Leukine
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Leukine

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Leukine

  • Post
    • September 22, 2012 at 10:17 pm
    Marilynn Eiken
    Participant

      My husband is on his second 2 week dosing of Leukine.  The first round went well til about day 5.  Everything I read warned that injection site reactions were very common.  Which is what happened.  On day 5 his belly started swelling, welting, etc.  He suffered threw it til the end of the 2 weeks but when we started the injections this time the reaction was immediate.  The welts are the size of my hand, including my fingers, and mind you I am not a dainty handed girl.  Is this what most have experienced with Leukine?  I am a nurse and keep reminding h

      My husband is on his second 2 week dosing of Leukine.  The first round went well til about day 5.  Everything I read warned that injection site reactions were very common.  Which is what happened.  On day 5 his belly started swelling, welting, etc.  He suffered threw it til the end of the 2 weeks but when we started the injections this time the reaction was immediate.  The welts are the size of my hand, including my fingers, and mind you I am not a dainty handed girl.  Is this what most have experienced with Leukine?  I am a nurse and keep reminding him that his side effects could be so much worse compared to many treatments but after 14 days of injections Im not sure if he will have an unwelted area left on him.  We are using hydrocortisone, ice, heat, ibuprofen, caladryl.  Any other tips/tricks anyone could suggest? 

       

      Thanks a bunch!

       

      Marilynn

    Viewing 8 reply threads
    • Replies
        • September 23, 2012 at 12:00 am
        lhaley
        Participant

          Call the Dr.  This is not a normal allergic reaction.  There have been people on this board that also had allergic reactions.  I was on it for a year and would get swelling around the area of injection and would still watch me carefully because I was on a trial with it.

          One thought is to let the needle with the leukine sit on the counter for about 15 min. before you use it.

          Good luck!

          Linda

          • September 23, 2012 at 12:00 am
          lhaley
          Participant

            Call the Dr.  This is not a normal allergic reaction.  There have been people on this board that also had allergic reactions.  I was on it for a year and would get swelling around the area of injection and would still watch me carefully because I was on a trial with it.

            One thought is to let the needle with the leukine sit on the counter for about 15 min. before you use it.

            Good luck!

            Linda

            • September 23, 2012 at 12:00 am
            lhaley
            Participant

              Call the Dr.  This is not a normal allergic reaction.  There have been people on this board that also had allergic reactions.  I was on it for a year and would get swelling around the area of injection and would still watch me carefully because I was on a trial with it.

              One thought is to let the needle with the leukine sit on the counter for about 15 min. before you use it.

              Good luck!

              Linda

              • September 23, 2012 at 8:38 am
              Harry in Fair Oaks
              Participant

                I did almost 3 years of leukine 2000-2002.  I too had large welts the 1st few cycle.  Those diminished over time.  After a few months they almost disappeared completely.  Give it time.

                Best wishes,

                Harry

                  • September 23, 2012 at 8:42 am
                  Harry in Fair Oaks
                  Participant

                    I would stay away from hydrocortisone. 

                    Best wishes,

                    Harry

                    • September 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm
                    Marilynn Eiken
                    Participant

                      Any particular thoughts on the hydrocortisone?  The pharmacist actually recommended it four times a day.  Thank you so much for your input!

                       

                      Marilynn

                      • September 23, 2012 at 9:16 pm
                      Harry in Fair Oaks
                      Participant

                        It is a steroid which suppresses the immune system.  So why use it unless absolutely necessary?  Leukine, by contrast, is an immune system booster.  Dr. Glenn Tisman, who I saw at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, told me to stay away from it.

                        Now some (including my present dermatologist) say that topical hydrocortisone cream, especially in the lower over-the-counter strengths, is too weak an immuno-suppressor to cause any real harm.  I say: why chance it?

                        Best wishes,

                        Harry

                        • September 23, 2012 at 9:16 pm
                        Harry in Fair Oaks
                        Participant

                          It is a steroid which suppresses the immune system.  So why use it unless absolutely necessary?  Leukine, by contrast, is an immune system booster.  Dr. Glenn Tisman, who I saw at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, told me to stay away from it.

                          Now some (including my present dermatologist) say that topical hydrocortisone cream, especially in the lower over-the-counter strengths, is too weak an immuno-suppressor to cause any real harm.  I say: why chance it?

