Just curious if anyone had the same SEs with the injections filgrastim.
I’ve had FEC1 and not really suffered, other than general feeling of detachment from my legs!
I had 7 filgrastim injections to take and was ok until the 6th one. I’d been warned that it can give you bone ache but this wasn’t an ache - i felt like i was having contractions! The pain was in my back, in my hips and would pulse for a while, die away and then come back - just like contractions! Really, really painful. It coincided with me starting my period (just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse!) and i was wondering if the period had kick started the pain in some way.
would be interested to hear if anyone else had a similar experience.
Hi, I just dug out the side effects list and maybe you should contact your chemo team. I had really bad bone pain in the larger bones which is expected, but yours sounds a bit different.
Here is the quote from the list: “SIDE EFFECTS: Aching in the bones and muscles may occur. Taking a non-aspirin pain reliever such as acetaminophen may help with this pain. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Nosebleeds or injection site reactions such as redness, swelling, itching, lumps or bruising may also occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: easy bleeding/bruising, bloody urine, bloody vomit, fast/irregular heartbeat, fever, muscle pain, joint pain, fast breathing, trouble breathing.Rarely, possibly fatal damage to the spleen may occur. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following side effects: stomach/abdominal pain, and/or shoulder pain.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing”
Not sure how relevant this is, but may be worth a shot:
I have been having pegfilgrastim (neulasta) which is similar, and also been suffering from bone and headache. I read about people taking claritin to alleviate the symptoms, and after discussing with my oncologist have done this each time I am given neulasta. For whatever reason (possibly even placebo effect, I don’t know), it has worked for me.
Staycalm, yes, I had a similar problem day 9 of first cycle of FEC, about 24 hours after last filgrastim injection. Apologies to anyone I have bored with this before.
It began quite suddenly with low back pain and big shakes, the shakes and the pain were in rhythm together in spasms, it was actually difficult to walk around the house as I searched for OH to say something is wrong. Rang the chemo unit, who checked and found I had a very low neutrophil count, had been checked by GP that morning. They advised me to go to nearest A&E (different hospital to chemo hospital)as possible neutropenic sepsis where I was admitted and treated appropriately. Shaking stopped after about an hour, pain continued, more constant rather than spasmodic, and joined by pain in breast bone. No infection found and oncologist said when he heard of it “Filgrastim reaction”. He advised taking paracetamol regularly if it recurred-which it didn’t in the five other cycles.
I didn’t have a low WBC either after that
Very pleased to hear a back up story, I felt I was regarded as nuts by the admitting nurse, who thought I was shaking with anxiety.
Only had slight pain in one leg with filgrastim. But how annoying is it that whenever you produce a different Se to the ‘norm’ they decide your stressed.
I have been searching for, on the internet, for anyone else experiencing the symptoms you describe as exactly the same is happening to me!
The spasms, which are like contractions in my back and chest, started on day 6 of taking filgrastim. I contacted the Oncology team and they had no idea what they were or what was causing them.
I was admitted to hospital and saw a number of different Consultants and Doctors but none of them had any idea what was causing them. They gave me some antispasmodic drugs and 2 days after my last filgrastim injection they stopped. I saw a Consultant Neurologist who said he had seen this before and has done some blood tests and requested an MRI scan.
I am still waiting for the blood test results but the MRI is clear.
On my second round of chemotherapy, FEC, and on day 6 the spasms started again. I contacted my Oncologist who said to stop the filgrastim. The spasms were no way near as severe as the first time and stopped after 2 days.
What is odd is that my WBC was higher before my 3rd chemo than the second and I only had 6 injections of filgrastim instead of 8. Taking the antispasmodic medication did not help so I am gradually reducing the does as it seems to be a se of the filgrastim. Good luck with your treatment. X
Interesting about your blood count. Mine for FEC5 was 3.0 which was only .5 less than before starting.
The spasms i had in the first havent returned but the pain has become worse, to the point that even wearing a necklace was painfull as was lying on a pillow. I started with 7, and then went up to 8 due to a dip . the onc tried to then give me 9 even though my bloods were 3! when i questioned her shhe put it back to 8 but didnt explain. the last time was truly awful, id had total dose of ibuprofen and paracetamel (as advised) but it didnt touch it. i ended up crying down the phone 20 hours after taking it and was thankfully told not to take the rest. they checked my bloods and gave me precautionary antibiotics.
its my last Chemo today (everything crossed) and im hoping that because it is the last one and so not ongoing i will be given the antibiotics again; either that or extra, extra, extra strong painkillers.
the injections, for me, have been by far the worst part of this. im just hoping that my body has produced enough wbc on its own for me to have the chemo today.
I’m really sorry bout the SEs some of you have been having. I have to say I haven’t had any so far with the course of 5 I’ve had for the 2nd and 3rd cycles. Mind you, my wbc count was still too low last time and my 3rd chemo was put back a week so maybe they just don’t work very well for me. (Clearly they do something - without the filgrastim my wbc was at 0.3 after 3 weeks but with the injections it was 1.3 at 3 weeks).
Bizarrely my blood count today was 4.6!! That’s without the jabs for the first time and it’s higher than before starting chemo. Maybe i was producing too many on my own, who knows.