Help for Infection Protection and Reduce Risk of Infection during Chemotherapy

As a cancer patient taking chemotherapy (this is sometimes called chemo), you may be aware how some chemo increases your chance of infection. While this may be true, there are steps you can take to help protect against infection.

At every step of your chemo, it's important to help protect yourself against infections. Taking a white cell booster such as Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) is one way to help protect yourself, but there are other everyday precautions that are also helpful, such as the following:

  • Always wash your hands with soap and plenty of water to avoid transmission of infection through things that you touch.
  • Avoid people with colds or the flu.
  • Avoid large crowds to avoid coming into contact with sick people.
  • Bathe daily and gently dry your skin.
  • Use lotion to help prevent cracks in your skin.
  • Prevent cuts or scrapes, which can provide places for infection to enter your body.
    • Use an electric razor instead of a blade to prevent cuts.
    • Handle sharp objects with caution.
    • Wear protective gloves when appropriate.
  • If you get a cut or scrape, cover it with a clean bandage until it heals.
  • Cook food thoroughly to kill infection-causing bacteria that may be in raw food.

Watch for signs of infection

Be sure to report any of the following signs of infection immediately to your doctor:

  • Fever higher than 100.4°F (38.2°C)
  • Chills
  • Cough or sore throat
  • Loose stools/diarrhea over 24 hours
  • Changes in urination
  • Mouth ulcers or sores in the throat or around the rectum
  • Unusual vaginal discharge or itching
  • Redness, swelling, or sores on the skin

Are there any tests that can help monitor for infection?

Your doctor determines what kinds of tests are needed. If you are receiving chemotherapy, you may have blood work done anywhere from the day of or up to 7 days before your scheduled treatment. This blood work will include a complete blood count (CBC). A blood sample for a complete blood count (CBC) will also be collected seven to fourteen days following your chemotherapy. The CBC measures counts of different cells in your body, including the white blood cell (WBC) counts. Patients with a low WBC count are at increased risk of infection and may benefit from treatment with a low white blood cell booster such as Neulasta®.

If you are concerned or unsure about your condition, it may help to make a list of questions to ask your doctor.

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 safety information
Ruptured spleen (including fatal cases) 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, or a fast rate of breathing. In rare cases, serious allergic reactions can occur, causing shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around the mouth or eyes, fast pulse, sweating, and hives. Sometimes these symptoms could come back within days after stopping treatment for the allergic reaction. If you start to have any of these symptoms, call your doctor or seek emergency care right away. Sickle cell crises have also been reported.

In a clinical study, mild to moderate bone pain occurred in 31% of the patients taking Neulasta® and in 26% of the patients taking a placebo injection. In most cases, bone pain was controlled with a non-narcotic pain reliever, such as acetaminophen. Other common side effects reported by patients in the study taking either Neulasta® or placebo were consistent with the underlying cancer diagnosis and its treatment with chemotherapy, with the exception of 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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