Help! Need information!

I went for my visit today with my "new" Oncologist after the disaster several weeks ago with the other Oncologist. Today I am being hit with 6 rounds of treatment instead of 4 ,as I had been told before, & the fact that I will now be needing things like Neulasta & Procrit. I have a port but am now being told that the port can not be used for the Neulasta or the Procrit. I have a big fear of needles so needless to say this has me very frightened. I have also been reading up on the side errects of both Procrit & Neulasta and am very concerned about them as well. Can any of you please tell me of your experiences with these two medications??!! I am upset because I am beginning to feel as though the doctors are not sure of what they are doing because of the sudden change regarding the number of treatments. If it helps, I was diagnosed with 1a clear cell ovarian cancer. If any of this is unclear please ask & I will try to clarify. I am very upset as I type this.

Thank you for any information you can provide!

Krystle

Krystle

I get Procrit during my chemo sessions and i get Neulasta the day after chemo. I don't know of any side effects from the Procrit that I have experienced. They do tell me with the Neulasta that I might experience some flu like symptoms. However, the Taxol chemo that i take causes flu like symptoms so it's hard to tell whats from the Taxol or the Neulasta shot.

I think any side effects from those shots is well worth the benefit that they do. Hope this helps.....

Sounds as if your new oncologist is conservative and wants to be sure any residual cancer is whacked for good.

Procrit and Neulasta are regular shots that are quick in and out and for that they don't use the port. They just go in the arm. Port is for longer things like chemo and blood and nothing that's pushed in fast.

I never had Procrit. As my red cells would go down below 9 I would opt for blood transfusions instead. And I only had that when I needed it, not every treatment.

I have had Neupogen, which is the 7 day cycle of Neulasta. This helps rebuild your white blood cells and neutrophils. The shot itself stung going in but once it was done, that was it. The first time I had the seven shots, I did hurt and feel flu-like. It was not that severe. After that series, my body adapted and I didn't have a problem with the shot. I have heard the bone aching may be stronger with Neulasta, but can't say for sure. Again, I did not get this automatically and never needed it during my first series of treatments. But beginning with the first recurrence, I needed it routinely. I do not need it (iknock on wood) now that I'm on Gemzar.

I'd ask the Dr. why he/she feels you will need/get this from the beginning. Your Dr. may have good reasons for planning them for you.

s Krystal

I believe that they are recommending six treatments because clear cell is the most aggressive of the ovarian cancer types.
Even though you were staged so early, this gives you your best chance for a long, healthy life.
I received six rounds of chemo with taxol and carboplatin for epithelial ovarian cancer. I never had a delayed treatment due to low blood counts and I never required procrit or neulasta.
My blood counts were checked weekly. And would drop quite low by week two, but always rebounded in time.
It is certainly your right to request that your doctor hold off until he sees how your blood work might respond.
These medicines are administered through a very, very tiny needle.
You will get through this time. Hang in there!!!!!

oxoxox karenann

Krystle, I had both Neulasta and Procrit and all I can say is that they are MIRACLE drugs!!

You will have good energy and your counts will hopefully stay high enough so that you don't have to delay any treatments. The shots aren't pleasant but it's over in 10 seconds.

There were no side effects from Procrit. The Neulasta is a drug that initiates the development of white blood cells. White blood cells are made in the large bones of the body. Sometimes you can get some bone pain. I experienced very little bone pain occasionally in my sternum... but even that was nothing to fret over.

Do yourself a favor and keep the positive uppermost in your minds. These are miracle drugs and will help you so much through your treatment .

Best of luck to you, honey. Don't worry. You'll do wonderfully!

I had 8 cycles of Taxol and Carbo and never needed Neulasta. Yes, my WBCs went low, but always rebounded. I never had to delay a chemo treatment due to low counts.

I did not have Procrit, but had Aranesp. Aranesp is similiar to Procrit, but is given every two weeks instead of every week. I received several Aranesp injections during chemo, but I did not need it every 2 weeks. Ask you oncologist if this is an option for you if your RBCs go low. I did not have any side effects of Aranesp. I would definitely rather have Aranesp instead of a blood transfusion.

Good luck!

Stephanie
ovca Stage 3a 9/2003
NED 4/04-10/04
will start chemo 11/9/04 for 1st (and hopefully last!) recurrence

Thank you for all your replies. I have been crying since I got home from the dr. & am still crying now. I don't know what to believe as far as what the dr. says. Everytime I seem to get a handle on things they pull the rug out from under me. The size of the needle does not matter! It is a needle! And I have a phobia to them. Just like a person who is afraid to fly...does it matter if you are talking about a jumbo jet or a prop plane? No, the fact is the person is afraid to fly! I don't mean to sound harsh but I just don't think I can handle anymore!

Krystle,
We've talked before in one of your threads. I am the one with panic attacks around taking ANY kind of medicine... so I really understand your fears/anxiety.

What worked GREAT for me was.... anxiety medicine and I believe, getting hypnotised. (having a tape made just for me, that addressed my own issues) I do have, and listen to other tapes that help me too.

I truly believe in my heart of hearts that IF I could get over my phobia that you can too. Please consider taking an anti anxiety medicine... it really makes things so much easier.

At first my Mom was all worried that I'd become addicted to them.
I'd tell her... "pffffft, addiction to them is the least of my worries".
By far, I'd rather risk that then not be able to have treatments.. my fear were THAT HUGE!

I am not addicted to them, I just take one when I need it... and could care less if that's once a week or every day if needed.

Facing the challange of Chemo is one thing (a huge thing) then when you have an added phobia it's a double wammy. I know, I've been there... and am sharing what helped me as I navigated through the fears.

Best to you,
xo Donna

Aww Krystle,

If I could hug you I would I know exactly how you feel. A month or so after I had my surgery for endometrial cancer, my internist discovered a thyroid nodule during an exam. I went for an ultrasound and just my luck I had to then face of biopsy of this nodule. Not that I have a needle phobia, but I do have a phobia about not be able to breath or swallow after having a bad experience in the past having dental impressions. Plus at this point I too was at the enough is enough stage. I had a few weeks to wait for this biopsy, and I worked myself up so bad I thought I would snap. Fast forward to the day of the biopsy. The radiologist who was to do the biopsy was rather a character, and initially used humor which greatly helped relieve some anxiety. Since I have an allergy to local anesthetics, I had to have this procedure with none!! The radiologist injected some saline into the area which I hardly felt as an alternative to an anesthetic, stuck the nodule 5 times which I only felt pressure, and that was the end of it. In reflecting back, this was probably the quickest and least painful procedure I had done. It is always fear of the unknown, or bad memories of difficult past experience that we associate with something we will face, and these feelings are tough to shake off. So if you need a little help to get through this with meds ask for them. I know this may not help, but being an "old nurse" and given a gazillion shots of all types, getting these injections will be a piece of cake compared to what you have already been through thus far.

Take Care

Krystal,

Have you been honest with your doc about how terrified you are about needles? Many people avoid optimal treatment because of their fears, and sometimes just telling the doctor and nurses how frightened you are can help.

When you have cancer, it is hard to get around the need for treatment and with many treatments come needles! But there are tricks - local anesthetics, relaxation tapes, even anti-anxiety medications that can help you through this time.



Dorrie