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Siewli's avatar
Siewli
Member
3 years ago

Abemaciclib together with hormone therapy for Stage 3 Grade 3 BC

Hi all, I have Grade 3 Stage 3 er/pr +ive her2 (neg) BC. Currently completed 4xAC and only 8/12 Taxol due to tinnitus and neuropathy. I will be having my radiotherapy soon for 25 sessions. So today had a discussion with my oncologist since I'm unable to complete my Taxol. He suggest that to have targeted therapy (Abemaciclib tablet) for 2 years together with hormone therapy. As Abemaciclib is not covered by Medicare and I'm not Stage 4 so it's very expensive. I was wondering anybody being put on Abemaciclib and whether the side effect is as bad as chemo (AC and Taxol) or manageable that you still can carry on with work and travelling? Appreciate your input.
  • wendy55's avatar
    wendy55
    Member
    3 years ago
    hi @Siewli,
    in the early days yes, but it subsided,i just became very careful with my diet and reallyonly ate bland food and definately no fruit for me,i just learned by trial and error what i could and could not eat,its a matter of try and see how you go, it is worth seeing how you go, as our bodies are all different but i certainly would recommend having at least a week off work when you first start,see how you react,i got 18 months out of the drug.

    wendy55
  • Siewli's avatar
    Siewli
    Member
    3 years ago
    @FionaJ yes my oncologist told me I will have Tamoxifen for 10 years too. Do u get severe diarrhoea? thinning hair? Any blood clot?
  • Siewli's avatar
    Siewli
    Member
    3 years ago
    @wendy55 Is the diarrhoea very bad? Like more than 5 times a day? Thanks
  • wendy55's avatar
    wendy55
    Member
    3 years ago
    HI@Siewli,
    I was on abemaciclib combined with faslodex injections the injections were the hormone componenet,I was able to access these drugs through a compassionate access program through my oncologist,but i am also stage 4,check with your oncologist to see if he can gain access for you via the same method, the drug companies are ususally pretty obliging if you oncologist writes to them expalining your situation,for me the side effects were as stated belly problems the big D word, so was put on gastrosop straightaway for me this lasted 6 weeks or so,but we are all different and you may not experie nce any of the side effects it would be a matter of seeing how you went,possibly having a week off work for the first week just to see how you go,good luck,and keep in contact to let us know how you go.

    wendy55
  • FionaJ's avatar
    FionaJ
    Member
    3 years ago
    Hi Siewli,
    I hope you are doing well.
    I was in a similar situation to you, stage 3a, grade 2, ER PR positive, HER2 neg, couldnt finish the paclitaxal for the same reasons as you, but fortunately I was able to access abemaciclib through a clinical trial. I began taking it after radiation,  together with Tamoxifen. I took it twice daily for two years and only experienced very minor side effects, nothing like chemo! Still on Tamoxifen and will be for quite a while. The results of the clinical trial have been very reassuring. Certainly worth considering.