[gardengirl]

Mozobil vs Cytoxan for stem cell collection

by gardengirl on Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:38 am

I am wondering which drug is better for stem cell collection (the plan is to store for now), which has the least side effects, and which one was used by most of you.

I had posted earlier about hair loss from Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) and have gotten dif­fer­ent responses. Even my trans­plant coordinator said I should not lose hair, so that has me confused!

Thank you in advance!

[lattecat]

Re: Mozobil vs Cytoxan for stem cell collection

by lattecat on Wed Aug 12, 2015 6:10 pm

Cyclo­phos­phamide and Neupogen were the two drugs I was given. I lost my hair because of cyclo­phosphamide. Neupogen did not cause any issues.

Good luck with your harvesting.

[Tough Mom]

Re: Mozobil vs Cytoxan for stem cell collection

by Tough Mom on Wed Aug 12, 2015 7:36 pm

I too was a little confused about whether the Cytoxan, often used to stimulate stem cell pro­duc­tion prior to collection with younger patients, would have side effects. I did keep working, even trav­elling for work, through the pre-stem cell collection treatments and right up to my transplant, and had no really significant problems with nausea, etc. However, I did lose every hair on my head about a week and a half after the Cytoxan infusion, during stem cell collection. This was a little surprising to me, as I also had conflicting information about this, so be forewarned!

Mozobil is a good drug for helping with stem cells, but keep in mind that the Cytoxan is also killing myeloma cells (and Mozobil doesn't). So if you are aggressively in search of a deep response (as I was - I still have 2 kids pre-college age), I might suggest the Cytoxan option.

[Debic]

Re: Mozobil vs Cytoxan for stem cell collection

by Debic on Wed Aug 12, 2015 8:11 pm

I had Cytoxan for breast cancer in 2007 and lost all my hair. They told me it would come out after the second round and it did.

Debi

[Sailor Mike]

Re: Mozobil vs Cytoxan for stem cell collection

by Sailor Mike on Thu Aug 13, 2015 2:54 pm

I got Cytoxan and Neupogen. I didn't have serious side effects with either. I did not lose my hair, and the Neupogen only caused very minor and transitory aches (like I was coming down with a cold).

Some of my compatriots in the stem cell collection room had more intense bone pains with the Neupogen, but for me, the whole stem cell collection process was a walk in the park. That was probably due in no small part to the careful monitoring and attention of the incredible team at the City of Hope.

[Rick R]

Re: Mozobil vs Cytoxan for stem cell collection

by Rick R on Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:24 am

I used Neupogen for 4 days last month at Mayo. Got negligible stem cells, disappointing. Then, 2 days of Mozobil, and boom, 15 million cells. No side effects from either.

[NStewart]

Re: Mozobil vs Cytoxan for stem cell collection

by NStewart on Sat Aug 15, 2015 6:18 pm

I had an infusion of Cytoxan and then 10 days of Neupogen injections. I had a mild sensation of nausea the day after the Cytoxan, which was relieved with one dose of Zofran. I had flu-like joint pain the last day before my stem cell collection, which I treated with Tylenol. I began to lose my hair about 10 days post Cytoxan. I only needed one day to harvest enough stem cells for 2 trans­plants.

I had had 8 rounds of Revlimid and dex prior to starting the harvesting process. The only reason that I had so many was that I couldn't arrange time off from work and someone to come stay with me post transplant until that time. It worked well, since we had a terrible winter that year and I had my transplant in January. It made it so I didn't have to worry about trying to get to work through all of the snow and ice we had.

Nancy in Phila