Neulasta Day of Chemo

Hi atlbc, and welcome to Breastcancer.org. You're sure to hear from many members who have experience with Neulasta, and in the meantime there's information about it at the main Breastcancer.org site that will help you know what to expect, and how to prepare. Just click the link to go right to it.

I had to inject myself with the neulasta within 48-72 hrs of chemo, & preferably within 24 hours.  I always did it within 24 hrs.

With the first dose of neulasta, I was not prepared for the pain, & was not as meticulous about the antihistamine as recommended. I learned! I had taken a generic brand of antihistamine rather than Benadryl as recommended. Chemo was on the Friday, neulasta (in my thigh) on Saturday. Nothing too bad until Wednesday when I woke my husband I was in so much pain. A couple of ibuprofen calmed things down so I could go back to sleep again.

Next time, I took the Benadryl the evening after the neulasta injection (there was Benadryl in the chemo dosage as well), along with ibuprofen. Thereafter I took Benadryl every evening before bed (slept like a baby),  for 7 days, & ibuprofen every 4 hours for 4 - 6 days, & thereafter at any twinge or hint of pain. 

I'm not a pill-popper normally, I just put up with it. I learned pretty quickly to be a good little pill-popper during chemo! No "brave face/tough it out" nonsense from me!

atlbc, When I started my chemo they had me on Neupogen which I had to inject daily for up to 10 days. That didn't bring my counts up quick enough so they switched me to Neulasta, which was one shot two days after chemo. I had chemo on Monday and did the injection on Wednesday. I did have bone pain after the injections, but Claritin took the edge off. Not everyone experiences bone pain, everyone is different. Good luck with your treatment. It will be over before you know it!

atlbc, I saved the paperwork from my shot and it states the following: 

"Do not administer between 14 days before and 24 hours after administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy."

I have not heard of it on the same day, but maybe someone else will come along with more info. I think it's a good idea to ask your MO.

hi! I had my neulasta shot right after chemo, in fact the nurse gave it to me right after the chemo infusion. Just for the 4 AC infusions. I only had back pain with the first one, I had no bone or any pain with the other three. I did twelve tx of Abraxzane after and I didn't need the neulasta shots with that treatment. Good luck with your treatment, soon it will all just be a memory!

Pam

I start chemo In a few weeks and my dr has also suggested I do the shot same day. She did acknowledge that protocol states 24 hrs after but she always gives the option to have the shot same day for convenience and sees no harm in doing so. I haven't decided what I will do.

Jenvan, My MO let me give the shots to myself. Kayb gave the link to the Neulasta website above, if you'd like to read what the manufacturer suggests.