How long ????

[Maludagui]

How long after eliminating all the malignant cells should we continue taking Ibrance? Many affections for all 🌺🌹🎀

[Barbteeth]

My oncologist told me I would be having treatment for ever

With mbc it never is cured

Barb xx

[Maludagui in reply to Barbteeth]

Hi Barbara. ❤️ yes I understand but when the pet scan no show nothing what happen ???? 🌺🎀

[nstonerocks in reply to Maludagui]

You are still considered to have metastatic disease. You stay on treatment to keep it quiet

[Teddielottie in reply to Maludagui]

Hi ! My last 3 scans over the past year have not shown any active disease , however I remain on ibrance / Letrozole until this combination stops working ( ie ., when there is progression ) . There may be very tiny cells lurking , which are not picked up on the scans , so best be cautious ! x

[BeckyHobson in reply to Barbteeth]

Unfortunately ditto for this Mbc gal too

[Thrifty51]

My last Pet scan showed NED and my oncologist advised I would have to continue on the medicine for life as Barb has mentioned.

[Susan1953]

I will continue Ibrance, even though I am NED, until there is progression. That means it is doing its job. There are still small cancer cells in my body that are not picked up on scans. The Ibrance is keeping these cells from multiplying. It is a miracle drug for me and I hope it works until there is a cure found for MBC.

[Fighteragain18 in reply to Susan1953]

Me too hun

[Hidden]

Ibrance is taken until it no longer stops progression.

[Mindysooty]

Ditto what everyone else is saying. My understanding is I'll be taking it until progression or if I couldn't tolerate the side effects.

[Hidden]

Hi,

I'm not on Ibrance (my treatment is different) but I have been told that my disease is being treated as a chronic condition. So just as someone with epilepsy, diabetes or HIV needs to stay on medication for life, so do we if we want to keep the disease under control. I prefer the idea of continuing with treatment until there is a cure. I can understand how you feel. Before I was diagnosed the only pills I took were a vitamin D supplement and my birth control pill. Now my cupboard looks more like a dispensary. But I would rather that than take nothing and allow the cancer to shorten my life.

Of course, we must all make up our own minds about what treatment we are willing to accept, or if we feel that enough is enough and it is time to stop treatment. But I would advise you to think very carefully before you decide to stop your treatment. Have you spoken to your oncologist about how you feel?

Sophie

[Hidden]

Forever and ever and ever! And I hope for all of us we'll be able to take it for many, many years! That's a sure sign it's working 🤞🤞🤞

[KateBush]

Hi, yes , I was told I would take the Medecine until it stopped working even if my cancer has reduced . I suppose there are tiny bits lurking around that you can’t see on scans etc. I don’t mind if it gives a good many years more and mine is not all clear. I would consider everything carefully and get your onco to advise you properly re the pros and cons. Good luck with everything

[Rhwright12]

I know! My scans were clear in May but nothing changes treatment wise. However luckily mine doesn’t bother me much and I have no physical limitations. I’m allowed to do 5ks when I want and I’m going to Florida in 3 weeks!

That being said u can take an extra week or 2 off like once a year if u have something big planned...😀

[Thrifty51 in reply to Rhwright12]

My last scans were clear also but my TM are both still a little high. They are now decreasing more slowly but both are about 20 points away from being classified as normal. Are you experiencing this? It is not surprising but I was wondering if they ever get to normal?

Thanks and thanks for the info. All these little nuggets are good to know.

Audrey

[Rhwright12]

Audrey my TM numbers are normal at 19 and 27...up 2-3 from a couple months ago...The only Med I’ll get rid of is Zoladex in about a year and a half when I turn 50...I got a second opinion from Cleveland Clinic...that doctor seemed to think I could do without Arimidex as I am only 10% ER and Pr-....We are treating Her2 with Herceptin/Perjeta. Plus I have bone mets only so I take Zometa also for a total of 5 meds! ...So with clear scans I truly understand the thought of is this over kill? 😀 However I don’t have side effects so I don’t argue much...I had bone pain with XGeva so I switched back to Zometa (12 weeks) With good out comes and a clear scan this might be a time to adjust things to decrease or switch meds to decrease side effects if that is an issue...😀I was 3 years in June!

[Maludagui in reply to Rhwright12]

Hi 😍❤️ in this moment you only have Injection zoladex and xgeva???

[Rhwright12 in reply to Maludagui]

Nope 5 meds...Herceptin/Perjeta for Her2 (IV every 3 weeks).Zoladex/Arimidex (shot/pill) for ER 10% Pr-...And Zometa (IV) for bone mets 😀

[BeckyHobson]

This is great news the you are NED “no evidence of disease” but trust us the cells are there but just sleeping 💤

[BeckyHobson]

The goal is stay NED for as many years as possible but forever on drugs