Hello everyone,
I just wanted to post about my experience of Letrozole and Ribociclib, as I have met quite a number of women in the last six months who have been offered these drugs, but due to reading about the possible side effects, have declined them, without trying them first. I admit that the list of possible side effects is daunting.
However, I have been on Letrozole for almost 7 months now, and despite having arthritis in many areas (hip, ankles, hand joints), I have found it tolerable, despite the odd day when, (perhaps once every two/three weeks), it seems to get the better of me and I’m sore, stiff and tired for a day or two. Moderate exercise definitely helps overcome this.
I’ve now just started my third cycle of Ribociclib. I will be honest, the first week of the first cycle was absolutely awful (I wanted to give it up there and then) but my oncology nurse specialist asked me to keep going (if possible) and record a diary, which turned out to be invaluable advice. Symptoms eased after about 10 days and on my second cycle, I reviewed what had happened in the first cycle and could see the same pattern in the second, but less aggressively so. I’m now nearly a week in to cycle three (of 36, no less, what joy!) and can see the same pattern but again, with even less severe side effects, in fact feeling almost normal most of the time.
My only real ongoing side effect is low white cell blood count, which has necessitated weekly blood tests, which, after all these weeks, I’m a bit fed up with. I hadn’t realized that in some consent paperwork somewhere, I’d agreed to keep Count Dracula in fresh blood! But the combination of taking Letrozole and Ribociclib is my best chance of preventing reoccurrence, going forward.
I hope this post helps someone who might be concerned about taking these medications, feel that they can perhaps give it a go!
Best wishes to all.
