CancerCompass message board discussion started by Barbara H. on 10/17/2002 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,468,0.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I have just completed my 5th monthly 5-day chemo treatment for colon cancer and am expecting to receive the treatments for at least 7 more months. After each treatment I receive 480 mcgs of Nuepogen injected daily for 10 days. I have been experiencing tremendous weight and appetite loss, and saliva build-up between chemo treatments which do not let up until just a very few days before the next scheduled treatments, hardly enough time to regain the weight loss. I'm wondering if these symptoms might be a side effect of the Neupogen injections and would like to hear from anyone who has had this or a similar experience with Neupogen and what, if anything, was done to remedy the situation. Barbara H. Thu, 17 Oct 2002 00:00:00 GMT HI, Neupogen shots...oh yeah...we've had those...But we decided to FIGHT our cancer at Cancer Treatment Center of America. Instead of Nuepogen for 10 days - CTCA, being on the cutting edge used the new stuff called Nuelasta. 1 shot, lasts 10 days. 1 shot...one time invasive procedure, instead of 10 invasive procedures. Do not know of any side effects but at CTCA they have something for everything...they are the experts in CANCER CARE. Elizabeth S. Thu, 31 Oct 2002 00:00:00 GMT Thank you, Elizabeth, Like you, I also believe CTCA are the experts in cancer care. I will be returning to their Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion, IL for my fifth monthly chemo treatment on Oct 4th. I plan to discuss Nuelasta with my oncologist then. Barbara H. Thu, 31 Oct 2002 00:00:00 GMT I'm so sorry to hear about your side effects. I completed chemo last December, and to have Neupogen injections for three treatment cycles. Although I didn't like them, I felt empowered by giving them to myself (my oncologist's nurse provided training) and knowing they were keeping me from getting sick. I assume that your white blood count is extremely low and your immunity is compromised as a result. I hope your oncologist is performing blood analysis to establish the fact that your counts are so low that you truly need the Neupogen. I never experienced any of the symptoms that you are describing and my appetite never suffered during six months of chemo. Are you sure it it the Neupogen that is making you sick? Is your oncologist giving you anti-nausea medication along with your chemo? There are so many good medications available to combat nausea, your doctor should be able to give you something to alleviate your distress. You have to take these meds ON SCHEDULE exactly as prescribed in order for them to work. I even set the alarm clock to make sure that I didn't miss my middle of the night dose. Good luck to you. Feel free to write back if you have questions. Julie J. Tue, 19 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT I am taking Nuelasta, I have not had a problem with it at all. I have had two chemo treatments so far. I am from Indiana. They say Neulasta is very good. I get a Neulasta shot 24 to 48 hours after I get chemo (either in stomach or in arm). Just thought I would let you know. I am new at this site and to this cancer, so I am a little bit shy at this, sorry. Charlene H. Sat, 14 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT Hi Barbara, What you are describing really sounds like side effects of the chemotherapy and not the Neupogen. I certainly would mention these things to your oncologist and perhaps he/she can prescribe something to decrease the nausea/decrease in appetite. Maintaining your weight is an important factor for a cancer survivor and your body needs the nutrition to combat the disease. Also, as others have suggested, perhaps Neulasta would be a better option for you. I am currently taking the Neulasta and it is a one-time shot (per month) to be given at least 24 hours after the chemo treatment and then it is long-acting and slowly-released (14 days). Hope this information is helpful to you. Good Luck, Debbie Debbie B. Mon, 16 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT Hi I had breast cancer and I am happy to say I am a survivor of 5 years and 8 months. My treatment was with Taxoter, cy....,  herceptin and adrimycian. My white count got down to 0.2 and they started me on neupogen. I did lose weight about 31 lbs, however I believe it was from the cancer treatments itslf amd not the neupogen. I could not eat much during my treatment as everything tasted awful. Please take care and hope to here from you. GBU Sally55 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 6/16/2003 Debbie B. wrote:Hi Barbara, What you are describing really sounds like side effects of the chemotherapy and not the Neupogen. I certainly would mention these things to your oncologist and perhaps he/she can prescribe something to decrease the nausea/decrease in appetite. Maintaining your weight is an important factor for a cancer survivor and your body needs the nutrition to combat the disease. Also, as others have suggested, perhaps Neulasta would be a better option for you. I am currently taking the Neulasta and it is a one-time shot (per month) to be given at least 24 hours after the chemo treatment and then it is long-acting and slowly-released (14 days). Hope this information is helpful to you. Good Luck, Debbie Hello to everyone,I am an RN, a 12 year ovarian cancer survivor.  I have heard that Neulasta was the difficult White Blood count booster in that it caused pretty extreme bone pain.  Neupogen however, its cousin has virtually no side effects, only it is not as convenient as you have to get a daily sub-q shot (something I think is very minimal and could have my husband do who is a critical care nurse) Hence, this is why Cancer Treatment Centers usually people on Neulasta, as it is difficult to go there daily, especially if you live in Arizona as I do. What I would like to know is why MDs are so reluctant to give either one.  I had pneumonia from a low WBC when I was on Topotecan.  I am now on Etoposide, a drug not usually given for ovarian ca, however it's at the top of my Onco-Assay.  I am taking the pill form.  