CLL

[Die-Hard]

Been on Imbruvica 420 mg since November, very little side effects, WBC still increasing up from 191,000 to 216,000 feel fine, should I try Imbruvica 600 mg

[Hidden]

when you say november i assume you mean november 2019. Imbruvica starts clearing lymphnodes and areas lymphocytes have clustered and pushes them into your blood. In the beginning for awhile =everybody is different- it will increase wbc. after awhile it will start coming down. I don't think you have been on it long enough to make a judgement.

[Die-Hard in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply, started Nov 22 2019 not quite 2 months yet. Lymph nodes went down first week. WBC shot up first week to 247,000 went down to 191,000 by week 2 steady increasing since then

[Hidden in reply to Die-Hard]

query your MD. we'd be guessing-still to soon to make judgement

[Mldeterm]

Rising WBC with ibrutinib is very normal and does not indicate a sub-par response (actually reports to the contrary that the rise is a good sign). Just be patient, it will plateau and then start to drop once but it can take time. - Mindy

[Die-Hard in reply to Mldeterm]

Thanks Mindy

[Canuck901]

That’s normal to have a spike then it should start coming down

[WinJ3]

It's probably working for you. My doctor told me to expect that could happen to me and he said to drink plenty of water to help flush out all those dead cells 😄

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Unless you weigh very heavy, the 420mg dose should inhibit all CLL cells in your body by irreversible covalent bonding. Taking more won't change a thing other than probably increase your risk of side effects. Ibrutinib works SLOWLY. About 10% taking it reach U-MRD (undetectable cancer) after FIVE years.

Neil

[Mystic75 in reply to AussieNeil]

Neil, I don't think there are many of your posts that I've not learn something and this one is no exception.

Hope you are doing okay and your ANC is improving as well as the pain in your arms as your wife probably needs a good hug after all you have been through!

D.

[haposwald]

Mine did same my doc called it the flair period so relax and keep an eye on it it will go down have faith!

[210savannah]

I started Ibrutinib in February of 2019. My WBC rose steadily for a few months while nodes shrunk almost immediately. The oncologist said this was exactly what should happen. The meds are flushing the lymphocytes out of the nodes into the bloodstream. After a while the WBC started declining. The last two appointments my WBC has been under 10,000!!! Yea for me!! So yours should follow suit and start to decline after a time. Blessings to you!

[Die-Hard in reply to 210savannah]

Thanks Savannah, you wouldn't happen to live in Savannah? I live near Charleston Sc

[210savannah in reply to Die-Hard]

Pawleys Island!

[Die-Hard in reply to 210savannah]

Summerville

[antonb]

your L N will shrink and the b cells will flood your blood, then they will be dying and the number will eventually get normal in a the months to come