                          Best wishes,

                          Harry

                          • September 23, 2012 at 9:16 pm
                          Harry in Fair Oaks
                          Participant

                            It is a steroid which suppresses the immune system.  So why use it unless absolutely necessary?  Leukine, by contrast, is an immune system booster.  Dr. Glenn Tisman, who I saw at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, told me to stay away from it.

                            Now some (including my present dermatologist) say that topical hydrocortisone cream, especially in the lower over-the-counter strengths, is too weak an immuno-suppressor to cause any real harm.  I say: why chance it?

                            Best wishes,

                            Harry

                            • September 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm
                            Marilynn Eiken
                            Participant

                              Any particular thoughts on the hydrocortisone?  The pharmacist actually recommended it four times a day.  Thank you so much for your input!

                               

                              Marilynn

                              • September 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm
                              Marilynn Eiken
                              Participant

                                Any particular thoughts on the hydrocortisone?  The pharmacist actually recommended it four times a day.  Thank you so much for your input!

                                 

                                Marilynn

                                • September 23, 2012 at 8:42 am
                                Harry in Fair Oaks
                                Participant

                                  I would stay away from hydrocortisone. 

                                  Best wishes,

                                  Harry

                                  • September 23, 2012 at 8:42 am
                                  Harry in Fair Oaks
                                  Participant

                                    I would stay away from hydrocortisone. 

                                    Best wishes,

                                    Harry

                                  • September 23, 2012 at 8:38 am
                                  Harry in Fair Oaks
                                  Participant

                                    I did almost 3 years of leukine 2000-2002.  I too had large welts the 1st few cycle.  Those diminished over time.  After a few months they almost disappeared completely.  Give it time.

                                    Best wishes,

                                    Harry

                                    • September 23, 2012 at 8:38 am
                                    Harry in Fair Oaks
                                    Participant

                                      I did almost 3 years of leukine 2000-2002.  I too had large welts the 1st few cycle.  Those diminished over time.  After a few months they almost disappeared completely.  Give it time.

                                      Best wishes,

                                      Harry

                                      • September 25, 2012 at 1:27 am
                                      Gene_S
                                      Participant

                                        Hi Marilynn,

                                        My husband is on Ipi with GM-CSF which is a leukine.  When he first started he got amazingly large raised, hot, itcy areas from this shot at every injection site.  In the 2 weeks we did the shots everyday there was almost no room left to do another with all the inflammed areas.  They had to cut his shots in half.  He no longer has reactions and it has been a year and a half since he started them for 2 weeks on and 1 week off.  He also is still getting the Ipi which the first 12 weeks he got it every 3rd week and now he gets it every 12 weeks.

                                        So maybe they could cut your injection amounts in half and thus it wouldn't affect you as much.

                                        Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

                                        • September 25, 2012 at 1:27 am
                                        Gene_S
                                        Participant

                                          Hi Marilynn,

                                          My husband is on Ipi with GM-CSF which is a leukine.  When he first started he got amazingly large raised, hot, itcy areas from this shot at every injection site.  In the 2 weeks we did the shots everyday there was almost no room left to do another with all the inflammed areas.  They had to cut his shots in half.  He no longer has reactions and it has been a year and a half since he started them for 2 weeks on and 1 week off.  He also is still getting the Ipi which the first 12 weeks he got it every 3rd week and now he gets it every 12 weeks.

                                          So maybe they could cut your injection amounts in half and thus it wouldn't affect you as much.

                                          Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

                                          • September 25, 2012 at 1:27 am
                                          Gene_S
                                          Participant

                                            Hi Marilynn,

                                            My husband is on Ipi with GM-CSF which is a leukine.  When he first started he got amazingly large raised, hot, itcy areas from this shot at every injection site.  In the 2 weeks we did the shots everyday there was almost no room left to do another with all the inflammed areas.  They had to cut his shots in half.  He no longer has reactions and it has been a year and a half since he started them for 2 weeks on and 1 week off.  He also is still getting the Ipi which the first 12 weeks he got it every 3rd week and now he gets it every 12 weeks.

                                            So maybe they could cut your injection amounts in half and thus it wouldn't affect you as much.

                                            Judy (loving wife of Gene Stage IV and now NED)

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