White Blood count down

Buzzard
Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Went in for my 4th post op treatment, 5fu,leuc,oxil, and my white blood cell count was down to 1.4 so a shot of Nulasta and will get another Tuesday and another Wednesday then start the chemo regimen again. I hope this doesn't prolong my treatments but if it does it does. They want to really boost my white blood count. Haven't had any issues with it so far so I guess im lucky in a funny sort of way.......that means I get to be nauseous over the weekend , booooo, but the Rofran will help some and..... ok pity party is over....LOL back to business....Thanks for listenin' and like Motel 6 "We'll leave tha light on for ya" :-)

Comments

  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #2
    white blood count
    I am sure your white cells will be back up in no time! With your getting 3 shots, sure it's not Neupogen instead of Neulasta? I THINK Neupogen is the one that is 3 shots in succession, while Neulasta is a single shot, but you aren't supposed to get chemo for 10 days, so i was always given Neupogen if we were finding a low count on my week off, sent home with Neulasta when i get low white counts with 2 successive treatments. Either one seems to work just as well, it's just nicer to only have one shot instead of 3 :).
    Mary
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #3
    msccolon said:

    white blood count
    I am sure your white cells will be back up in no time! With your getting 3 shots, sure it's not Neupogen instead of Neulasta? I THINK Neupogen is the one that is 3 shots in succession, while Neulasta is a single shot, but you aren't supposed to get chemo for 10 days, so i was always given Neupogen if we were finding a low count on my week off, sent home with Neulasta when i get low white counts with 2 successive treatments. Either one seems to work just as well, it's just nicer to only have one shot instead of 3 :).
    Mary

    Your right dear
    Yes Neupogen instead of Neulasta, sorry I have had 1 shot of Neulasta before...I am assuming that where this headache is coming from that won't go away.....They are starting my chemo back Thursday......
  • keepnthefaith
    keepnthefaith Member Posts: 36
    #4
    Buzzard said:

    Your right dear
    Yes Neupogen instead of Neulasta, sorry I have had 1 shot of Neulasta before...I am assuming that where this headache is coming from that won't go away.....They are starting my chemo back Thursday......

    WBCs
    I have to take either 3 or 4 Neupogen injections after each FOLFOX treatment due to my WBCs going too low. They won't come up without the injections - we tried that once, it just delayed the next treatment. One thing I can count on with the injections is achiness in my chest, ribs (front and back) and headache, but luckily Advil or Tylenol takes care of that. Hang in there.
    Felicia
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
    Neupogen for rectal, Neulasta for breast....lol!
    Both are the same drug, different delivery....

    I had Neupogen, comprised of 4 shots, one per day, for my rectal cancer. Only side effect seemed to be 2 sore arms (given alternating arms...lol).

    Neulasta, comprised of one shot, for my breast cancer. Side effect was flu-like symptoms, for about 24 hours after shot given. This is a time-released shot, that peaks at about day 10 for white cell count...

    Both worked well....I only delayed 1 week on chemo on the rectal (first time), none on the breast.

    Hugs, Kathi
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #6
    Buzzard said:

    Your right dear
    Yes Neupogen instead of Neulasta, sorry I have had 1 shot of Neulasta before...I am assuming that where this headache is coming from that won't go away.....They are starting my chemo back Thursday......

    headache
    Yes, headache for me as well and some bone pain. Probably the worst was having to miss some social gatherings at church...
    Mary
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #7
    I had those shots for my
    I had those shots for my white blood count as well. I gave myself the shots at home (in my thigh) -- so that I didn't have to go back to the hospital each day. (I wouldn't say I have hospital phobia but I do try to avoid the place whenever possible!). Have to say the first time I gave myself a shot at home was one of the low points of my "journey" (things you wish you didn't know how to do) but I got used to it.....

    Anyway - -that's an aside. what I wanted to say was that (1) the shots worked great for me. Also, (2) I did have to have chemo delayed a few times (before i started the shots). Although that can be discouraging (or at least a mixed blessing!), my oncologist assured me that a delay of even 2-3 weeks does not affect the effectiveness of the treatment.

    So: I hope you don't have any delay but if you do -- enjoy! And, I trust those shots will do the trick. In the meantime, I am sure you are eating well, resting lots and all those other things which we hope help boost our WBC and overall immunity (yoga?!?)

    Best,
    Tara
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #8
    Sorry!
    Hi Buzz,

    I can still remember that feeling of disappointment when hearing that my chemo was being postponed. It happened to me a bunch of times, but I was able to complete all 12 Folfox. I hope the nausea will be minimal and that you can enjoy your weekend.

    Hugs,

    Kay
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #9
    Kanort said:

    Sorry!
    Hi Buzz,

    I can still remember that feeling of disappointment when hearing that my chemo was being postponed. It happened to me a bunch of times, but I was able to complete all 12 Folfox. I hope the nausea will be minimal and that you can enjoy your weekend.

    Hugs,

    Kay

    Back at it tomorrow
    I went back this morning for my 2nd shot and after that they informed me that I was going to start my chemo back again Wednesday (tomorrow)....cool..not much of a delay but im ready to get er done...Yeah I'll have a nauseous weekend but thats perfectly fine with me, I always consider the alternative I have...Makes the chemo seem like vacation. They line up to give me my shots at my Oncs office cause I told em that whoever gave me the best shot gets a $100 Christmas Gift Certificate to the Mall...I have a good time in the office with them all and it shows on the other patients also, I aggravate everyone in there (with a smile of course)...needless to say my shots have never hurt..LOL...I only have a slight headache with the Neupagen and have had a shot of it before and the same effect slight headache (no sore bones) and it really upped my WBC quickly.
    I am to sing in our Church Christmas Cantata, I also am to sing the first solo in the Cantata, I am arranging my chemo treatments to be sure that I have not had a treatment that week because it causes a lot of congestion and clearing of the throat...not good for a solo. I have never sung a solo so this will be a first for me but have always wanted to. We will see...anyway, Life is good and hugs to ya all and if I don't talk to ya til after the weekend have a great one......God Bless ya all.............. :-)

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