Petunia Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Has anyone had to have neulasta shots to increase wbc? After my mom's first round of chemo her wbc are still low and they had to put off the second cycle of chemo for a week. They told her that for now on she will get the Neulasta shot for the next 5 cycles. I heard that this can cause horrible pain. She has not had any side effects from the first cycle except for being a little tired. Thanks for any info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 yes Deb used to get those and Aranesp is for Red Blood cell production. Alternative to Red Blood cell shots was Blood transfusion and that took hours. The shots are just a few minutes and no side effects. The Whites are for fighting infection and Red is for energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dianew Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 I refused the Aranesp, but had Neulasta after every chemo. In my case it made my bones hurt - but didn't last long. They don't want your wbc to get too low. As Randy said, it increases your chances of getting an infection. As I remember, I had it the day after chemo - so it was kind of a nuisance as it meant an additional trip to the cancer center. Best of luck to you and your mom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joppette Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 Hi there! I am having the Neulasta injections after my rounds of chemo, to do exactly what you, Randy and Diane described. Like Diane, I too have had bone pain. For me it's been a little rough (but horrible would be way too strong of a description). The pain medication they have prescribed handles that, and I'm doing fine. Everyone is very different in how they respond to medications. And if Mom has already had one injection, and didn't have a painful reaction to it, it's likely she won't with subsequent ones. The shot is one that amps up the bone marrow to help boost the white blood cells. In some of us, when the bone marrow gets amped up, it can cause some pain. But that is a rare side effect from what I've read on it. Judy in MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petunia Posted April 3, 2012 Author Share Posted April 3, 2012 Thank you so much for the information. She has not received her first shot yet and should be getting it with her next cycle of treatment (hopefully next week.) I also believe we are changing her meds for carboplatin to cisplatin. I will keep you updated to how she is doing. She is scheduled for a brain mri this week and we are hoping her wbc goes up so she can begin her next chemo cycle. Judy, you said you get pain medication during chemo for the side effects? I heard you can only take tylenol or motrin, but I can be wrong. I am sending my good thoughts and vibes to all of you always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joppette Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Hi again! You can get just about anything you need for the pain that accompanies chemotherapy and the neulasta shot. For a lot of folks, pain meds like Vicodin, or morphine are not needed. But if they are, you should ask for them if she seems to be in pain. I take morphine immediate release for the breakthrough pain from the neulasta shot, which is the bone pain. In addition to that I take MS Contin which is morphine extended release that is a slow release pain medication to help my body stay ahead of the pain I'm in. Five years ago, I had my left upper lobe removed, and this time had my right upper lobe removed. The pain relief needed, in addition to the already mentioned is for the muscle, and nerve pain associated with the surgeries. They actually cracked a couple of ribs when I had the surgery, and had to dislocate my shoulder as well. I am still on the mend for that hence the extended release medication. I've talked to lots of folks that have had surgeries and different chemo's and some folks have pain, and some don't. But no one needs to suffer. My pain doctor told me "if it hurts, you call me." He cautioned me from playing "brave" when it's not needed, and we need all our energy devoited to healing, and not to feeling pain. Take care, Judy in MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Deb did a combo of Oxycontin & oxycodone for her pain. I think it was 2 oxycontin daily with smaller doses of Oxycodone during day for heavier pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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