My WBC is getting a bit low (dropped slightly below 1.0). Going to get a shot of GCSF (Neupogen) tomorrow. Is it known to work most or all of the time?
A low white blood cell count is to be expected while on treatment. The interferon injection is responsible for that. The thing is that the docs don't want it to go "too low."
It seems that your doc is on top of things and is watching it. If your doc decides he needs to re-evaluate your dosage, ask him/her about a shot of Neupogen instead of reducing your meds.
I wouldn't automatically rule out an Infectious Diseases specialist to treat with but I suppose I'd gravitate more towards a GI and even better a Hepatologist. All in all, any one of them could be current or not with treatment practices and new advances in Hep C treatment and studies. With any of them, it's a buyer beware thing.
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The use is of neupogen for hepC patients is somewhat controversial and may be unnecessary. There was a thread on this yesterday. I suggest you read it.
I've had 3 surgeries for breast cancer. Lymph nodes were 8 out of 12 positive but the last 3 were microscopic. Can Neupogen be used in place of Taxol? I've read that Neupogen attackes the cancer cells more with better results. Whn my cells were tested they found that the good cells were really attacking the bad ones. I'm just afraid that reg chemo will mess this all up and I won't have anymore good cells to help fight.
What is the best thin to do?
Neupogen is a new med for him, also Procrit is another new med for him.
Obviously I have gotten some spellings incorrect.
What I want to do is look up these meds and make a document for him that is easier to read regarding side effects, etc. But, this is not possible until I find someone who knows how to spell these meds, and/or maybe knows something about their side effects personally.
Would someone out there please help me with this?
Generally, Inteferon affects the white cells (Neupogen is used) and Ribavirin affects the hemoglobin (Mircera is used). Once treatment ends and the drugs are out of her system the blood counts should go back to where they were before treatment. Ribavirin lasts a little longer in the system (a few weeks) than Interferon (a week or two). So, shortly after treatment end she will probably not need those two. The more curious is the platelet level.
After my first injection and at my first appt after that injection, my PA said my labs were really crazy and gave me an injection of Neupogen and a prescription for it. I have only 9 shots left and have been taking the Neupogen 3 times a week for the entire tx. They almost took me to 4 times a week. Even with 3 weekly injections of Neopogen my WBC and ANC's are still low. I guess without the Neupogen they would be non-existent.
So the doc finally agreed to a neupogen shot, after many delayed shots of pegasys. I was supposed to do a shot tuesday, however got bloodwork done today and anc is 620, Doc says to take neupogen tonight (I did, the neupogen is 300mcg, im ~130lbs) and get more bloodwork done on thursday, and then he'll call friday with whether or not to take the shot or not. So here I am, waiting, again. Arggg!
Next time I try treatment I'm going to suggest to my doctor to prescribe neupogen and procrit before I start to get the counts up. Mine have always dropped into the low range. I found especially the neupogen made me feel rough after I was already well into treatment and didn't do a whole lot. Why don't doctors prescribe it before treatment? Would there be a downside to that?
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