FEC and Neulasta side effects

No neulasta offered to me either. Dreadful bone ache from late on Day Three for two - three days, that got worse each cycle. WCC steadily dropped with each blood test. By the last round it was just in the safe zone so I got away without having to have neulasta, hooray.

I had FEC and then had my blood tested on day 10 of the first cycle. I was found to be severely neutropaenic so was then prescribed neulasta inj which I had for the rest of my chemo. Interestingly at the blood test appointment (day 10 after first fec) I also had a rash on both of my legs, which was itchy. I was told to take claratyne every day for the rest of my chemo. I had a bit of bone pain which was relieved by Panadol and from what I can tell, not as severe as what others report. I don’t know if that was due to the claratyne. I also had diarrhoea and heartburn on fec, I took immodium and gaviscon tablets which helped.

Thanks everyone for comments. I seem to be mostly lucky with side effects - no bone pain just exhaustion. I will soldier on as you other lovely people are doing . So kind to fake the time to chat.  Last Fec soon. Cheers Judy

Thanks @Irb_03, I was wondering about that as I never had neulasta shots either. As my blood tests (day before) were regularly hailed as "beautiful", I was obviously one of those with no white cell problem. I did have herceptin for a year and had no side effects at all that I am aware of (no aches, pains, no heart problems, nothing). I don't know about 6 month versus 12 months - 12 months is the maximum (to the day!) that I could get herceptin without having to pay for it, and as with chemo, most oncologists go for the maximum treatment for the maximum benefit, as far as possible. So it may be that there is not a lot of data about the benefits of 6 months. Best wishes

@kezmusc, every hospital is different. At mine, you don't get neulasta unless you have an episode of febrile neutropaenia.  I had bloods done the day before treatment. Got through FEC without dropping my white cells too much. Ended up with a temp and neutrophil count of 0.01 after my first docetaxol,  so had neulasta for my last 2. I was never sure if it was the docetaxol or the neulasta that caused my relatively minor aches and pains.
@judys, I didn't have herceptin, but I believe the evidence may be emerging in terms of length of course. Talk to your medical team about it, though. How many more cycles of chemo to go?
Take care

@judys 

 I had a different chemo regime, but I ditched the neulasta after the first one nearly killed me (well, not quite but you know what I mean).  Ended up in ED with a WCC of over 100.  I  could not walk, was shaking from head to toe and it turned my breast and arm where the surgery had taken place a lovely shade of bright purple.  
Obviously I did not need that drug and managed the rest of chemo with no issues.  Just had to have a blood test every week before treatment which I much preferred to the alternative.
Strange that everyone automatically is given it whether they need it or not.

I took Claratyne, for seven days, starting the day before chemo. My oncologist was fine with it and I found it significantly reduced the crippling bone pain I used to get about day 4. It's worth asking about it. Mxx

@judys I had a lot of the bone pain from the neulasta injection and panadol osteo didn’t do anything. My onc prescribed panadine forte which worked well and I believe that @Zoffiel found that antihistamines worked well for her. Speak to your oncologist first though. Hope u feel better soon xo