells me that it is common to have the 6th treatment postponed due to low counts. I had 25 external radiation treatments and 3 high dose internal radiation treatments prior to starting chemo.
    Anyway, Nuelasta is given to stimulate the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. Usually about 24 hours after getting the shot, I have bone and joint aching which is expected from the shot. I usually take pain pills a couple of times a day for 2-3 days until the aching stops. So far, they have been pretty successful in keeping up my WBC's until this treatment.
    Good luck to you. I hope this helps.
  • Deblittleton
    Deblittleton Member Posts: 56 Member
    #3
    Neulasta
    Hi, I too have had a Neulasta injection every 24 hrs post chemo. Just had # 5 out of 6 chemos. My Neulasta shot is billed as $7700. and my insurance pays $3900. I do no have to pay the rest. Is that crazy or what?
    It has been recommend to me by two long term chemo nurses to take Claritin a couple of days before and after the injection. I can not find any information about this, but I think it helps. The aches and bone pains I use to get are much diminished. I hope that helps.
  • woofgang
    woofgang Member Posts: 12
    #4
    Had shots for each of my treatments
    Hi, Patti,
    I had the same chemo regime as you, and after the first one, neutrafils dropped to the danger level - 400. They gave me a booster shot (but not neulasta) two days in a row, and it did the trick. My doctor then ordered the Neulasta shot for each of subsequent chemos. I took the shot the day after chemo. The nurse warned of feeling flu-like aches after the neulasta shot, but I never had that UNTIL my last chemo on May 20. I felt more aches after that neulasta shot and suspect just the cumulative wear and tear of the chemo contributed. But it wasn't unbearable, and it did go away in a few days. The Neulasta shot is time-released and it always gave me a huge boost to to my WBC. It costs about $7000 (about the same as my chemo!) but insurance covered it. Just a small thing - the shot stings, but if the nurse injects slowly and stops when you feel the sting to give it time to subside before continuing, it's not as bad. Sounds like you've done really well with your chemo if you didn't need this shot until #5. Hope all continues to go well for you.

    God bless,
    Sharon
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #5
    woofgang said:

    Had shots for each of my treatments
    Hi, Patti,
    I had the same chemo regime as you, and after the first one, neutrafils dropped to the danger level - 400. They gave me a booster shot (but not neulasta) two days in a row, and it did the trick. My doctor then ordered the Neulasta shot for each of subsequent chemos. I took the shot the day after chemo. The nurse warned of feeling flu-like aches after the neulasta shot, but I never had that UNTIL my last chemo on May 20. I felt more aches after that neulasta shot and suspect just the cumulative wear and tear of the chemo contributed. But it wasn't unbearable, and it did go away in a few days. The Neulasta shot is time-released and it always gave me a huge boost to to my WBC. It costs about $7000 (about the same as my chemo!) but insurance covered it. Just a small thing - the shot stings, but if the nurse injects slowly and stops when you feel the sting to give it time to subside before continuing, it's not as bad. Sounds like you've done really well with your chemo if you didn't need this shot until #5. Hope all continues to go well for you.

    God bless,
    Sharon

    Had Neulasta Shot after chemo #5
    I got my neulasta shot on Wednesday. The nurse gave it very slowly, so it did not hurt. She said I could get achey bones and feel like I have the flu. I thought great, I just started feeling better after chemo #4 and the infection, and now I might feel like I have the flu. She said as long as I did not have a fever I could take Tyelonal. Sunday the back pain and spasms started. Tyelonal did not help at all. Monday morning my husband got a prescription for Lortab filled for me. I took a lortab every 4 hours on Monday and every 6 hours on Tuesday. I laid on a heating pad in my recliner for those two days. The pain pills made me sleep a lot too. I have not been running a fever, so I think the shot is helping those White Blood Cells. I hope the rest of the weeks are uneventful so I can get chemo #6 on August 4th. It is hard to believe that the end of the treatment is finally coming. I too hope to be dancing with NED. It has been a long time since the results of that dreaded Pap results were revealed last October. In peace and caring. HUGS to everyone.
  • Katrinka123
    Katrinka123 Member Posts: 51
    #6
    Ro10 said:

