Abemaciclib is this a chemo drug? and news I got re the high risk of breast cancer coming back

Hope this helps to explain what the drug is. I have no personal experience of the drug but can empathise with how tough it is finding that more treatment is recommended.  From elsewhere on this site. www.macmillan.org.uk/.../abemaciclib

So sorry you have had bad news, this happened to me, told high risk of reacurrance as tumour so large, was in shock for days as right at end of my treatment. I cried lots, so know how you feel

I am on cycle 6 of Abemaciclib, along side anastrozole, similar to Letrazole. Its not chemo but some of the side effects can be similar e. g reduce white blood cell count

Once I started to accept where I was with things I decided to try it as will give me a really good chance of the cancer not coming back which terrifies me 

Once you have to time process what has just happened you will be able to weigh up if its something you want to try. 

All the best x

thanks Kitty 

yep that is how I felt! thought it was over then hit in the face with that news I m going to give it ago watiing for the appt now to be cheecked for it then get the prescrioption I have to take in tablet form you mention cycle? I have also have to take letrazole for next ten years.?

Good that you are going to try, it is tablets but they still refer to ach month as a cycle of treatment.

They will explain everything but you are closely monitored to ensure you stay well. I have my monthly blood tests, review & all being well monthly prescription to collect from the hospital pharmacy

It's taken a months for my mind set to change but am greatfull that the funding was given for me as its expensive. Hopefully it will help to keep me well 

Try & focus on the benefits although there may be some side effects.

I am on hormone inhibitors for 10 years and Zoldronic acid infusions every 6 months for 3 years as well as abemaciclib.

All the best x

My situation is very similar and I was shocked that there is no scan - like you I was told that it could be in tiny bits of cells and so they wouldn’t trust the scans anyway with Grade 3 large tumour and lots of lymph nodes affected.  It takes a while to get over the shock - I thought it was all out with my mastectomy but then had chemo, radio, zoladex monthly, zoledronic acid six monthly, Letrozole for 10 years and Abemiciclib (which I’ve just started) for two years.  I guess I’m just focusing on the fact that I am doing everything I can to prevent it coming back but it’s hard to accept the lack of certainty.  I’ve not gone back to work - I did a lot of lifting which I can’t do post-mastectomy with no lymph nodes and a sore shoulder and I worked weekends which I no longer want to do - I want to be off with the rest of my family. I loved my job and miss it but hope to find something  more suitable… the drug Abemaciclib is a “targets therapy” not chemo as such but can have similar side effects though it’s nowhere near as strong.  I’ve been on it 10 days and apart from a bit of diarrhoea every other day I’m just a bit more tired so far.  It is a very expensive drug and only been available for primary cancer for a short time - the results are really encouraging - it is, however, pretty rubbish after all we’ve been through to end up in that category in terms of danger of recurrence which means we are entitled to it. I try to be grateful but at the beginning of my journey I’d been told surgery - radio - hormone therapy and done…. Now I’ve been told I won’t be discharged due to the very high risk of recurrence but I’m trying to live like it’s “done” if that makes sense ….

Oh and I’ve never had any good news or at any stage which is really hard - even just a “well done” for getting through a treatment stage would be lovely … it’s just straight into the next thing…