Ibrance (Palbociclib)

Philly- I thought you said your back went out recently. Do you remember doing something to hurt your back? Twisting, lifting, etc. I totally understand the "worry zone" with aches and pains, but maybe it is normal and not cancer causing the pain. Hope you get to feeling better soon !!!!

Jaycee- Good point about the cycles. I will count the full 21 day cycles and compare to how I have been doing it. And will post results of recount.

Nicole, an Ibrance cycle is 28 days, 21 days on, 7 days off. Only Feb. in leap years is 29 days. All other months are 28 (Feb), 30 (April, June, Sept. Nov.), and 31 for the rest. Big difference. For instance, a year has 365 days. An Ibrance year has 336 (12 times 28). When I do calculations about how long I have been on I/L, that discrepancy makes me crazy. It must be taken into account. Sorry, I am a numbers person.

Here is my two cents re pill swallowing: A few weeks ago I swallowed my pills along with some vitamins and lay down on the carpet to do yoga stretching. When I got up it felt like a pill was stuck in my throat. It lasted over a week, well after the pill was dissolved. My primary care dr said she thought the pill had scratched my esophagus when I laid down too quickly after taking it.

Ok y'all...here's how I do it number-wise. One year has 13 cycles (if you divide 365 / 28) so since I have been on three years, I have done 39 plus 2 more equals 41 cycles. I didn't count cycles when I first started so this is how I caught up. I did take 2 weeks off for pneumonia once but that is all.

Ciaci, I am so happy for you! Happy dancing here!!!

I always feel worse during my week off. In the beginning I used to get what I called a "medicine cough". I wonder if it is similar? Anyways, my family always asks me if it is my week off when I am too tired to cook, etc. They are usually right. And this time I get my Zometa infusion the same week--oh joy!

Laughing OUT LOUD here at your post Pat!!! Yup that's gonna be me...I started May 2019.

Candy, thinking in terms of cycles instead of months is fine. Just don't equate the two. I just have this thing with accuracy.

IntoLight, I never thought of it that way. A year being 13 cycles. I go to my MO every four weeks. Each month, it gets earlier in the month and then it backs up into the previous month. Once, I saw my MO twice in the same month. It can happen. That's what got me thinking about it at first.

Nicole, I'm glad that you find the effort I put into answering YOUR question amusing.

Snarky? Me? Never. But next time you ask a question, let me know if you really want the answer.

Well you used Capital letters saying "YOU" to me?? It sounded like you were not being nice.

I did want an actual answer...why would you think I didn't?? All I was saying was that I was like Pat and horrible at math I still don't really "get it" about the cycles...why you found a problem with that I really don't know?

Jensgotthis: what is PFS?

gotcha ya thanks.

I just picked up my first 21 days of Ibrance yesterday at the Hopkins pharmacy. The cautions they gave me with the prescription said no grapefruit, no Seville oranges, no starfruit and maybe one other fruit that I don't usually eat (that's why I don't remember it). The Hopkins pharmacist, though, said that other oranges or citrus were okay so long as they were not listed, so I'm guessing it's not the vitamin C? Otherwise, why would other types of citrus be okay?

Certain other meds shouldn’t be taken with grapefruit same reason I guess

congratulations Ciaci!!!

I started ibrance in June 2017. I had to stop for 2 weeks for radiation in August. No other interruptions. I didn’t keep count because when I started taking ibrance I didn’t realize it is a thing.

Congratulations on all the good scans.

Praying for good speaking results Pat. I gave a speech in May and I said “um” numerous times according to the recording my granddaughter made.

Have a good day all

Tanya

Congratulations Ciaci!!

Welcome to BevJen, I hope you find the ibrance 'dancers' on this feed as supportive as i have. As an ibrance beginner, can i suggest you take take the tablet with a meal of at least 400 calories and you drink as much liquid as you can manage, then some more to help your body cope.

Everyone are you taking vitamin D3? I was having investigations for another health problem when it was discovered I had very low levels of D3. I am now on a mega dose for the next 6 weeks and will then take 1000 iu each day. I was told anyone with cancer needs to check with their medics if they need D3. My onc. pharmacist said it does not have any adverse interactions with faslodex or ibrance.

Good luck with the speech Pat, I am sure your humour and humanity will win over the audience.

May I ask a question. When did you all start to know if Ibrance was working. I’m in my first cycle almost at the end. Thank