Ibrance (Palbociclib)

Here is the clinical trial Mis1 is on with the Sanofi SERD and Ibrance:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03284957#co...

Multiple sites open also in Canada and Europe

SHORT rant:

Received my Ibrance yesterday. Cycle starts today. As I wrote earlier, this cycle is the new formula and new dispensing packaging. The tablets are much larger than the capsules. I am one of those who has trouble swallowing pills. I was able to swallow the new pill but it is larger.

Next, the pills are packaged in 3 dispenser packs (like birth control). Each package contains 7 pills; one package for each week.

To take a single pill you have to push is through and out the bottom on the package. Well, with neuropathy in my finger tips, getting a pill out was a chore. So much easier to open the pill bottle and get out a pill.

I know I will get used to this. Just struggling with the new pac

cure-ious,

it was kind of decided for me. The Canadian medical system doesn't cover the cost of drugs and I don't have extended medical insurance so I would have to apply for compassionate coverage, which I later qualified for but anyway the trial had just opened up and I met all the criteria and became the first person in Canada to start.
The downside is the capsules have to be kept chilled but seeing as how we are all stuck at home anyway right now it's not that big of a deal

PatGMc— GREAT suggestion. I think I still have the empty Ibrance pill bottle from last cycle!!

SerenitySTAT— I had trouble getting a cardboard piece off the back of the pill packet. I did use my thumbnail to poke thru that silver film over the pill. Hoping my poking them all out at once to try Pat’s suggestion, I will figure out what works for me. Thanks for the suggestion!

DodgersGirl, my husband has trouble swallowing pills as well, and he’s found if he takes them with milk, it’s not as difficult. I’m not sure if you even drink milk, but maybe taking it with something thicker than water just to get it down might help. Of course, I may be telling you something you already know, so if I am, please forgive me.

Dutchiris, It was in the email literature about the new packaging and said "Received in--and must be stored in-- blister packs". This was in the chart discussing "Here's What's Different".

Not to try and flout authority but I can't imagine what it would hurt to put the pills in a bottle. Of all the gazillion pills manufactured these can't be the only ones that must stay in their blister packs.

While I'm wearing my protester suit, what could it hurt to break the pill up in a spoon with milk or water if it's hard to swallow? When it gets inside you it's going to come apart anyway, right? I just can't see having to dread swallowing that pill everyday!

Love from PatGMcJust-Say-No!

I'm thinking the same thing....just chop in half?

Intolight, I am sorry your scan shows possible progression. We are here for you and I hope you can have your biopsy soon so you can get some answers.

Pat, I really really appreciate your response I to Intolight. I had not heard of Judy Perkins but have looked her up and she gives me hope for all of us.

Penny, I agree with the others that the Pfizer will help you with the cost. Talk to your oncologists office. Pfizer covers my copay. I just finished cycle 5 or 6 (I can't believe I can't remember, but I had to take an extra week off twice so it might be 5?). I have been fortunate to experience almost no side effects from Ibrance/Furvestrant. So far. I did have a mouth sore 2 times but that is about it. I am happy that you joined us and you will find great support here.

Hi

Not sure if this is the right place to post...

I've just switched from Letrozole to Ibrance/Fasoldex as my TMs had steadily increased since Feb this year. Really distressed that I only got 12 months or so on Letrozole, but felt hopefull about the new drug combo. Then I had a PET scan yesterday that shows all bone mets are stable/FDG non-avid except for one that is brighter, liver is stable with one tumour reduced, BUT lung pleura has thickened and is very FDG avid with one section quite thick and avid. Plus two new bright nodes. This explains the rise in TMs according to my MO. I guess I'm having a wee panic - ugh the up and downs of stage IV - made worse by my feeling nauseous all day (think that is due to not having a proper dinner last night when I took my Ibrance). So am wondering/hoping there's some other Ibrance/Fasoldex ladies here that have had good results esp. with lung mets.

Thanks ever so much

KBL— I was able to swallow the new Ibrance tablet last night with just water. Will hold off on milk or applesauce until I struggle to take it with water

Prayers needed. My wife seems to have had an internal bleed yesterday and I am taking her into emergency. She is weak, dizzy, and her resting pulse is 100 bpm. I think this is what happened 3 months ago when she had low hemoglobin and now recovered.

By the way, anyone interested in drug, herb and drug interactions, there is a great web site that lists know interaction between herb and liver enzymes. The link is:

https://www.ebmconsult.com/content/pages/cytochrom...

Prayers sent Husband 11!

intolight, I'm so sorry for your news. I'm hoping your next therapy gives you a long run like Ibrance did.

Husband, thinking and praying for you and your wife.

I'm looking at my foundation one I requested the copy mailed to me. So the rare mutation my MO mentioned is the KEAP1 but what also caught my attention is “3 disease relevant genes with no reportable alterations: BRCA1, BRCA2, ERBB2". Is the report saying I have those genes? Because I did MyRisk and it said I wasn't BRCA1 or BRCA2?!!? My Immohistochemistry came back low. IC score 1 and TC score 0. I know some of you are good at understanding this stuff, I'm trying to but I just can't wrap my head around it. I'd just like to understand what all this means.

Edited to add: I don’t know where else to post this and didn’t want to make a new thread about myself

Husband,

Hope all turns out well. There in spirit with the two of you.