    Had Neulasta Shot after chemo #5
    I got my neulasta shot on Wednesday. The nurse gave it very slowly, so it did not hurt. She said I could get achey bones and feel like I have the flu. I thought great, I just started feeling better after chemo #4 and the infection, and now I might feel like I have the flu. She said as long as I did not have a fever I could take Tyelonal. Sunday the back pain and spasms started. Tyelonal did not help at all. Monday morning my husband got a prescription for Lortab filled for me. I took a lortab every 4 hours on Monday and every 6 hours on Tuesday. I laid on a heating pad in my recliner for those two days. The pain pills made me sleep a lot too. I have not been running a fever, so I think the shot is helping those White Blood Cells. I hope the rest of the weeks are uneventful so I can get chemo #6 on August 4th. It is hard to believe that the end of the treatment is finally coming. I too hope to be dancing with NED. It has been a long time since the results of that dreaded Pap results were revealed last October. In peace and caring. HUGS to everyone.

    Wishing you well!
    I'm glad you feel you are being helped by the Neulasta! Stay well so you can get that last one D-O-N-E - and then dance with NED!

    -Kat
  • Teresa 61
    Teresa 61 Member Posts: 84 Member
    #7
    Ro10 said:

    Had Neulasta Shot after chemo #5
    I got my neulasta shot on Wednesday. The nurse gave it very slowly, so it did not hurt. She said I could get achey bones and feel like I have the flu. I thought great, I just started feeling better after chemo #4 and the infection, and now I might feel like I have the flu. She said as long as I did not have a fever I could take Tyelonal. Sunday the back pain and spasms started. Tyelonal did not help at all. Monday morning my husband got a prescription for Lortab filled for me. I took a lortab every 4 hours on Monday and every 6 hours on Tuesday. I laid on a heating pad in my recliner for those two days. The pain pills made me sleep a lot too. I have not been running a fever, so I think the shot is helping those White Blood Cells. I hope the rest of the weeks are uneventful so I can get chemo #6 on August 4th. It is hard to believe that the end of the treatment is finally coming. I too hope to be dancing with NED. It has been a long time since the results of that dreaded Pap results were revealed last October. In peace and caring. HUGS to everyone.

    Chemo #6
    I was suppose to have chemo "6 July 23rd. My white count was down so did not get it. I'am getting my blood test July 27th, if count is still down the doctor wants me to skip chemo "6.
    Think my body has had enough so I'am okay with this. I will not see my Dr again till Oct. . She will then do a pelvic and have me get a blood test. She said she would not be doing a pap because after radiation most of her patients have abnormal paps even though the cancer has not returned.
    Ro, hope you sail through your 6th chemo Aug. 4th. and hope our bodies find some sense of normal after all we have been through..... Hugs, Teresa
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #8
    Teresa 61 said:

    Chemo #6
    I was suppose to have chemo "6 July 23rd. My white count was down so did not get it. I'am getting my blood test July 27th, if count is still down the doctor wants me to skip chemo "6.
    Think my body has had enough so I'am okay with this. I will not see my Dr again till Oct. . She will then do a pelvic and have me get a blood test. She said she would not be doing a pap because after radiation most of her patients have abnormal paps even though the cancer has not returned.
    Ro, hope you sail through your 6th chemo Aug. 4th. and hope our bodies find some sense of normal after all we have been through..... Hugs, Teresa

    ((((Ro and Teresa))) Chemo #6 is a tough one to get done!
    Ro & Theresa: You were both there when Marge and Deanna and I all went through so much trying to get our last chemo rounds in, so I hope our experiences with delays and low blood counts and scary side effects comfort you that this is to be expected this deep into your chemo treatment protocol. Because you're almost DONE WITH TREATMENT!! Woo Woo!! I'm soooooo happy for you! You're almost done. This is a hard time and you've been through an awful lot, but that leg of the journey is almost OVER and then you have a long lovely break that I hope lasts forever! I am enjoying this post-treatment/pre-monitoring period more than you can imagine. Each day you will feel stronger and look better. Hang in there! You're closing in on the end now and about to step over to the other side and join the UPSC Sisters that are out of treatment and NED!
  • kellyw314
    kellyw314 Member Posts: 51
    #9
    lindaprocopio said:

