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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Neupogen
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Neupogen
by valpal, Oct 07, 2003 12:00AM
I had my last of 4 AC treatments on Tues.,September 16. On Sept 25 & 26 (Thurs & Fri) I had neupogen shots to recover my WBC. The following Tues I developed hip and back pain. It is now a week past that point and the pain is worse. Advil, aleve do not seem to help much. I will try vioxx also. But is this a common response to the neupogen? If it was the neupogen, wouldn't the pain response have been sooner? I'll also add that I have been very active throughout chemo and playing tennis, walking and eliptical machine workouts. My pain seems to improve when I try to be active. This pain does not seem to be muscular. I had 4 sequential shots of neupogen my 3rd round of AC and did not have this amount of pain. And my WBC was lower the 3rd round than the 4th. Also, I start Taxotere next Tuesday. I understand that the Taxotere can lower WBC even worse than AC. Also, T has some of it's own achiness side affects. Does this mean that my response to neupogen will become worse? Does neulasta have less pain side affects? Thanks for any help!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Oct 07, 2003 12:00AM
Dear valpal, Usually aches and pains associated with neupogen happen within a day or two of injection and subside after a day or two. From what you describe I would be more tempted to attribute your pain to a possible injury, check with your doctor who can assess your situation and evaluate the pain.
I have also had AC. My whites have stayed within low normal throughout.....but I take MGN-3. Neupogen was prescribed as a preventive only because I changed regimens and the new chemo regimen is very aggressive. But my whites are 3 x's high end of normal when I take the shots- so I don't really think I need it. The difference between AC and T in terms of WBC was slightly lower after T for me....but not a whole bunch. My RBC has consistenly inched lower after each treatment- regardless of what kind. I think everyone is different when it comes to response- and of course the dosage of chemo has an affect. But I do know that the "low point" is 10 days post chemo.