Any tips for injecting Filgrastim?

As my neutrophils are too low to have chemo today (now delayed by one week), I have to start injecting Filgrastim from next week, for 5 days each cycle.

I'm needle phobic and dreading doing this. Does anybody have any tips to make it easier? I also have a very lean stomach with no fat on it! 

Thanks!

Emily

  • Hi Emily, 

    I'm sorry to hear you weren't able to have chemo today but fingers crossed you can have it next week.

    I saw you were seeking tips to make injecting easier and I'm sure you'll hear from some of our members that have been in a similar situation or had experience of this soon but I just wanted to pop by to suggest maybe making another post in our nurses section of the forum as they may be able to help with this as well.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi again Emily, 

    I just wanted to share an article that I found on our website that may help with your situation as it includes a video that shows how to give an injection just under the skin.

    I hope this helps.

    All the best, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi EmilyS

    After I had my prostate cancer surgery, they gave me a box of 28 Clexane injections to stop blood clots. Not the same stuff as you, but still injected in the stomach. Yes, I was a little concerned at first, but after I'd done the first one, I realised it wasn't as difficult as I'd feared. I found holding the syringe between the thumb and second finger, with the first finger resting on the plunger worked best for me. I could push the needle into the flesh of my stomach, and then press down on the plunger in one smooth movement. The "traditional" way of holding the syringe between the first and second fingers, and pressing the plunger with the thumb is less confortable when self-injecting 

  •  

    Hi Emily,

    This can't be a pleasant thing for someone who is needle phobic to do.

    My experience of self-administered injections into my tummy is the same as Telemando's. I had a daily injection of Clexane. I panicked at first, but it really was much easier than I expected and I had no problem in finishing the course.

    I hope that your neutrophil count is up next week and you can continue your chemo.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Thank you so much [@Moderator Steph]‍  :)

    I'll take a look at both! 

    Emily 

     

  • Thank you [@Jolamine]‍  and [@telemando]‍  - useful tips and I hope I'm as OK with it as you are! I'm such a wuss! :D

    Hoping like mad my count is up by Friday's blood test. I'm eating lots of apples and garlic, LOL. Good for the immune system, though I read that food doesn't actually make that much difference. Well, it can't be bad for me anyway! 

    xx