Abemaciclib use on Early Breast Cancer

surfangel

Abemaciclib has been studied on metastatic cancer patients and since had FDA approval in the US for use either as a monotheraphy or with fulvestrant.

There has been some very positive results that have come those studies. Currently there is an active forum for Stage IV cancer patients on Abemaciclib which has been for me a great source of information on the management of the drug's side effects. But as there people like myself that are involved in the clinical trial of Abemaciclib effects on early breast cancer, I thought it high time that a fourm be set up for those of us on Abemaciclib that are participating in MonarchE or similar trials so we can share our experiences and create a support network.

Abemaciclib is a class of drug that is CDK4/6 inhibitor which stops the progression of certain cancers by inhibiting the enzymes that allow for cell division causing apotheosis.

The MonarchE trial:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the study drug abemaciclib in participants with high risk, node positive, early stage, hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HER2-), breast cancer.

I am currently taking it along with Tamoxifen. When I first started the side effects were pretty severe. The main side effect is diarrhoea, which can be annoying and a hassle if your already back working after treatment like myself. Other side effects I've experienced is dry mouth, bloating, increased side effects from tamoxifen, and swelling of my feet and ankles. I have now been on it for six months. I can report that a number of the side effects have subsided. Though the diarrhoea seems to run in cycles

surfangel

An article on some of the positiveresults of previous trials

https://www.onclive.com/conference-coverage/sabcs-2017/neoadjuvant-abemaciclib-active-in-early-breast-cancer

surfangel

FDA approval for the use of Abemaciclib for early breast cancer treatment

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2018/abemaciclib-fda-breast-cancer-first-line