Ibrance and immunity

[alana303]

Hello all,

I'm just starting my second round of Ibrance and Letrozole. I was pleased that the side effects weren't too bad the first round, just really fatigued day 19-21. Getting out and walking helped. Question for everyone: I am a high school teacher and go back to school in 3 weeks. I'm worried about getting sick. I've always had a rock solid immune system - I never get sick. But now I am worried that my low neutrophils may lead to getting sick more often. Does anyone else have a job that exposes them to everything, and have you been more likely to get sick?

Thank you!

[Terilyn12]

I have been on Ibrance and now Faslodex (Letrozole until Dec 2018 when Letrozole stopped working). I started Ibrance in June of 2018. My neutrophil stays around .3-.5 sometimes to .6. I am really careful and have never gotten sick - but I’m not around a lot of kids. My oncologist is a hemotology oncologist so he has explained that neu is only a small part of the white blood cell and I have never skipped a dose of Ibrance for 14 months. I will say that I retired early as my job required flying every week and I have not been in an airport since I was diagnosed. I use hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes daily.

[nstonerocks]

I am a school nurse. Got sick once last winter. A flu like illness that lasted 2 days. Almost everyone got sick with something last winter. After 5 years do not notice that I get sick more frequently.

[Lemur2015]

I was on Ibrance/Letrozole for 9 months before it stopped working. I am a GI nurse in a hospital and never got sick. I was very careful and good hand hygiene as well as keeping my hands away from my face. I also wore a mask during flu season around any patients that exhibited cough or cold symptoms.

[Maludagui]

Hello 🌺 I work in a school cafeteria. And I have not gotten sick from being there in contact with the children. I try to have a little more rigorous hygiene. I drink juices of natural berries whenever I can. I am convinced that going to the supermarket represents more risk than going to school. Happy day 😍

[Maludagui in reply to Maludagui]

I am on eleven mounth on ibrance125/letrozole/falsodex/xgeva

[barbarac76]

Hi. I was on Ibrance (125mg) /Faslodex for 2 years. Although I was not exposed to children like you will be, I can tell you that I never got sick, even when my husband and kids were. I was very careful with common hygiene precautions.

My Abs Neut was usually below 1.0 (a few times as low as 0.6) when my labs were routinely done (usually on the 3rd day of my off week). I thought I was unusually lucky for never getting sick, but my oncologist said she saw this in most of her patients.

[Francesca10]

Hi

I am a pediatric nurse and just had my usual sinus infections last November. Stay up to date with all vaccines, especially 2 pneumonia ones last year along with flu shot . Hand hygiene is critical. And yes, going to a store puts us more at risk😳😘

[Libra48]

Hi...I have been on Ibrance/Letrozole since March. I work in an office setting but travel the NYC subway system! With that said, I’m sure I’m exposed to every germ and illness on the planet! LOL.... I also have two school aged kids. Thank God I have not gotten sick. I am always washing my hands and using hand sanitizer. I try not to touch my face and I always carry antibacterial wipes in my purse. I agree with Frances I think going to the stores/supermarkets put us more at risk. I recently started to wipe down the supermarket cart handle.

I am traveling tomorrow and I’m a little nervous. My anxiety has been out the roof past couple of days but I recently posted about traveling and so many wonderful ladies here told me I will be fine and so did my onc. I will probably wear a mask on the plane and wipe down my seat/tray area.

I’m learning that you can’t stop living. You have to continue to live and enjoy your life the best you can...take necessary precautions and keep it moving. Take care.

[Pollingxx]

Well I am a nurse ... but so far so good x

[alana303]

Thank you everyone for the replies! I feel much better about going back to school - I really appreciate the support!

[illini9]

I've been on Ibrance/Letrezole for 43 cycles and (knock on wood) have not gotten sick other than a normal cold here or there. I did work for two years in a pretty germy environment and practiced safe behaviors - washed hands tons, had purel in the office, never touched bannisters or door nobs (tried my best) and stayed away as best I could if someone was sick. I don't think there's anything scientific but my onc says she hasn't really seen a huge correlation to Ibrance WBC numbers and increased infections. I also always wear a mask when I fly (it's like 300 people breathing on you.) My neutrophils hover at 1.0 and my WBC is usually around 2.3.