How many patients need Neulasta® to boost their counts with the dose-dense regimen?
The original study of dose-dense regimen was conducted with every patient receiving Neupogen® (filgrastim). Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is the longer-acting version of that medicine and is now currently used with the dose-dense regimen. However, many physicians have observed that the same level of growth factor support may not be necessary during the Taxol® (paclitaxel) part of this treatment and they tend to lower their use of growth factors during this phase of treatment. If you are experiencing bone pain during your Neupogen or Neulasta injections and notice that your white count is overshooting, you should discuss this with your physician to consider lowering the total dose of the growth factor.
