We went to the hospital yesterday for another blood test and meeting with the Consultant. He really is an excellent chap and highly recommendable.
Mum started with three lumps: one on her neck and two under each armpit. The neck lump has gone, one armpit lump has gone and the remaining lump has reduced by 50%. Excellent news!!
As predicted, the white blood cell count is very low. This was expected in the middle week of the cycle which is why Mum is susceptible to infection. The consultant has given her a G-CSF injection and the District Nurse will give her another today and again tomorrow. This will raise the white blood cell count in time for Chemo next Thursday.
G-CSF means granulocyte-colony stimulating factor
G-CSF is a special type of protein called a growth factor. It stimulates the bone marrow to make white blood cells. The bone marrow is a spongy material inside the bones where all our blood cells are made.
Growth factors are made naturally in the body. They can also be made outside the body and used as treatments.
There are three different types of G-CSF:
lenograstim (Granocyte®)
filgrastim (Neupogen®, Nivestim®, Ratiograstim®, Zarzio®)
pegylated filgrastim (Neulasta®).
These treatments all work in similar ways.
Source - Macmillan
Ps. Pleased my Mobile phone post worked!
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