Filgrastim

Hmmmm…. I had 3 EC chemos, which were fine. No Filgrastim at that point, but on my fourth cycle I had Docetaxil which came with a five day injection of filgrastim. I managed to take four of them, but they made me feel dreadful, I know it was the injection because I woke up following the Docetaxil feeling well enough, but after taking the injection I felt dreadful! I took it for a further three days, but couldn’t bear to do the final one, because I just didn’t feel I was recovering at all, just feeling more and more wretched as the days went by! It was like rigour mortise was setting in. It was at that point I decided to pack in having chemo altogether. As I said, I didn’t have Filgrastim for my first three EC chemos, and felt absolutely fine, but I know some hospitals do prescribe it in the initial stages, however you can ask if you can skip it I guess, assuming you’re healthy otherwise and not susceptible to infection. Or you could just see how you get on with it, you may be fine. Best of luck in whatever you chose. xxx

Hmmm!! Had 6 x chemo (Docetaxel and Carboplatin) every 3 weeks and after each injected myself with Filgrastim. Didn’t like doing it but it was OK. Always relieved when the 5 days were done as not sure if the injection or chemo drugs were responsible for making me feel “off”. However, having said that my friend sailed through the whole lot with no side effects to speak of!  Just shows how different we all are!! I wish you the best x

Thank you, I was quite surprised when my nurse told me and I spoke with my daughter who is a GP and she hadn’t come across the procedure either.

I think patients are more informed these days and are usually able to weigh up the risks and benefits of all the drugs we’re offered. It absolutely not “one size fits all” and, as much as I appreciate and am grateful for all the treatment I was offered; I feel like I was on a bit of a conveyor belt throughout. I was lucky enough to be post menopausal, ER+ HER- with 0 lymph node involvement and a borderline oncotype score (28), so, in the great scheme of thing, quite low risk. But I was offered drugs as a matter of course that, I feel, wouldn’t benefit my personal circumstances. Do your homework and make informed decisions. I think the oncos always convey the worst case scenario, as is their duty, but I think patients should do a bit of research and ask specific questions. Best of luck xxxx

As I understand it, EC really knocks your white blood cells, and whilst they recover naturally, it takes some time. So using Filgrastim to stimulate your bone marrow to make white blood cells reduces your risk of infection and also makes it more likely you will be in a fit state to take the next round of chemo on time. I had 4 rounds of EC with 5 days of Filgrastim from day 5 onwards. It comes in a pre-filled needle which retracts back into the device once it has delivered the shot. You pinch up a bit of skin and put the needle in at a 45 degree angle. It takes a couple of seconds. If you have a partner it’s probably easiest to get them to do it whilst you pinch the skin. I did mine in my upper thigh.

They do make your joints ache, particularly if you have any osteoarthritis. The discomfort seems to peak around 12 hours after each injection, I found the best time to do them was late afternoon. I found the discomfort reduced a bit with each day as if my body had got used to it. The first time round was also worse than the other cycles. They also gave me tinnitus, which cleared a couple of days after each round. Filgrastim was for me the worst aspect of EC but it’s short lived. 

This is standard procedure at my unit and not in the least unusual nationwide, I’m genuinely surprised your daughter was unaware of it as my sister had these injections years ago when she had Hodgkin’s disease too so this is nothing new, it has been used since the early 90’s. I did experience joint pain and headaches, particularly when I was given 7 injections, when I reduced them to 5 the headaches did get better. The downside is in some people the aches and pains with the filgastrim can be taxing, I did find that myself, but you don’t miss chemo because of low white blood cells and neutrophils and leaves you less open to infection which happens far more frequently in those who don’t have the injections. At £400 an injection they aren’t cheap but they have cut serious complications during chemo by a huge amount. Make sure you get them out of the fridge a while before you use them so they’re room warmth, I took mine around 8pm, on advice, and took loratadine alongside as it reduced the side effects, all the very best of luck x

You talking of price Anna12345, I was told that the 2 chemo drugs I’m on are £900 each! So all in all with tablets, infusions, saline, glucose etc etc we cost the NHS a fortune!! GOD BLESS OUR NHS!!️

Hello. I have just finished 2 weeks ago my 6 rounds of chemo. 3 EC and 3 Docetaxel. Given the bone marrow stimulating injections for home for days 3 to 7 so 5 per round. Ok for after EC  with myself but after docetaxel got joint pain for a few days. My team suggested paracetamol for the discomfort as long as not spiking temperature as paracetamol can mask a temperature. Injecting not something to look forward to but I counted them down each time after 5 days it was great to get them out of the way. Did take injection out of fridge about 30mins before use. Thry say bedtime but I did do mine before my evening meak about 6ish to get them out of the way before relaxing for the evening.  Good luck with your treatment plan. 

I’ve had to inject this after each EC. I bought some Emla cream over the counter which numbs the area first. The injections didn’t affect me at all nor does the EC but I’ve only had one round so don’t want to be under any illusion that it will be like this all the time. Good luck xx

If you find you get joint aches, then use Loratidine (odd use for an antihistamine but it does help) and yes, daughter was first diagnosed in 2004 with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and had the same to boost that white count quickly enough for the next chemo doses. I think over the years she must have had millions of £ worth of drugs and hospital care! 

Hugs xxx