Ibrance Low Counts and Vaccine

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foreverhopeful
foreverhopeful Member Posts: 68
edited February 2021 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi all!

I’m a teacher and eligible to get the vaccine this Friday (Moderna). I have read about not getting a good response when your immune system is low. My white counts are low from Ibrance. My MO says to get it as soon as I can, but I wonder if I should plan it better, possibly the Pfizer for the three week period right before I would begin the new cycle right when my counts are highest. Or maybe this doesn’t matter? (She doesn’t think it is an issue?) I’m also worried about how the vaccine will react with all of the meds I have had over the years. Would the J and J be better? And is the MRNA vaccines safe without knowing long term effects. This is what people say, but what are the risks of what could happen long term? Every time I hear an Ibrance commercial on TV I’m glad I just signed up with the advice of my oncologist without thinking about it to much. I might be overthinking, but what would love to hear the opinions of those in the same boat as me with stage IV. I’ve heard many other opinions, but you all walk in the same shoes as I do and I don’t think we were represented in the trials for good readin

Thanks so much!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2021

    My MO wanted it done beginning of next cycle when counts are at their highest. I was able to book mine for a point when I'd had two weeks off (recovering from sinus infection) and while I had a strong response to the vaccine (Oxford) and it laid me out for a day and a half, overall I haven't had a problem since with my next Ibrance cycle. I also had it two days before my monthly bone and zoladex injections and no problems. MO was impartial to which vaccine I got, that it was more important for me to be vaccinated sooner rather than later, so long as it was timed right.

    I have bigger questions about the Oxford vaccine than the Pfizer or Moderna options, and, frankly, tried to get a facility with Pfizer. A few ladies on here have had Pfizer and are on Ibrance and haven't had reactions (Candy is one). The mRNA vaccines are an incredible bit of technology, but its just another delivery format of the instructions to the body to make the goods necessary to fight off an infection. Anecdotally, I have seen more people report issues with side effects from the traditional vaccine (Oxford - which is a modified chimp cold virus) than the mRNA vaccines. Frankly I would go earlier for Pfizer rather than wait for JnJ as there is a bit larger pool of cancer patients who have had Pfizer now and don't seem to have had problems.

    Is there anything in particular you are worried about for long term effects from the mRNA vaccines? All of this stuff has been in development for years before Corona, its just that they were targeting other illnesses first.

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited February 2021

    I’ve been on Ibrance for almost 4 years and had both doses of Pfizer. Other than a sore arm, I had absolutely no reaction. I preferred the mRNA technology over the J&J/Jansen or AZ. I would rather take a chance with the shot and maybe feel icky for a day than to end up with Covid. I didn’t plan around where I was in my Ibrance cycle. I just planned for a Friday so I would have a few non work days if I was feeling icky. It didn’t happen. As SondraF said, the mRNA technology is not new, its been around and proven for years. The incredible influx of money helped bring it to market quicker

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  • foreverhopeful
    foreverhopeful Member Posts: 68
    edited February 2021

    Hello,

    You asked what I'm worried about with long terms side effects... I don't know. I think I'm tainted with the medications I have been around and on and the side effects I've seen. I have a friend whose hair never grew back after taxtore for example. It is known now that could happen, but at the time she didn't know of the risk, or maybe it wasn't made really obvious. Or now they put dye in before they take lymph nodes, so they only take what they need. I have lymphedema. There are many examples in my personal journey where they know more now. I feel like I take a risk with each medicine like we all do not knowing how our bodies will react. I really do feel reassured that this has been around for a while and appreciate both of your comments. I feel like those around me don't have the same concerns because my situation is different with my breast cancer history and my low neutropenia. So, thank you!


    God bless! Julie

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