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Beginner's avatar
Beginner
Member
18 days ago

Cdk 4/6 inhibitor - node negative

Hi all - has anyone been on a cdk 4/6 for early breast cancer in Australia while node negative but otherwise having relatively moderate-high risk (eg stage 2, grade 2/3, high Ki67) hormone positive diagnosis?

8 Replies

  • Yep, i've been on Ribociclib for a year now following chemo/rads/surgery due to high risk of recurrence. Did you have any specific questions?

    • Beginner's avatar
      Beginner
      Member

      Thank you for the response. I don’t have any specific questions other than seeing whether people who are node negative were prescribed this.

    • cactusk's avatar
      cactusk
      Member

      Hi SarahB77​ 

      How are you finding the Ribo? Are you on 400mg a day (21 on 7 off)? Do you notice any side effects on this? Genuinely curious to hear how others are going on this. 

      • SarahB77's avatar
        SarahB77
        Member

        Yep 400mg/day, 21 days on/7 days off. I had one month where I had to extend my 7 days off due to low neutrophils. And a few months where my kidney function wasn't great (but i'm on so many other meds that it's hard to know if it was the Ribo or not).

        Initially I had a heap of nausea, so swapped to evenings and no problems since then. I tend towards constipation but keep it under control, and for a few days each month am exhausted so chill on the couch for the weekend. The occasional patch of itchy skin. That's really it I think. 

  • Thank you all for your responses. I am not on a CDK 4/6 inhibitor currently but will ask my oncologist about whether I should be at the next meeting in June. 

  • Hi Beginner​ 

    I was prescribed Ribociclib for Stage 2B Grade 2 (and DCIS) (as well as Letrozole, Zoladex and Zometa) and was able to get this via the early access program (so only paid $31.60) through my medical oncologist. Unfortunately, after 5 months, I became very unwell due to a rare (but known) side affect which damaged my liver. It too over 3 months for my bloods to get back into the normal range and for me to feel better. My med onc has advised that going forward, there would be some issues if I needed to take another CDK4/6 medication, but (hopefully) that will be long into the future (if ever). From my readings on this site (and further) it seems some people are totally fine and have few side effects, whereas others, like me, don't. Do you feel OK on your CDK4/6?

    cactusk​ 

  • Hi Beginner, my diagnosis was stage 2, grade 3, 1 lymph node involved. I've been taking abemaciclib since October last year as part of my ongoing treatment. It became available on the PBS towards the end of my chemo, and my oncologist was very happy he could include it as part of my preventative treatment, as I have a higher risk of reoccurance due to a ki67 of 30% the high grade of cancer, and the lymph node involvement. I'm assuming the lymph nodes don't have to be involved to qualify.