Reviewer: Marie, 45-54 Female on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient)

Comment:
I'm on my second round of chemo and I was required to take the Neulasta a day her my chemo. I've experienced pain beyond my wildest dream. I've experienced joint pain and extreme lower back pain. my oncologist prescribed me hydrocodone 500 and I'm still have chronic pain. I'm 45 yrs old and a mother of 3 and the pain is the worst I've ever felt. I've cried because the p ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I'm on my second round of chemo and I was required to take the Neulasta a day her my chemo. I've experienced pain beyond my wildest dream. I've experienced joint pain and extreme lower back pain. my oncologist prescribed me hydrocodone 500 and I'm still have chronic pain. I'm 45 yrs old and a mother of 3 and the pain is the worst I've ever felt. I've cried because the pain is so unbearable.
Hide Full Comment

Reviewer: RachGo, 45-54 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I have received Neulasta 24 hrs after each chemo treatment. The 1st time, the nurse told me there might be "some bone pain" in the next 24 hrs. 5 days later, I had 36 hrs of horrific pain in my lower spine, hips & sternum. Nothing helped. My husband wanted to take me to the ER, but I wouldn't go. After talking with the office nurse at my oncologist's & reading online ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I have received Neulasta 24 hrs after each chemo treatment. The 1st time, the nurse told me there might be "some bone pain" in the next 24 hrs. 5 days later, I had 36 hrs of horrific pain in my lower spine, hips & sternum. Nothing helped. My husband wanted to take me to the ER, but I wouldn't go. After talking with the office nurse at my oncologist's & reading online, I found that the allergy med Claritin (Yes, Claritin) & naproxen, for some reason, help with the bone pain. No one seems to know why, just that it works. I now start taking 1 claritin &1 naproxen each morning starting the day of chemo & continue for 5 days until the bone pain is gone. It makes it bearable.
Hide Full Comment

Reviewer: StarMJ, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
Have had 2 rounds of chemo (AC+herceptin) for stage III breast cancer followed by Neulasta given a day later; also took 3 days of dexamethasone before, during & after chemo. Round 1: 2 days later could hardly walk due to pain, not able to eat or drink, severe diarrhea. When I could not handle it anymore, called oncologist-on-call who told me to "expect some pain w/ chemo" and try Ty ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
Have had 2 rounds of chemo (AC+herceptin) for stage III breast cancer followed by Neulasta given a day later; also took 3 days of dexamethasone before, during & after chemo. Round 1: 2 days later could hardly walk due to pain, not able to eat or drink, severe diarrhea. When I could not handle it anymore, called oncologist-on-call who told me to "expect some pain w/ chemo" and try Tylenol! Totally useless "consult"! Ended up in ER same day for severe chest tightness, mediastinal pain, severe pain up spine to base of neck, severe hip & leg pain, headache, nausea, diarrhea - treated for dehydration & MI ruled out; fluids,IV dilaudid & hydroxizine helped alot! 3 days later, still not able to eat/drink, w/pain & nausea so went back to ER. WBC was 0. Given fluids, pain & nausea meds IV & a mask; needed to go back to clinic daily for IV fluids for 3 more days. WBC returned 6 days after Neulasta. Next week, short of breath and found to be anemic - needed IV iron. Considered taking my chances w/o chemo. Round 2: My oncologist gave me long acting IV anti-nausea drug w/next chemo round and decreased one chemo drug by 15% to "lowest effective dose". 2 days later, immobile with pain & in bed for 5 days. But this time I had on hand at home-oral Dilaudid + Hydroxizine PAM (alternating w/ Ondansetron) & Gatorade, Pedialyte & broth. Was able to get by with these at home but stayed in bed most of the week. Round 3 coming up and oncologist suggested Claritin w/ chemo & Neulasta in addition to Round 2 additions. Side effects are hell and mine did not seem to be mentioned for chemo or Neulasta, especially the boa constrictor around my chest & total spine pain which others have posted here. Getting better each round so I will tough it out for now for my family. Don't let clinicians discount your pain - make them address it until YOU are comfortable!
Hide Full Comment

Reviewer: laneytoad, 55-64 Female on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient)

Comment:
I am receiving chemo for an oligo metastatic breast cancer. The first time I received neupogen which gave me a dull achy pain that was tolerable. This time I received a neulasta shot and hope I can talk my doctor out of it. I received my port on a Monday, chemo on Wednesday, took my bandages off on the day of neulasta shot and the next day after that all hell broke loose. I had severe burns an ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I am receiving chemo for an oligo metastatic breast cancer. The first time I received neupogen which gave me a dull achy pain that was tolerable. This time I received a neulasta shot and hope I can talk my doctor out of it. I received my port on a Monday, chemo on Wednesday, took my bandages off on the day of neulasta shot and the next day after that all hell broke loose. I had severe burns and blisters where my bandages had been, my heart raced out of control, the pain was unbelieveable, I projectile vomited twice and felt like I had the flu complete with chills. Oh, and did I mention the bloody nose? After 10 days my white cell count was over 30!!!! Seriously?? I went through all that so I can get leukemia? I just hope my doctor will give me neupogen next time. I have a painful bladder disease and can tolerate a lot of pain as I've been on methadone for 10 years. Finally got off that and now am really depressed at the thought of having to take massive doese of percocet for this pain.
Hide Full Comment

Reviewer: 45-54 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I have had 3 of 8 chemo treatments and receive a Neulasta shot the day after chemo (more than 24 hrs). I was well informed by my Oncologist and the infusion staff of the potential side effects and treatments. My side effects have been relatively mild ....bad backache that begins approx 6 days after the shot and lasts for 2-3 days. After the 1st shot, I did experience mild, flu-like symptoms for ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I have had 3 of 8 chemo treatments and receive a Neulasta shot the day after chemo (more than 24 hrs). I was well informed by my Oncologist and the infusion staff of the potential side effects and treatments. My side effects have been relatively mild ....bad backache that begins approx 6 days after the shot and lasts for 2-3 days. After the 1st shot, I did experience mild, flu-like symptoms for a day or so (again...about a week after the shot). Those symptoms have not re-occurred. What saddens and disturbs me about some of the experiences posted here is many people seem to have been ill-informed of the possible side effects. My doc (and again, the infusion center) was VERY CLEAR about all possible side effects and the possible SEVERITY of those side-effects (mild to intense bone pain....especially in the areas where bone marrow is concentrated - breastbone (some think they are experiencing a heart-attack), thighs, back. I was WELL PREPARED. Doc was also VERY CLEAR that ALL SIDE EFFECTS...even the VERY SEVERE can be managed with OTC Ibuprofen OR IV pain relievers (she called it Ibuprofen on steroids!!), and that it was NOT ACCEPTABLE to have unmanageable pain. As I said, thankfully my side effects have been relatively mild and the shot is doing its job...keep my immune system VERY HEALTHY! PLEASE talk to your doc if your pain is not managed by OTC methods. You do NOT/SHOULD NOT have to suffer. Fighting the fight with all of you and plan to BE A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR!!! :-)
Hide Full Comment