Abmebiclib

Hi Pooh bear,

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community. It is good to see you have joined some of our forums here. I do hope you are finding them supportive. My name is Ursula, and I’m one of the cancer information nurses, here on the Macmillan Support Line. 

I am sorry to read that you are struggling with abemaciclib, and that this is causing you to worry all the time, affecting what you eat, and when you leave your home.

Unfortunately it is not uncommon for people to experience diarrhoea whilst on abemaciclib, but it is important that you feel supported in managing this. For many people this starts in the first weeks of starting abemaciclib and lessens as treatment continues. However, for some people it continues to be severe. If you haven’t done so already, it is important to speak with your treatment team and let them know you are struggling. Sometimes the dose of abemaciclib needs to be reduced or a break in treatment may be recommended. On some occasions it may even be appropriate to stop treatment completely or explore possible alternatives.

It is also important to speak with your treatment teams about your piles and that you believe you may have a tear. Abemaciclib can reduce the number of white blood cells in your blood. These cells fight infection and if your white blood cell count is low you may be more likely to get an infection. If you have any broken skin, this could make you more prone to infection. If you have any of the signs or symptoms of infection, we recommend you contact the hospital straight away on the 24-hour number (this should have been provided prior to starting treatment).

Experiencing side effects which are affecting your bowels, can make people feel worried about going out. For some people planning ahead can help them feel more confident about this. One thing to consider is getting a toilet card that you can show quickly when out in public. You can order our Macmillan toilet card to carry and use when you are out in public. It also comes with a fob version that can be attached to a key ring. We cannot guarantee that it will work everywhere, but we hope it helps you to get access to a toilet. Knowing where public toilets are located before you go can also help and this information can be found here.

Bladder and Bowel UK also have a confidential helpline where you can speak to specialist nurses and continence product experts on options for managing bowel problems.

I wonder if you might also benefit from giving our support line a call. As well as the information and links in this email, we often find we can speak in a bit more detail over the phone, giving you the opportunity to ask more questions if needed. Our team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to more support and information as appropriate. There is no right or wrong way to feel, but it is important to know that support is available

Alongside professional support, some people find it can be helpful to connect with others to hear how they have managed in similar situations. You can do this here via our online community forums, and also through the Breast Cancer Now, Someone like me service.

I do hope you find this information helpful, but please do not hesitate to get back in touch with us if you need any further support. 

Best wishes, 

Ursula, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.  

Ref: UH/AC