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Neutropenia - chemotherapy side effects during cancer treatment
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Find out more about chemotherapy and different side effects associated with chemotherapy...
 
Chemotherapy and infections
 
Chemotherapy works by killing cancer cells; unfortunately, it can't tell the difference between a cancer cell and a healthy cell. As a result, chemotherapy can destroy normal cells in hair, skin, bone, blood, and other areas of your body.

Among the normal blood cells it can destroy are white blood cells. These cells help your body fight infection, one of the most serious possible side effects of chemotherapy1, 2, 3. A dangerously low white blood cell count is called neutropenia (new-truh-pee-nee-ah). Because white blood cells help your body fight infections, neutropenia makes your body less able to protect itself. Neutropenia is often underecognized and undertreated.

 
Infections are especially dangerous for people receiving chemotherapy.
Infections can temporarily disrupt your cancer treatment, or result in having your chemotherapy dose decreased. Both of these may jeopardize the effectiveness of your cancer treatment.3, 5
If you get an infection during chemotherapy, you may need to be hospitalized. Today, most patients with cancer are treated outside of the hospital. Unplanned hospitalizations can disrupt your life by keeping you from your daily activities, such as work and childcare, and force you to be away from your family and your support network. Plus, being in the hospital can increase your exposure to yet more infections.
Lastly, infections at their most serious can be life-threatening.3

Given the option, most patients would much rather take steps to protect themselves against infection, rather than treat the problems caused by an infection after it develops. However on average, less than 10% of patients receive protection from neutropenia at the beginning of their chemotherapy.6 And up to half of patients receiving chemotherapy develop neutropenia, potentially placing them at risk for life-threatening infections.7

Continue to Help Protect Your Patient Against Infection
 

Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) is prescribed to reduce the risk of infection (initially marked by fever) in patients with some tumors receiving strong chemotherapy that decreases the number of infection-fighting white blood cells.

Important product safety information
Ruptured spleen (including fatal cases), serious allergic reactions, and a serious lung problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome have been reported. Call your doctor or seek emergency care right away if you have abdominal or shoulder tip pain, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, a fast rate of breathing, or any allergic reaction. The most common side effect of this injection is mild to moderate bone pain. If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss them with your doctor. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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