    ((((Ro and Teresa))) Chemo #6 is a tough one to get done!
    Ro & Theresa: You were both there when Marge and Deanna and I all went through so much trying to get our last chemo rounds in, so I hope our experiences with delays and low blood counts and scary side effects comfort you that this is to be expected this deep into your chemo treatment protocol. Because you're almost DONE WITH TREATMENT!! Woo Woo!! I'm soooooo happy for you! You're almost done. This is a hard time and you've been through an awful lot, but that leg of the journey is almost OVER and then you have a long lovely break that I hope lasts forever! I am enjoying this post-treatment/pre-monitoring period more than you can imagine. Each day you will feel stronger and look better. Hang in there! You're closing in on the end now and about to step over to the other side and join the UPSC Sisters that are out of treatment and NED!

    Teresa,
    I am not 3 years
    Teresa,

    I am not 3 years post surgery and had 27 external beam radiation treatments - my 3 month check-up following radiation was a routine internal exam - my gyn/onc also said no pap smear as recent radiation would "skew" the results - scheduled me for a 4-month follow-up and did pap at that time and told nurse to label smear as "rad #1" - I didnot question, but imagine might be a cue to the lab - my result was fine, and I have had yearly follow-up smears since - seems like you may follow the same protocol kelly
  • kellyw314
    kellyw314 Member Posts: 51
    #10
    kellyw314 said:

    Teresa,
    I am not 3 years
    Teresa,

    I am not 3 years post surgery and had 27 external beam radiation treatments - my 3 month check-up following radiation was a routine internal exam - my gyn/onc also said no pap smear as recent radiation would "skew" the results - scheduled me for a 4-month follow-up and did pap at that time and told nurse to label smear as "rad #1" - I didnot question, but imagine might be a cue to the lab - my result was fine, and I have had yearly follow-up smears since - seems like you may follow the same protocol kelly

    correction to my post -- I
    correction to my post -- I am now 3 years post surgery kelly
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    #11
    Teresa 61 said:

    Chemo #6
    I was suppose to have chemo "6 July 23rd. My white count was down so did not get it. I'am getting my blood test July 27th, if count is still down the doctor wants me to skip chemo "6.
    Think my body has had enough so I'am okay with this. I will not see my Dr again till Oct. . She will then do a pelvic and have me get a blood test. She said she would not be doing a pap because after radiation most of her patients have abnormal paps even though the cancer has not returned.
    Ro, hope you sail through your 6th chemo Aug. 4th. and hope our bodies find some sense of normal after all we have been through..... Hugs, Teresa

    Teresa sorry your WBC dropped too
    Here I thought you would be celebrating having your last chemo completed. Maybe you have had your last chemo, if you can't take number 6 on the 27th. Either way I wish you the best. I am looking forward to finding some sense of normal after all we have been through. Can you imagine months without seeing a doctor? Hope you are feeling okay even though your white blood cells are down. I know I was very tired, but it was probably the infection and fever that made me that tired. I found that interesting about abnormal pap test after radiation. I assumed that would be done with the pelvic exam every three months. Take care Teresa. In peace and caring. HUGS to you.
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732
    #12
    Ro10 said:

    Teresa sorry your WBC dropped too
    Here I thought you would be celebrating having your last chemo completed. Maybe you have had your last chemo, if you can't take number 6 on the 27th. Either way I wish you the best. I am looking forward to finding some sense of normal after all we have been through. Can you imagine months without seeing a doctor? Hope you are feeling okay even though your white blood cells are down. I know I was very tired, but it was probably the infection and fever that made me that tired. I found that interesting about abnormal pap test after radiation. I assumed that would be done with the pelvic exam every three months. Take care Teresa. In peace and caring. HUGS to you.

    Teresa and Ro...
    You are almost done... Yahoo. I hope both of your counts are good and you can get the 6th and final treatment in. It is a very emotional and exciting day to accomplish that! Relax and let your bodies heal. Soon you will be dancing with NED and out of treatment! Yea!!! Love and hugs to all!
  • keithff85
    keithff85 Member Posts: 1
    #13
    you need to be very careful
    you need to be very careful when you deal with blood, if you don't complete the necessary tests then the patients are in great trouble, its always better to take services from cord blood storage centers who have experience in blood transfers

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