abemaciclib and letrizole new approval

The side effects do look daunting but it’s for two years only and I am happy that it’s offered as it’s the first targeted therapy for this type of bc and the first real treatment progression for about 15 years so I feel lucky if I can have it.  if you have bad side effects, you could ask your oncologist what the percentage benefit is for your picture and make a decision from there x

Hi FE1 I’ve been on Abemaciclib and Letrozole for nearly 6 months now and it’s not been too bad. I started on 150mg and was ok for 4 months but then had to have a two week break because my neutrophils dropped to 1. I was oblivious to this and only knew because of my blood test and didn’t catch anything or suffer any infections. Diarrhoea was intermittent but a “pattern” seemed to emerge and it was well controlled with Imodium. 

I went back on it on a reduced dose of 100mg and this seems to suit me. My neutrophils have gone back up to 1.6 and are holding steady. I had a bit of a cold this week (tested, not Covid!) but that disappeared after 2 days. Less episodes of full on diarrhoea, more just needing to go with some urgency (if that makes sense!) which again, there seems to be a pattern for plus I seem to have got used to how my stomach feels ahead of when it might be bad. So I go everywhere prepared with some tissue and Imodium - think it’s become a bit of a talisman! 

I do get fatigued but find that exercise helps that. No matter how tired I’m feeling, I take the dog out for an hour every day and I go running/do weights during the week. Sometimes I have to force myself to do it but I genuinely feel better afterwards and I sleep like a baby. If I feel very weary during the day, I try and grab a 20 min nap and that helps!

Before I started treatment I read an article on Breast Cancer Org (reputable American site) which said  that people on Abemaciclib and Letrozole reported fewer hot flushes and less joint pain than the control group on Letrozole alone. Don’t know if that influenced my head, or whether it’s true, but I’ve only had about 4 slightly warmer moments since Jan. I do notice some stiffness in the morning but it wears off quickly once I get moving. I work from home and notice that if I sit too long I get stiff  I was like that before treatment 

i know it’s only been six months and I still have another 18 to go but so far it’s not been as bad as the leaflets full of side effects suggested.

Wishing you the best with your treatment x 

I have also been offered it alongside the letraxole I’ve been taking since December. I was really upset after the chemo nurses talked me through the side effects. I just don’t know what to do. I have problems with the muscles in my legs and feet from chemo that are getting worse not better and they have no answers for me. I am worried that abemaciclib is going to give me so many side effects that my quality of life will be rubbish. 

You could always try it and then have a reduced dose or stop if you have bad side effects. The stomach upset is meant to only be for the first few weeks and people have a lot of the other side effects with letrozole anyway so you may not notice much difference.   It is only 5% on top of everything else but getting towards any kind of ‘cure’ is always done by incrementally stacking the percentages. Taxanes being added to chemo only added 2%, as does ovarian suppression for a lot of people. 5% is quite a lot, medically.   It’s totally your decision but there’s nothing to lose by trying it. All the best x