Going out In crowds while on Ibrance.

[Sunny2020]

My neutrophils have been around 1.3. Is it ok to go to big sporting events and other things where there are huge crowds while on Ibrance?

[Barbteeth]

Mine are usually lower than yours..about 1.00 and I go everywhere and don’t worry

I go to the cinema and theatre lots...sometimes use public transport and mess about with animals all the time

You’ll be fine

Barb xx

[Sunny2020 in reply to Barbteeth]

Thank you🙂

[NShaft]

Mine is usually lower than that and I don't worry too much. I am mindful though and always carry hand sanitizer and wipes for surfaces if needed. If I am with someone else I let them open doors and push elevator buttons and such. I'll try to avoid walking through the middle of a crowd if I can. I don't panic if not but figure that I will do what ever I can, when possible, to limit exposure.

[Mindysooty]

Hi, Same as the others, mine are usually around 1.2/1.3 - I used to stress about it but don't worry so much now. Just the obvious things like if someone's ill ask them not to visit or if you are out and about , if someone's obviously ill - coughing and sneezing - try not to sit near them. x

[hopenowandtomorrow]

I agree with all the other replies. Just use common sense & wash your hands a lot. Enjoy life! ❤️🙏❤️🌈

[Southside25]

Normal range is 1.12 - 6.72 so you're fine. Mine are about 1.15 which my onc. says is fine; for instance, I could have surgery with this neutrophil level. I've been in treatment for 20 months with no problems. Take normal precautions like washing your hands often, not touching your face, etc. - just like everyone should do.

[Lynn-in-California]

I taught my classes at the university half time for the past three years while on Ibrance + Letrozole. I got two colds over the course of that time, but nothing terrible happened.

[Red71]

I’m on a cruise with 200 people. At this point about 1/3 of the group is coughing but I’m fine! I am careful but I won’t quit living!

[Survivornow]

My Oncologist and GP both warned me about going out in crowds as flu season begins. I order my groceries for pick up, avoid big crowd events and even family events if someone attending is ill, request no visitors who are ill.. (My mom is the worst offender, drops by while sick or just recovering!). I use essential oils to try and stop germs, diffusing and on me. I wash my hands often, change out of clothes I wear out and put them in the washer as soon as I get home. It's my new way of life!

[kearnan in reply to Survivornow]

I know several women who have been on Ibrance and falsodex for over three years and are still holding down full-time jobs. One as a fifth grade school teacher and one as a nurse. I use the bus and public trains in NYC. Curious as to why you wash your clothes and change often and put them in washer. I don't get that. It really is just using common sense just as if you did not have cancer or were on Ibrance. I washed my hands a bit more and if I am at somebody's house and someone there is sick, I just avoid close contact with them. I have worn clothes (pants, primarily) more than once after I wear them and I have NEVER had any issue. If I can ride New York MTA trains which are usually packed with people, the only concession I make, is using a tissue (like others do on the train) to hold onto the pole. Never once had a problem or issue arise. And if the above two referenced can work with fifth graders all day and a nurse can continue to work with no problem, you should not have any issues. That has to be a lot of work to wash your clothes every single time and put them in the washing machine as soon as you get home. Not sure why you do that.

Even in the beginning when I first started Ibrance, I was told to use gloves. That became annoying and after a week I would just use my hands w/o the gloves and then wash my hands. I once had two Ibrance stuck together and use my hands to try and pull them apart, knowing one would not survive and sure enough I was able to pull one off and the other one opened and the powder got on my hands and I just rinsed it off my hand and then washed them.

[Survivornow in reply to kearnan]

I've had serious complications from the flu every year that I've been exposed - bronchitis and pneumonia each time since I was a child. The last two bouts put me in the hospital - pre-cancer. So my GP and Oncologist are concerned and tell me to use common sense, avoid crowds, wash hands, etc.

[needabreakfromcancer in reply to Survivornow]

Also sleep sitting up. I have a chaise couch and actually it's fairly conducive to sleeping. I have mbc, polio lungs and asthma. My doctor told me over 40 years ago that no one should lay down while sleeping when they have a cold or the flu.

[Sister3nkc in reply to kearnan]

I am sorry I am just now seeing this, and responding. As a Stage IV patient I understand the extra precautions Survivornow is taking. Although we cannot exist inside a bubble it is much wiser to err on the side of caution. Also, everyone is different. While you have been blessed to be free of serious infections not all of us have. And, as a registered nurse with many years of infectious disease experience I see your comments as criticizing and bordering on condescending. I have been dealing with breast cancer for more than 20 years and have had infections serious enough to be hospitalized twice (one life threatening) plus several other infections that did not require hospitalization.

Again, we are all different. And we are here not to criticize, rather to be supportive.

[kearnan in reply to Sister3nkc]

That is the way you choose to read it, not the way I meant it. This is a forum board and I was curious so I asked. I learn from asking why people do certain things. Yes, you are right, this board is a forum board and we are also not meant to be judgmental. I can't work but I was amazed the other two women that had stage iv were able to hold down full-time jobs, while I was not.

So don't assume someone is being condescending when I was NOT even responding to you in the first place. The woman I WAS responding to did not assume that and answered my question.