|
I have bone mets. I take zometa & recently started weekly navelbine & herceptin. I only had 2 navelbine treatments & on the 3rd week my white blood cells & neutrophils took a nose dive, so I couldn't get treated. So I had this week with no chemo.
Next Monday I'll have chemo - even if the counts haven't come up enough, then I will need to start on neupogen shots for the next 3 days (Tues, Wed, Thurs) to help raise the white blood cell count. I guess the plan would be to keep me on these weekly shots as long as I have the chemo. (I already get aranesp for the red cells).
They are checking my insurance for me to see if I need to come to the office every day to get the shots (time, travel hassle, & co-pays) or if my insurance will allow me to learn to give myself the shots at home.
With these shots I wouldn't have to miss treatments, or lower the chemo dose.
With previous chemo treatments I've never had a problem with too low blood counts. Is this common? Or a sign that my body is getting weaker?
I've also heard of neulasta shots. I'm guessing neulasta works like neupogen shots, I'll have to ask my onc. about the differnce between them.
Can others tell if you've had to take these shots & how things worked for you? Thanks. Pam
|
Threaded Mode