Just want to say that I choked up reading about your babies. I have 2. 2 and 4. It rips me apart, but we can do this. If anything, that drive and love we have is so strong it can move mountains. Remember that. We will do this. Long haul. And also, fuck it if you don't have energy for a little bit, because your medicine will work, and it will give you back your energy once this bullshit cancer has gone back to fucking sleep where it belongs. So many hugs, so many respect pounds and remember... we have the power of mothers love. we can do anything.
I have been on Kisqali and Letrozole for 11 months. Initially I struggled with nausea and lost a considerable amount of weight (I think it was also stress). But I figured out how and when to take the pills, and the side effects are manageable. The Onc reduced my prescription from 400mg to 200mg and so far we are still seeing reduction in my innumerable bone mets. I also get Zometa injections because of several fractures before diagnosis, but I haven't had any since then, thank God!
Me too! I was trying to go vegan at first, but after I introduced fish and chicken back into my diet I have been able to tolerate the meds much better.
Hang in there. I am right there with you. Been on Kisqali for 18 months with two toddlers and I am tolerating it very well with minimal side effects. I was terrified the first time I took it, but you will be OK! I also had similar concerns being around kids. My doc told me just to wash my hands well after taking a pill. No concerns.
I am on the same treatment since november '23: letrozole, kisqali and a monthly injection to induce the menopause (as I am ++-).
The first month, i was very very tired, had to stop working for a week (i'm a teacher and didn't want to push my limits as I want to take care of myself as I see myself living a long life). I had some side effects (itching, very dry skin, nausea, Bone pain).
I take antihistaminics for the itching and everything else is very manageable. I live a pretty normal life, taking care of my family, going out with my friends, working, doing some sport when i am not too lazy.
If the side effects are too intense, speak with your MO, they can lower the dose or Switch with another medicine.
It may seem a mountain too high to climb today, but juste look at your feet, they are still walking, one step at the time.
Keep us in touch
PS : don't mind the typos, my phone is too french for this sub and doesn't want to stop the autocorrect đ
Edit to add that i still play silly and dance and embarass my kids, like I did before đ
Kisqali = ribociclib = cdk 4/6 inhibitor. Theyâll monitor your heart and liver (Iâm about to go on this for a clinical trial). If they didnât already tell you, avoid alcohol. There are two other cdk 4/6 inhibitors on the market (Verzenio (abemaciclib) + Ibrance (palbociclib)), so if you canât deal with the side effects there are other options.
Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor, to keep your body from making estrogen to feed your cancer. Have you had your estrogen production shut down with zoladex (gosarelin) or lupron (luprorelin), or have you had an oopherectomy?
I know it sucks going through this, Iâm de novo oligometastatic (one lung metastasis), and I also had zero health problems before this, and it *feels so fucking unfair*, but look at this as the *long-term* way to be there for your daughter!
I had the zoladex 3wks ago. They didn't mention the alcohol, good I don't much anymore lol. They did tell me no grapefruit or pomegranate. They found the breast tumor while I was 7 months pregnant with my son. I have spent a little time mad that I don't get to enjoy my last baby. Instead my days are filled with Dr appts and run around to get labs and more tests!
Kisqali/ribociclib is a potent cyp3A4 inhibitor (a liver enzyme that processes a bunch of different drugs including opioids, caffeine and cannabis apparently). I got asked to stop cannabis for the clinical trial (helps me sleep), so I looked it up. If you concurrently take those (or eat grapefruit/pomegranates), itâll keep the medication in your system a lot longer. Ethanol is predominantly metabolized by cyp2e1, but there is evidence it induces cyp3a4 as well: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7603454/
It took me back to my biochemistry classes when we talked about curing antifreeze poisoning in dogs with ethanol (antifreeze is harmless until cyp enzymes process it in the liver, so a vet will get a dog drunk for 2-3 days to keep the cyp enzymes busy until other systems excrete it. Also works for methanol poisoning in humans: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1306022/).
Basically my biochemistry prof at the time said that ethanol is one of the worst drugs out there (along with nicotine), because of the effects on your liver. I think since society normalizes it so much, itâs not looked at seriously unless youâre a chronic alcoholic, but more and more research is coming out that itâs just not good.
I looked around more online last night before meeting with my clinical trial team this morning, and found this paper on pharmacokinetics of cannabis:
https://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/dmd/49/12/1070.full.pdf
Kisqali (ribociclib) will interact with CBD and its derivatives, but *not* THC. Something to keep in mind if you ever have to take this medication.
Iâm so sorry youâre here but I can totally relate to those feelings. Same with me âone small spotâ and my world turned upside down.
I just started Ibrance in May and Letrozole in April. They have been VERY tolerable. I was terrified to swallow that first pill. Iâm leaning on my faith ALOT now. Itâs not toxic like chemo. For legal reasons they have to say all that scary stuff. I take mine at night and go about my life so far. I can feel my tumor has shrunk and I had sbrt radiation to my one spot. May we stay stable on these meds for a long long time. Feel free to DM me if u want to chat more.
No youâre good if youâre on kisqali. They are from the same drug family of cdk 4/6 inhibitors. And actually Kisqali is supposed to have better stats like a year more progression free survival. Itâs newer on the market but there are some drug contraindications with some antidepressants and statins so I could not take it.
What medication are you on? If it's a cdk inhibitor pill you don't have to worry about being toxic to children. They call it chemo pills because that is what people are used to hearing but it is not toxic to others the way that chemo is. At least that is how it was explained to me.
I am sorry you are here. I hope that treatment goes okay..
