Neulasta (pegfilgrim) for bowel cancer

rosebud1
rosebud1 Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi to all,

I am new to this discussion board and need some help finding information about neulasta (or pegfilgrim) for treatment of neutropenia associated with chemotherapy for bowel (colon) cancer.

My mother has missed half of her scheduled chemotherapy sessions over the last three months due to low neutrophils.

Her oncologist has told her that she is not eligible for the neulasta.

Can anyone let me know if this drug can be used for colon cancer and if aware of any trials going on ( I have not been able to find any.)

Thank you

Comments

  • CanadaSue
    CanadaSue Member Posts: 339 Member
    #2
    Neulasta shots
    I believe the neulasta shots are to help build the white blood cells, that the chemo depletes.
  • TxKayaker
    TxKayaker Member Posts: 176
    #3
    CanadaSue said:

    Neulasta shots
    I believe the neulasta shots are to help build the white blood cells, that the chemo depletes.

    Neulasta® is a white blood
    Neulasta® is a white blood cell booster to help support your natural defenses and help reduce the risk of infection in patients with some tumors receiving strong chemotherapy.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #4
    TxKayaker said:

    Neulasta® is a white blood
    Neulasta® is a white blood cell booster to help support your natural defenses and help reduce the risk of infection in patients with some tumors receiving strong chemotherapy.

    If not OKd for Neulasta try Neupagen.
    It does the same thing but it usually takes a 2-3 shot regimen to get the WBC back up so that the patient can resume treatment.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #5
    Buzzard said:

    If not OKd for Neulasta try Neupagen.
    It does the same thing but it usually takes a 2-3 shot regimen to get the WBC back up so that the patient can resume treatment.

    Neupogen vs Neulasta
    And the Neupogen doesn't last as long, so can be given with shorter times between treatments. The Neulasta has to have 9 days (I think that's right) after given before you can be given chemo again.
    mary
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    #6
    Interesting....
    I get neulasta injections when I am disconnected after every round of chemo. I have stage III Colon cancer. I'm currently doing my fourth round of chemo. I was just hooked up today. They are spendy though. My doctor charged my insurance for about $5015.00 for the injection.

    It does a nice job of keeping my WBC (White blood cells or count) up in the normal range. It doesn't do a thing for my platelets, just the WBCs.

    Has her oncologist said [i]why[/i] she's not eligible? I'd be curious to know.
  • rosebud1
    rosebud1 Member Posts: 2
    #7
    HollyID said:

    Interesting....
    I get neulasta injections when I am disconnected after every round of chemo. I have stage III Colon cancer. I'm currently doing my fourth round of chemo. I was just hooked up today. They are spendy though. My doctor charged my insurance for about $5015.00 for the injection.

    It does a nice job of keeping my WBC (White blood cells or count) up in the normal range. It doesn't do a thing for my platelets, just the WBCs.

    Has her oncologist said [i]why[/i] she's not eligible? I'd be curious to know.

    Neulasta (pegfilgrim) for bowel cancer.
    Thank you to everyone for your comments.

    We do not know why she is not "eligible". We are trying to investigate this further. It seems that there could be an issue around the cost and also there seems to be few trials looking at this drug for bowel cancer.

    I would love to hear from anyone else who is having this drug for bowel cancer, just to know that it is worthwhile to pursue this with the oncologist.

    Thank you again, all of the comments are really helpful.

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