Does cancer treatment cause weakness? Let's learn about G-CSF! (Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor)

When you or someone you know is undergoing cancer treatment , that is, chemotherapy , as we all know, doctors often say, "You need to be careful, because the cells that fight disease may decrease." The reason for this is that when cancer cells are destroyed, healthy cells that are essential to our body may also be destroyed to some extent. So, there is a special type of medicine that helps the body's defenses at this time. That is what we are talking about today.

Simply put, what is G-CSF?

G-CSF is a drug that helps our body make more neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps our body fight disease. These neutrophils are like our body's main defense soldiers. When things like germs , viruses, and bacteria enter the body, these cells fight them and save us from getting sick. If we look at the meaning of the name G-CSF, we can understand this better:

• Granulocyte: This is the name given to a type of white blood cell . Neutrophils are also a type of granulocyte. G-CSF mainly stimulates the production of these neutrophils.
• Colony-Stimulating Factor: This is like a protein that tells cells "what to do." G-CSF can tell a stem cell in our bone marrow, "You're going to become a neutrophil now." It can also tell an existing neutrophil to "divide and multiply."

Simply put, G-CSF is a drug that goes to our bone marrow and sends a message saying, "Emergency! We need more defense soldiers (neutrophils), make them quickly and release them into the blood."

What conditions is G-CSF used for?

G-CSF is mainly used to treat and prevent neutropenia . Neutropenia is when the number of neutrophils in the blood is lower than normal. When this happens, the body's ability to fight infection is greatly reduced. There are several main reasons why your doctor may prescribe this medication.

During cancer treatment (Chemotherapy)

When chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, they can also kill healthy neutrophils. This is why neutropenia is very common after chemotherapy. Sometimes this can be life-threatening. G-CSF reduces this risk by stimulating the bone marrow to produce new neutrophils quickly.

During a stem cell transplant

People with cancer or certain blood diseases may need stem cell transplants. G-CSF helps with this process both before and after.

• Before the transplant: When G-CSF is given, a large number of stem cells from the bone marrow are released into the bloodstream. Doctors then collect those healthy stem cells.
• After the transplant: After the abnormal cells in the patient's body are destroyed, the previously collected healthy stem cells are returned to the body. G-CSF helps those cells grow properly and become normal blood cells .

Other neutropenia conditions

Some people are born with severe neutropenia. Others may develop the condition for no apparent reason. In these cases, G-CSF is also used to increase neutrophil levels.

Types of G-CSF and how they are given

The drug G-CSF is available in the market under various names. These vary slightly in terms of their duration of action and manufacturing process. G-CSF is usually given as a subcutaneous injection. It is sometimes given as an IV infusion. If you are able to give yourself the injection at home, your doctor or nurse will explain how to do it.

What are the side effects of G-CSF?

Like any medication, G-CSF has benefits and side effects. But remember, a doctor is prescribing this medication to you because the benefits far outweigh the risks. Most side effects go away when treatment is stopped.

Why does G-CSF cause bone pain?

This is a common side effect that many people experience. Although the exact cause is not known, scientists think that it is because G-CSF causes the bone marrow to suddenly start making new cells at a very fast rate. The pressure caused by this rapid growth is what we feel as pain. This pain is usually tolerable. You can talk to your doctor about it and get a suitable painkiller.

When should you see a doctor?

It is very important to tell your doctor about any side effects you experience while taking G-CSF. In particular, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical advice immediately . Sometimes you may need to go to the hospital's Emergency Department (ETU).

• Symptoms of an infection: fever, chills, sore throat, cough.
• Symptoms of an allergy:Skin rash, swelling, difficulty breathing .
• Sudden shortness of breath.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Sudden swelling of the hands or feet.