My mom and I met with a 3rd oncologist today. Still trying to find one to administer chemo closer to home and just use the cancer center to monitor. This doc wants to use Taxol and Carbo (one dose every 3 weeks) and said that the day after chemo, she would come in for a neupogen shot automatically. Has anyone else gotten the shots on a regularly scheduled basis?
Hi Linda-
George was scheduled for neupogen shots automatically for 5-7 days starting after his fourth round of chemo. His WBC count was borderline and the doctor knew they'd drop more but didn't want to adjust his chemo dose since his response was so good. How many shots does he want your mom to get?
Lisa
Hi Linda
I get neupgen shots the week after my chemo bc my WBC count is usually low. Its not a bad thing!
The first time I had to go back 4 times but this last time I only went back 2 times..yippee
Linda,
First, you have to trust the onc. However, my husband had Carbo/Taxol and he NEVER had a single shot. He went in for major blood tests every week after chemo and between chemo, but his blood was always OK, and he didn't require any shots.
I'm not a doc, but I don't think the shots should be automatic; I think it should depend on the bloodwork.
D
My husband is currently on carbo/taxol/avastin. He has a blood count and urine done the day before the chemo. He has not needed a shot of neupogen. His blood counts have been low, as expectedl, but have never reached a critical level. His oncologist said they might need to start shots if they dropped too low. My personal opinion is that they're already putting so much poison into his body, why give him a medicine he might not even need. It doesn't make sense to me. Ask the oncologist why. I tend to be a skeptic..doctors occasionally order things to cover their rears OR increase their pocket books. I don't feel I should be paying for things like that. Use the medicine if it's indicated but not automatically.
Charlotte
Hi Lisa, The doc said he automatically gives Neupogen the day after chemo. He said taxol/carbo is one of the harder ones on the blood, and that by doing it this way it usually keeps the levels from ever getting to the problem level. She's getting 4 rounds, so she'd get 4 shots. Part of it makes sense to me, but I've never heard of it before. If it lessens the chance of getting an infection or becoming anemic, it is probably worth it. Thanks all for your replies. It'll be interesting to see if anybody else responds that they were automatically scheduled for the shots. ~Linda
Hi Linda,
I had Carbo/Taxol and received Neupogen only once, but had to get Procrit every week after the 4th treatment. It does boost your WBC and Procrit boosts your RBC, it is worth it for the long run. I believe your onc. is just trying to help with the effects of chemo, and if it helps him to stay healthier during treatment why not take the shot? I know it helped me to be able to keep working also. Hang in there. Hugs and prayers.
Sharon
I was on Cisplatin and Etoposide and after my first treatment had regularly scheduled shots. I guess they looked at the first treatment and knew then how my body was going to react. Plus they go off the pre-chemo blood work, too.
Lorie
I did carbo, paclitaxol 4 x three weeks apart with round 2 including avastin. My blood counts never got low enough to warrant shots. The shots also have side effects. Find out what they are in choosing. My advice would be to not get what you don't need. But others would rather have the insurance. Whatever works for you.
Hey Linda-
Just an FYI. The neupogen will just help keep your Mom's white count up for the chemo, it won't keep her from her getting anemic.
Lisa
My mom automatically got neupogen shots after chemo. This was because after her first round - her white count dropped really low soto prevent tht again- she had neupogen given daily for 10 days after each chemo session If I could offer this advice -- I learned how to give mom these shots so she would not have to go anywhere as she was of course not feeling well from the chemo It really is easy to do and it will make things so much easier for mom
One doc told me he would automatically give me a shot on day 2 of every cycle. Another doctor said he'd wait and watch blood work, and I never ended up needing them. A friend told me her dad experienced some bone pain for a few days from the shots.
I had the same problem trying to coordinate local administration of my treatment with oversight by a non-local doctor... I ended up travelling further to get the doc I wanted.
Good luck!
--Stephanie
Yes - I had them every week when I ws taking Navelbine - no biggie - but wow - thank God my insurance covered the cost $600 a pop.
Karen
My Dad always had one the day after the last day of his chemo. He didn't really have any trouble or pain from them. Good luck.
I too had carbo and had to have neupogen or neulasta throughout my treatment. BUT, that wasn't prescribed until after my response to the first treatment was established through follow up blood work. I did have quite a bit of neutropenia and did end up hospitalized for a couple of days because of a blood infection. I don't remember for sure, but I think that was even after I had started the neupogen. I would think that neupogen would not be recommended unless determined necessary with the labs, especially when one considers the expense and the side effects ( made me ache all over, like when you have the flu).
I was on Cisplatin and Etoposide..when they did bloodwork before the third round, my white count was too low to proceed, so had to postpone that round by two weeks. They gave me Neulasta, but it made me feel really bad. Switched to Neupogen (one the day after 3-day round of chemo, and again a week later), which I was able to give myself at home ---VERY tiny needle!--and did fine on it...never had to postpone again! Keeping the white count up to normal level helps prevent infection. Low red count is treated w/ Procrit. Never needed that.
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