nancygraced's Cancer Blog
November 18, 2007
Neulasta shot number one
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The Neulasta ads ask “Are you ready?” Ready to feel really, really sick? Oh my. The tiredness came from the chemo. The aches, the fluish-I’m sick and I hate it-make it go away feelings are from the Neulasta shot you’ll get every day after chemo.
They say it is great for keeping your white blood cell count up and therefore fight infections while you’re fighting me. That’s a good thing, I guess. They don’t mention it has as many side effects as the chemo/chemical poisons they pumped into you the day before.
And speaking of pricey, did anyone mention how much those Neulasta shots cost? Fret…worry….worry…fret… And should your white blood cell count drop too low, you could get TWO Neulasta shots per chemo session! Happy, happy, joy, joy!
Thanks for your support - 
unfortunately, with any drug for cancer you can assume side effects. However, so much better than decades ago. Sometimes, sleep is the best tempory relief. Also affirmations, when I feel lousey I recite and affirmation. I do a long one that takes concentration to go through therefore, what a wonderful distractions. Same thing for songs that are positive. I also do karoake (sp?) just turn on the Oxygen channel on demand, pick a song and join in. That also takes some concentration and distraction but fun. At other times, I just say, this is helping me, the sun will come out tomorrow. Every cloud has a sliver lining, and I smile.
you should always ask your doctor about side efffects, if you want to know.
Neulasta… my nemesis. yes, I agree it causes more misery than the chemo. I am on my third line of chemo therapy. The first worked well, but I had Neulasta after each treatment and I felt like crap. The bone pain was unbearable. I didn’t need it with my 2nd line of chemo. I felt wonderful. Now I am into the heavy duty chemo again and I begged my oncologist to hold off on the Neulasta until it was absolutely necessary. I fear next week is the time. I was told before I ever started it that it might cause some bone pain but I wasn’t told it would be horrific. So Sick! Nice TV ads huh? Sound so kind and helpful. Misleading. But none of this is a cakewalk, so I imagine we should always expect the worst and then feel lucky if anything is somewhat better than expected. Gaile
I too hated the Neulasta shots. My bones ached but you sould only have a few more to go. My doctors advised about the side effects of Neulasta. You should always ask questions. You have to manage your own healthcare because no one else will do it.
Melissa
My husband did well with his first round of chemo but two days later they gave him a shot of neulasta and he had a horrible reaction. He broke out in large hives and welts all over his body, got week and fainted and broke his nose. They put him in the hospital next to a guy with flu like symtoms and now he’s sick with a cold and cough. If the cancer doesn’t kill him the medical community will!