Ibrance Arrived and...I'm Scared

azs40, When I started taking Ibrance and Faslodex 16 months ago, I was very reluctant to start. Like you, Until my MBC dx, I never took any medications with the exception of an occasional Tylenol. The Faslodex didn't worry me, but all those SEs listed for Ibrance made me think that I would become a sickly shut-in. Well, I am here to tell you that I feel great. Faslodex and Ibrance has been a really easy combo for me. My blood counts did drop way too low during the Ibrance first cycle, and my MO dropped my dose to 100 mg. Since then there have been times when I needed a 2 week break rather than 1 so my counts could rebound, but those times have been few. You might have read that low white cell counts would make you susceptible to frequent infection. To that I say hogwash. Infections have been uncommon for those of us on these boards. I have not been sick at all. My scans after three months showed improvement in my liver and bone mets. After 6 months on the combo, there was even more improvement - 2 of the original 3 liver mets were no longer visible, and the third one was tiny. Everyone's experience is different, but my advice to you is, "Just do it!!" As far as timing is concerned, it doesnt't really matter what meal you take it with as long as you take it with food at about the same time every day. I have found it easiest to take it with breakfast since it is the one meal that is consistently at about the same time.

Good luck. Come join us on the Ibrance thread and the Faslodex thread. The Faslodex thread has some good tips for what to do when you have the shots. Those tips are at the beginning of the thread.

One last thing, many of us live for a long time with MBC. Don't pay any attention to those outdated stats you might have read. We are not data points here. We are living, breathing people -individuals. I, for one, and planning to be around for a heck of a long time

Hugs and prayers from, Lynne

azs40, I took Faslodex for four years. Ibrance for the last year of it -- once it was approved. Yes, the pill box looks scary. Yes your neutrophil level will go down.

But I never had any fatigue or any other problems. Some ladies do, some don't. Don't assume you'll have a hard time. Don't worry too much about the PFS stats in the Faslodex/Ibrance trial. We are all individuals and those are population data.

I haven't had mets symptoms so I can't comment on how long until they are better. [Well I did have symptoms, but the spinal fusion took care of them, LOL]

You can do this!

I clearly remember the day that the big box was delivered to me. It was scary to swallow the first pill. It's not about being brave, it's about making decisions. I have a very long history with B.C.

., which included lots of harsh chemo. I didn't know a pill existed to treat MBC till last December DX. In comparison, after i got over the shock, I decided it was worth a try. Guess what? It's working. Yes, some days SE are bad, some days not as much. I'm almost one year on Ibrance/ femara. I have mets in lung ,chest and liver.

I still get to do all of the things most important to me. Last night I went to a musical starring my granddaughter! I'm sure will get to do your favorite things, too. Probably for years to come.

The responses you've got have been reassuring. This treatment is relatively new for me. I'm on my 7th cycle Ibrance/foslodex. My three month scans showed containment. Next scans are scheduled for January 2018. I am pleased. My side effects are minimal. The worst is itching on face and neck, it comes and goes during each cycle and seems to be easing with each cycle. My WBCs drop, as expected, then they rise again. Slight fatigue and loss of appetite round out my side effects. Over all I feel good and not limited in physical activities. Give it a chance.

azs40, that's excellent! So glad to hear you're starting to feel better almost immediately. Kill those cancer cells!

Spicedlife, good luck to you!