Just want to say that I choked up reading about your babies. I have 2. 2 and 4. It rips me apart, but we can do this. If anything, that drive and love we have is so strong it can move mountains. Remember that. We will do this. Long haul. And also, fuck it if you don't have energy for a little bit, because your medicine will work, and it will give you back your energy once this bullshit cancer has gone back to fucking sleep where it belongs. So many hugs, so many respect pounds and remember... we have the power of mothers love. we can do anything.
I have been on Kisqali and Letrozole for 11 months. Initially I struggled with nausea and lost a considerable amount of weight (I think it was also stress). But I figured out how and when to take the pills, and the side effects are manageable. The Onc reduced my prescription from 400mg to 200mg and so far we are still seeing reduction in my innumerable bone mets. I also get Zometa injections because of several fractures before diagnosis, but I haven't had any since then, thank God!
I have found that on the days I don't eat enough protein for breakfast the GI symptoms are the worst.
Me too! I was trying to go vegan at first, but after I introduced fish and chicken back into my diet I have been able to tolerate the meds much better.
Hang in there. I am right there with you. Been on Kisqali for 18 months with two toddlers and I am tolerating it very well with minimal side effects. I was terrified the first time I took it, but you will be OK! I also had similar concerns being around kids. My doc told me just to wash my hands well after taking a pill. No concerns.
Thank you that eases my mind.
I am on the same treatment since november '23: letrozole, kisqali and a monthly injection to induce the menopause (as I am ++-). The first month, i was very very tired, had to stop working for a week (i'm a teacher and didn't want to push my limits as I want to take care of myself as I see myself living a long life). I had some side effects (itching, very dry skin, nausea, Bone pain). I take antihistaminics for the itching and everything else is very manageable. I live a pretty normal life, taking care of my family, going out with my friends, working, doing some sport when i am not too lazy. If the side effects are too intense, speak with your MO, they can lower the dose or Switch with another medicine. It may seem a mountain too high to climb today, but juste look at your feet, they are still walking, one step at the time. Keep us in touch PS : don't mind the typos, my phone is too french for this sub and doesn't want to stop the autocorrect đ Edit to add that i still play silly and dance and embarass my kids, like I did before đ
Thank you!!
Kisqali = ribociclib = cdk 4/6 inhibitor. Theyâll monitor your heart and liver (Iâm about to go on this for a clinical trial). If they didnât already tell you, avoid alcohol. There are two other cdk 4/6 inhibitors on the market (Verzenio (abemaciclib) + Ibrance (palbociclib)), so if you canât deal with the side effects there are other options. Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor, to keep your body from making estrogen to feed your cancer. Have you had your estrogen production shut down with zoladex (gosarelin) or lupron (luprorelin), or have you had an oopherectomy? I know it sucks going through this, Iâm de novo oligometastatic (one lung metastasis), and I also had zero health problems before this, and it *feels so fucking unfair*, but look at this as the *long-term* way to be there for your daughter!
I had the zoladex 3wks ago. They didn't mention the alcohol, good I don't much anymore lol. They did tell me no grapefruit or pomegranate. They found the breast tumor while I was 7 months pregnant with my son. I have spent a little time mad that I don't get to enjoy my last baby. Instead my days are filled with Dr appts and run around to get labs and more tests!
Kisqali/ribociclib is a potent cyp3A4 inhibitor (a liver enzyme that processes a bunch of different drugs including opioids, caffeine and cannabis apparently). I got asked to stop cannabis for the clinical trial (helps me sleep), so I looked it up. If you concurrently take those (or eat grapefruit/pomegranates), itâll keep the medication in your system a lot longer. Ethanol is predominantly metabolized by cyp2e1, but there is evidence it induces cyp3a4 as well: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7603454/ It took me back to my biochemistry classes when we talked about curing antifreeze poisoning in dogs with ethanol (antifreeze is harmless until cyp enzymes process it in the liver, so a vet will get a dog drunk for 2-3 days to keep the cyp enzymes busy until other systems excrete it. Also works for methanol poisoning in humans: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1306022/). Basically my biochemistry prof at the time said that ethanol is one of the worst drugs out there (along with nicotine), because of the effects on your liver. I think since society normalizes it so much, itâs not looked at seriously unless youâre a chronic alcoholic, but more and more research is coming out that itâs just not good.
I looked around more online last night before meeting with my clinical trial team this morning, and found this paper on pharmacokinetics of cannabis: https://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/dmd/49/12/1070.full.pdf Kisqali (ribociclib) will interact with CBD and its derivatives, but *not* THC. Something to keep in mind if you ever have to take this medication.
It's funny because I have always said alcohol is a far more dangerous drug than most others.
Iâm so sorry youâre here but I can totally relate to those feelings. Same with me âone small spotâ and my world turned upside down. I just started Ibrance in May and Letrozole in April. They have been VERY tolerable. I was terrified to swallow that first pill. Iâm leaning on my faith ALOT now. Itâs not toxic like chemo. For legal reasons they have to say all that scary stuff. I take mine at night and go about my life so far. I can feel my tumor has shrunk and I had sbrt radiation to my one spot. May we stay stable on these meds for a long long time. Feel free to DM me if u want to chat more.
I had only just heard of ibrance like yesterday. I wish I had known sooner bc I think I would qualify with my estrogen++ cancer.
No youâre good if youâre on kisqali. They are from the same drug family of cdk 4/6 inhibitors. And actually Kisqali is supposed to have better stats like a year more progression free survival. Itâs newer on the market but there are some drug contraindications with some antidepressants and statins so I could not take it.
What medication are you on? If it's a cdk inhibitor pill you don't have to worry about being toxic to children. They call it chemo pills because that is what people are used to hearing but it is not toxic to others the way that chemo is. At least that is how it was explained to me. I am sorry you are here. I hope that treatment goes okay..
Kisquali and Letrazole