Chemotherapy

Can you help with this please SG007 and Ted63? Thanks x

Hi Craigavon

I’m not sure which injections you’ve got but I had filistrang injections after my chemo for 5 days starting the 5th day after chemo because my white blood cell count kept being too low. I’m terrified of needles and couldn’t bring myself to do it. I always felt rubbish for the first couple of days so the district nurse would come out and do them for me. Then the other days I would go to them.  I’m sure they will come out to you if you’re worried about doing them. You’re meant to pinch an inch in the tummy area then inject, alternating sides each day. 

You can get your chemo nurse to contact your district nurse to make arrangements, but I did myself and they were absolutely fine with it.

They don’t really hurt, I just ended up with a little collection of tiny weeny bruises! 

Hope this helps but if there’s anything else let me know

All the best, Susan

Hi Craigavon,

I have a Pelgraz injection which I do myself 24 hours after chemo.  It doesn't hurt when injecting but it does make my bones and muscles ache for a couple of days after.  Hope all goes well for you.

Hi Susan. Thanks for that. Not sure what the name of it is. I also hate the sight of needles. When the district nurse comes out to take my blood I have to look away.

Think I will ask my wife to do it for me as she has no problems with needles

Hi Marycl

Thanks for that. As long as I do not see the needle I will be okay. 

My son is needle phobic too so I know what you mean.

I'm sure you will get used to it and it does work wonders! 

Hi there,

I'm amazed they went ahead with a count of 1.5, my chemo team won't go below 3.0. I self inject Filgrastim days 5-9 over a 2 week cycle, painless and easy to do. I've still been having problems with low count and have been deferred twice which gets frustrating. Had my chemo this week once my count had gone up to 4.0.

Hope it goes well 

Martin

Hi Martin.

Had my chemo today but the consultant for some reason has now decided not to give me the injections to bring my white blood cells count up. Disappointed to hear that. I now have to have a scan of my small bowel to see how things are progressing and then a face to face consultation with consultant on Wednesday week. I have been deffered once for chemo when my white blood cell count was 1.1. 

Hi, Im starting chemo today and as cancer quite aggressive over last few months chemo planned for every 2 weeks but bit worried will have problems with white blood cells. Do all oncologists offer these injections to help prevent delays in treatment? Im new here and still trying to navigate froums and groups and how to reply etc so please bear with me..

Hi  and a warm welcome to the board from me. I notice from your posts on other pages that you are being treated for liver mets so I’m going to tag court in to share some of her experience and knowledge. 
As for the low cell count this seems to vary between trusts. I missed one chemo session through low white count and they reduced my oxaliplatin doseage but I think mine was always on the low side even before starting treatment? 
If you want to look at other people’s journeys so far then you can click on their name and it will take you to their profile page which may show you. If you want to tag somebody in to a post (ie. draw their attention to it) then just put a @ then type their user name (no space) and it should pop up in a box for you to select.

Hope today’s session goes ok and please keep posting and we’ll be happy to help you through this

Take care

Karen x