Ibrance and Letrozole: Newly Diagnosed Treatment
Hello,
My name is Sharon, I am 56 years old, and I have recently been diagnose with IDC Breast cancer the has spread to my lymph nodes and metastasized to various areas (Rib, sternum, spine, and iliac bone). Apparently I am one of the 6% of women who receive this type of diagnosed with no previous cancer diagnosis. I was completely overwhelmed when I received these diagnoses from all the scans, tests, and biopsies. So now I am learning how to live with an advanced diagnoses and my oncologist started me on Letrozole and Ibrance to slow the progression of my cancer. Does anyone have experience with this treatment?
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Hi, could you share a link to the article?
I am sorry, I could not find it. I read an enormous amount of information every day and I couldn’t say who posted the article. I can tell you it would have been a reliable medical source, because that is what I read. I can also tell you it was about letrozole combination treatments.
Here is a magazine article that filled me with hope.
https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/no-stopping-terlisa-sheppard
I have been taking Ibrance and Lextrozole for a year. I had scans read three days ago by my oncologist. Hallelujah… my MBC is in remission. My breast tumor is gone, only scar tissue. Spine lesions gone. OMG!!
This is my second bout with Cancer, in 2018 I had Uterine Cancer. I had chemo and radiation and surgery to remove the tumor. To this day NED. These drugs have been kicking Cancer’s ass.
YIPPEE!!! This will fill my day with joy! Remember the drugs only work if you do the work of taking them. Pat yourself on the back too. ❤️❤️
I will! Thanks…
Great job.
@sharonyb4000 I have been thinking about you, how are you doing on your treatment?
Hello, thank you for checking on me. I have experienced some difficulties adjusting to my treatments. My Oncologist started me on Letrozole and Ibrance 125 mg. Although the side effects started almost immediately. For example, nausea, loss of appetite, and a rash on my neck and my hands have painful red splotches. But the worst side effect was the drop in my blood counts (Neutropenia). So he stopped the dosage for two weeks and started me on the lower dose of Ibrance 100 mg. I go for my follow up visit next week. It took longer for the side effects to start due to the lower dosage, but it’s the same story but in addition, I have headaches, constipation, and hiccups. I’m sure he will stop the medication again after my blood test results and we may have to find another option. I also have to have to MRI’s due to pain in my back. I’m not sure if I am ready for those results. Now please do not think I’m complaining, I’ve just had a rough time. I still drive an hour to and from work everyday, but I have missed days because I was feeling so bad. I take things one day at a time and thank God for my blessings. On a more positive note, I was able to participate in the Susan G Komen walk in Miami a couple of weeks ago, and raised almost $1000 towards Breast Cancer Research. So I’m grateful for the victories. I am learning to find my balance since my diagnosis and I am committed to helping others go for their check ups and value their health. ☺️
You are the very definition of a cancer warrior. I am not talking about kicking cancer kind of warrior, but the ability to go on living to the best of your ability in spite of it kind of bravery.
There are other combinations of drugs that your doctor may choose, to hopefully give you less trouble. I don’t think you are complaining, if you can’t talk about the hard things here, then where? Because Oh my goodness the hiccups! I have that too, I have been living with them long enough to learn how to make them go away but they are certainly distracting. Lol. I also have to care for my bowels daily with Mira lax every night or pay the consequences.
I hope you are finding time to cherish yourself a bit, be gentle with yourself, you are going through a lot. I remember feeling like I had to do everything, like I could outrun it, but I kind of wish I had slowed down a bit and enjoyed my journey a bit more during that time.
Please come back and let me know how you are doing, I think about you often. When is your MRI?