Abemaciclib and Covid vaccine

Hi KBH  my name is Chelle, and I am one of the online community champs. My cancer is different to yours, mine is an endometrial sarcoma which is now in my lungs. My sarcoma is treated by hormone therapy, and I take anastrozole. 
The eligibility for the Covid vaccine changed last year, and now only a small group of people are eligible. 

• 75 years or older
• Living in a care home for older adults
• Immunosuppressed (weakened immune system, including some cancer patients, chemo, transplant patients, etc.

Hormone treatment on its own is not an immune suppressant, so like yourself, I am not able to have the Covid vaccine, even though my lungs are affected by my cancer. 

I wish that people didn’t belittle the treatment we are on though “it’s just a hormone treatment” I have heard several times and it doesn’t sit well with me. It is a tough road being on estrogen blockers, and I hope you are doing ok. 

Thank you so much for your reply, I hope you are doing ok. I have since done quite a bit of research on the targeted drug that I am taking and it is not hormone treatment, but it is an immunosuppressant. I spoke to the pharmacy who refused me the vaccine ,  the pharmacist was very apologetic and agreed that I am eligible for the vaccine. She offered to vaccinate me that afternoon, but I was unable to go, so have to book another appointment .

Well done you! I am not aware of abemaciclib myself, so I am glad you have fought your corner and are getting the Covid vaccine. Every year I have to fight to get the flu vaccine, as they say I do not fit into their criteria for being automatically eligible. They know I should have it, but I have to source it myself from a pharmacy rather than join the queue at the doctors each year for the roll out. It is frustrating. 

Hi I am taking abemaciclib and Letrozole and was given a covid vaccine because of the abemaciclib as it lowers your immune system and was told by the oncologist that I needed it and a shingles vaccine too . I hope that helps but feel you should get one- I was referred for one by the oncologist who wrote to my gp. Maybe it’s worth talking to your oncologist again as you should be getting those . How are you feeling on it all ? 

Thanks for your reply. I have since spoken to the pharmacist about Abemaciclib who agreed that I should have the vaccine- now rescheduled for Thursday. My initial dose of Abemaciclib was reduced to 100mg and I am coping on this. I still get quite breathless after any physical activity, but seem to recover  quickly. I started the anastrazole about a month before and don’t seem to be getting any side effects from that. How about you?

Good - I was going to say - it has to be taken alongside hormone therapy but Abemaciclib is NOT hormone therapy - it's a targeted cancer drug that lowers immune system.