Hi madubois63, Maybe my oncologist changed mine for pretty much the same reasons yours did yours. I too got sick and ended up in the hospital. But I kind of blamed it on him. I have that information sheet on Neulasta and it says you should have the Neulasta after EACH full chemo session. And my oncologist did NOT let me have any Neulasta until three weeks later. Which after my first chemo he told me my wbc was way down. (I wondered WHY then he didn't give me something to boast it then before I got sick?) But I am not a doctor...and I am so new to this so i did not question him.) Being he is so young and the newest guy there...I probably should have?
So then the second week with just herceptin it was still low...then the 3rd week after just the herceptin he calls me at home and says to NOT go anywhere or do anything. That my count was down to 116. (Great time to tell me now...I had just been out to Dennys for breakfast) Three weeks of my count being low and he waits to do anything about it. So then after the three weeks he tells me to come in for a shot of Neulasta finally. Which is the same week after my 3rd infusion of herceptin I was telling him I was having a hard time breathing for four days....which he ignored me and said to take a extra xanax like I was just having anxiety. (not) Well I ended up in the hospital with pnemonia for 10 days. So now I have missed a good three weeks of chemo.
So I believe that is what brought about this change. He said it makes no difference to come in and do the Herceptin, Taxotere, and Carbpotin every 3 weeks, verses the way I was doing it. I don't know why...but I feel like doing it the other way was better. Seems like your keeping on top of it better by having the weekly infusions of herceptin...especially when your fighting a stage IIIA cancer like mine. I really feel I would of been ok if he had given me the Neulasta sooner. (I could be wrong...but just the way I feel) But now I don't want to feel like I am being cut back on my chemo and letting my cancer win.
I see you were on oxygen also. So was I. I was on oxygen the entire time I was in the hospital. My oxygen level was down to 82 and it was suppose to be at least 94 at the minimum. You sound like you were pretty much like I was. I can feel for you.
Its no fun. Its been 24 days since I was put in the hospital and I am just now feeling better. Took a long time to recover.
You mentioned the Decadron. That's what my ocologist wants to do now too since I landed in the hospital. He not only wants to change my schedule for infusions. He NOW wants me to take the Decadron the day before, day of, and two days AFTER infusion. Argh!!!! I HATE that stuff. So again...I can certainly relate to you all to well.
I sure hope your right about the smaller doses working just as well if not better. That is my main concern. I only have one shot at this and I want to give it my best try to beat this. I really feel if he hadn't let my wbc get so low...I would of been ok. He told me two weeks in a row my counts were low...if that was true...WHY did he wait so low to let me have the Neulasta??
This down time has been frustrating as I feel like I am not doing anything to fight my cancer. This should of never happened. Seems he should of paid more attention. (But maybe its just me....this has all been so stressful as you all might know.)