Can Ibrutinib be Paused 1 Year for pregnancy ?

[Sally_LuLi]

2018 I got SLL now I'm 27. is it possible to Pause Ibrutinib for a year to try getting pregnant or not? Did it Happen before for someone my age?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Are you on ibrutinib? We have had members successfully go through pregnancy with CLL, but not, I think on active treatment. With a median age of diagnosis of 71, there aren't many in your position.

Neil

[Sally_LuLi in reply to AussieNeil]

Yes I'm on ibrutinib now for 1 and a half year.

Thank you Neil

[Jm954 Administrator]

Hi Sally,

There will be very few people in your position in the world so you probably are unique.

Pregnancy is a complex immunological situation for your body as your immune system is balancing the normal protective responses against invaders such as bacteria but needs to be tolerant of the main invader - your baby. The balance is usually tipped in favour of the baby which can leave the mother more susceptible to infection.

Having CLL means your immune system is dysregulated anyway but we have had a couple of members who have had successful pregnancies. TinyTattooedToes is one that I can remember and she has been generous in her support of others.

The question about Ibrutinib may depend on how long you have been taking it (your profile doesn't give us any clues about you). To stop it after a relatively short time of taking it (perhaps less than 2-3 years) for a prolonged period such as pregnancy may be detrimental to you.

Ibrutinib is strongly advised against taking it during pregnancy or whilst trying for a baby

drugs.com/pregnancy/ibrutin...

"Risk Summary: This drug is a kinase inhibitor and can cause fetal harm based on findings from animal studies. Administration to pregnant animals during organogenesis at exposures up to 2 to 20 times the recommended human dose caused embryofetal toxicity including structural abnormalities."

As with all these things, the best person to advise you about pausing Ibrutinib is your haematologist who knows all about you, your CLL and how it behaves. They will know how deep your response is and how likely you are able to be able to have a prolonged break.

People with deep responses after many years of treatment can have several years before the CLL becomes evident again.If you have been on Ibrutinib for a short time, it may just be a case of continuing for another year or so until your response is thought to be deep enough.

Please let us know, wishing you all the very best

Jackie

[Sally_LuLi]

Hi Jackie,It's less than 2 - 3 years, I'm on Imbruvica for 1 and half year after I tried chemo therapy with Rituximab and Gazayva.Many thanks Jackie I wish you all the best.