My MD tells me they only give it if the WBCs drop to 1000 and you have a temp.  I went ?????, isn't that kind of like closing the door of the barn after the horse ran out???   I would like to try to understand if they really give this as a prophylactic for infections.  Does anyone know???  Bone marrow suppression is the #1 side effect of Etoposide and with a history of pneumonia, I am very worried about this.  What are others' experiences??Thank you,  Sedonalady Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi again,I have never heard or read that Neupogen causes any kind of G-I distress, i.e. nausea, vomiting, etc.  That most likely is due to the chemo and not the Neupogen. Sedona Lady  Sedonalady Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT I am on a 2 week protocol with Taxol and 24hrs later a shot of nuelasta.  The first treatment wasn`t too bad ,had some bone pain. I understand that the taxol and the nuelasta can both cause bone pain.  Well had the second treatment on Tuesday and Nuelasta on wednesday.  By the evening after getting the nuelasta I didn`t know where to put my legs. I hurt really bad. Hips, groin,legs, knees and feet and shoulders.  I had pain pi;lls  (darvocet) but have to take 2 in order to help with the pain. I can also take ibuprophen with it.  I don`t like to take all this med as it surely cannot be good for my liver.  I had breast cancer and  in the milk duct  1.3 in size, nothing in the  surrounding tissue or lymph nodes. However the tumor did not have any hormone receptors so that is why they say I am at high risk os spreading to other parts of my body and they are doing the chemo to prevent that. 4 treatments every 2 weeks. Then when chemo is done I will get radiation of the breast involved 5x week for 5 weeks. well I am at the half way mark, hope I can withstand this pain which is really intense. Just thought I would let you know what I am going thru on Nuelasta with taxol. Any comments appreciated. gramdma55 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT oh ,I almost forgot. In this second week I have already lost 3 lbs and nothing tastes good and cannot eat much at a time. I eat small amounts so as to keep up my strength, but to finish a whole bagel with cream cheese is just impossible. I feel slightly nauseated but not to the point that I need to take meds.( I have already been prescribed them) coffee is not tolerated either. so drink decafe tea.  I also am very emotional at this point between feeling like blah and hair loss and just feel down. Is this normal? gramdma55 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT So sorry to hear of your complaints.Unfortunately, it is all very common, and you need to mention ALL of it to your Oncologist, so that they are fully aware of everything.Take care of yourself and Best to you.Beth Njtwinmom Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT that`s. I thought so but really feel awful. Have to call onocologist on Monday so I will mention all these things.As I could not get any pain pills over the weekend as they cannot prescribe them over the phone and aren`t in on the w/e I am going to tell her that isn`t appreciated that I cannot even reach her on the w/e. We live an hours drive away from the cancer center. Guess I really have to watch my pain pills and before the w/e 48 hrs before!! gramdma55 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I left this info on another thread about Neulasta so I'm not going to go into all the details here. BUT I feel I have to tell everyone here who takes the Neulasta injections because I haven't seen any info on this website about this. My oncologist told me to start taking the allergy medicine Claritin the day I was to get my Neulasta injection and take it twice a day for 5 to 7 days to keep from having the bone pain. So I did with my first shot of Neulasta. Yesterday was the 6th day after the injection so I stopped the claritin. Last night I started with bone pain.. today it is really bad. So I started taking the Claritin again. I believe it is what kept the pain away and I will take it from here on out for at least 7 days after the injection. My doc said the store brand of claritin is just fine.. but make sure it is not the Claritin D. Just the regular. I hope this helps everyone. Please let me know if it does.. I am curious to know if it was just a coincidence with the bone pain. Thanksanita Life is worth the fight Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I have had Neupogen, Neulasta, and now Leukine infections for low WBC.  There appear to be problems with all of them, but Neupogen works best for me.  Neulasta takes too long to work and by the time it kicks in, I'm so weak I can hardly walk.  Plus, I have had extreme pain with Neulasta.Neupogen works faster, but does cause swelling and minor discomfort and you have to get the injection every day.  This week they tried Leukine injections.  In addition to the bone pain, I had headaches, high pulse rate (99 at night while trying to sleep) and I ran a constant fever.  Everyone is different, but I feel Neupogen works best for me, Neulasta would be second choice and Leukine the very last resort. D.Gayle  Donna Gayle Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT ANY DRUG CAN HAVE SIDE EFFECTS FOR SOMEBODY, EVEN IF IT RARELY HAPPENS FOR THAT DRUG.  e.g. doctors say NO ONE is allergic to Benadryl - that's folly - as I nurse I saw some pretty severe reactions that were directly tracable to benadryl Most people tolerate Neupogen fairly well, but THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DO NOT TOLERATE IT WELL AT ALL.  Neupogen made me sick at my stomach - very nauseated and I felt like I had the flu. When I stopped taking the neupogen but continued the chemo, I felt fine, didn't even need my nausea medication.  One way to find out - talk to your dr before your next chemo.  Tell him you'd like to not take the neupogen this next time, see how you do - then if you feel better and don't have the weight loss, etc, he will know to try you on a different drug. Or he might just switch the drug now. He might also want to put you on some dietary supplementation. Take care,Tre trehouse60 Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT