When your cancer is caused by problems with blood cell maturity in the bone marrow, hematologic growth factors are a form of treatment that is designed to help blood cells mature with the objective of restoring blood count levels to normality.
Cochise Oncology can deliver treatment that uses Hematopoietic cells as a form of cancer treatment, which can also be used in conjunction with other treatments.
Hematopoietic growth factors are naturally-occurring substances that facilitate and regulate the production of new blood cells by the bone marrow. They relate to red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets alike.
When the body’s ability to naturally make blood cells, which leaves you with immature cells, lab-produced Hematopoietic cells can be used to increase the blood cell count. Blood cells that can be supported by growth factors include Epoetin, Darbepoetin alfa, Luspatercept, G-CSF, filgrastim, or Neupogen, Pegfilgrastim.
Hematopoietic cells support the maturity of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelet levels to support patients that have Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), which are a group of blood cancers as well as acute myeloid leukemia.
MDS can occur after chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which is why growth factors may also be used following rounds of chemotherapy.
Lab-produced Hematopoietic cells commonly take the form of drugs and medications that are administered primarily through subcutaneous injections. Drugs for boosting platelet levels include thrombopoietin-receptor agonists and oprelvekin. Hematopoietic growth factors subsequently influence the growth, survival, and differentiation of blood progenitor cells.
The injections are usually made to the stomach, legs, or arms. The injections are given daily and can be completed on-site, by a visiting medical expert, or by a family member (once they have been shown how to do it). In some cases, mainly after a transplant, the growth factors may be administered intravenously into the bloodstream.
Preparations for the treatment are minimal, which is highlighted by the fact that a family member can complete the injections. The main planning processes come courtesy of finding the right lab-produced growth factors for your body and cancer treatment. Following this, preparing the site for injections is no different from any other injection. The site should be clean while a bandage can be prepared to cover the area after the injection.
When administered intravenously, you will be linked to the drip for a few hours. However, when taking the more common approach of injections, the procedure is completed in a matter of seconds. It is a largely painless procedure in which you may feel a slight prick.
The injections occur daily for as long as required. The duration will depend on the type and stage of cancer, as well as circumstantial elements. If administered in conjunction with chemotherapy, the growth factors treatment will usually follow the same path, with injections being used after each round. Speaking to a doctor is the best way to understand the personalized strategy.
When having growth factors injected as a part of your chemotherapy or other cancer treatment, you may experience a range of side effects caused by those. As far as side effects directly linked to the injections of Hematopoietic cells are concerned, itching around the injection site is quite common. Other issues are fever symptoms and aching bones.
*Individual Results May Vary
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