Question about IBRANCE

[Zebra2018]

Hi wonderful ladies, I am traveling to California for 6 days to be with my young grand kids for thanksgiving! Because of the time deference’s (3 hours) and their age(7, 5 and 3) should I suspended IBRANCE and take after I come back? The other reason is, I don’t want to use airplane’s bathrooms! I ask my ONC and he said I can suspend it, but now I have doubts about not taking it! Any suggestions? I really appreciate it

[4thTimesTheCharm]

I push my Ibrance schedule back another week frequently if it interferes with travel plans. My doc perfectly fine with that. He wants me to be off Ibrance 6-7 days before the scheduled Faslodex and Xgeva injections so sometimes I even get 10-13 days off. No problem

Some even say that the gap in intake allows the body to reset and then readjust to having it in the system again, causing a better response. If your doc says take a break, then do!! You have other things to think about!

[Zebra2018 in reply to 4thTimesTheCharm]

Thank you, for taking time to respond! I will take a break!

[nstonerocks]

If your doctor says suspend it don’t worry. We are so scared the cancer will come back if we miss a few doses. It’s like a safety net. Don’t worry, enjoy your visit. Don’t worry about the Ibrance

[Zebra2018 in reply to nstonerocks]

Thank so much! Then I do that!🥰

[DTendler]

Have made several 4 to 7 day trips (Austin to the Bay Area) to my CA family (grand-kids soon turn 9, 7, and 5 )over the past two years while on Ibrance and Faslodex and never diverted from my Ibrance schedule, which varied with good cause. I was always fine. I wipe down my and my husband's airplane seats, belts and trays with Clorox wipes, use the bathroom on plane and in airports with utmost care, and have not incurred any problems. My oncologist always supported this travel plan. My time with all my family has always been very good. The two hour time difference for me did not affect me, especially while there. I am engaged or a spectator as need be, but weather is usually great and a boost! The only travel my oncologist was wary about was a potential trip to Israel when a medication change was being considered in August. She did not want me to potentially weather a new set of set effects while away. I did not go. As an aside, turns out I stayed on the Ibrance and could have gone! My white counts always were steady; once my red blood cell count went down, but quickly rebounded. Guess I was lucky in the blood count department! Good luck with you decision and treatment! And happy, healthy, joyful Thanksgiving. BTW, my off-week was always my most difficult, but even third week was hard to predict. My suggestion is try not to over think this; oncologists also generally want to alleviate our stresses and try to accommodate for what they think will make us most comfortable. And once you make your decision, only look forward!

[Zebra2018 in reply to DTendler]

Thank you, for your comprehensive reply, I wasn’t thinking about wiping seats, it’s a good idea. I hope I don’t get sick. Last winter I was miserable! You could guess I don’t travel much!

[Lovemylakie in reply to Zebra2018]

I would wear a face mask as well. I always wear on especially during cold and flu. Lots of air bourne germs on planes.

[Zebra2018 in reply to Lovemylakie]

Thank you for you input. ❤️🙏

[illini9 in reply to Zebra2018]

I do the same on airplanes - wipe down things and use hand sanitizer. I also wear a mask on planes. Other than that I stay on my Ibrance cycle and haven't had an issue with time zone differences. I do try and get good rest and also to stay very hydrated. I also amend my travel schedule sometimes to build in a rest day or recovery. Esp. with time changes. And I never (or try to never) use the handrails on escalators - things like that where germs lie.

[Red71]

I just came back from 2 weeks in Eastern Europe with 10 days of that being on a river tour. I took my Ibrance during that time, washed my hands often, used airplane bathrooms but really didn’t do anything different than I usually do. My husband came down with a cold but I didn’t. I really wouldn’t worry too much. Elaine

[Zebra2018 in reply to Red71]

Thank you for your input Elaine, i really appreciate it . 🌹💕

[JonaC38]

I shouldn’t write this but I just want to share my experience with Ibrance and Letrozole. My onc allowed me 2wks break with ibrance only, but I also stop taking Letrozole during the rest period of Ibrance. Most of the time I take morethan 3wks off to both of the meds and 2months the longest. After a year with these meds my MBC is stable in the bone area (1spot eversince and was treated with radiation) and no where to be found in abdominal CT scans already. I think we should learn how to listen to our body and make that effort to see whether our cancer meds are too much for our system to take. Even onc doctors do not know the best cure for cancer so we can experiment too! As a scientist myself, I check my blood works very carefully and was able to identify some culprits for my liver enzymes high readings. Now everything is working well and side effects are manageable.

[Zebra2018 in reply to JonaC38]

Thank you so much for you input! You are right, no body really knows exact answer. 🙏

[Survivornow in reply to JonaC38]

I've had to suspend and even stop my meds because of the extreme side effects over the past year and so far, so good. I have stopped taking my Ibrance several days before any trips and at this point, after a rough summer, I'm not sure I'll go back on it at all unless my scans are horrible. From what I've seen and read, stopping gives the body a chance to reset and the meds seem to work even better once a patient starts back up. Remember, these meds stay in our system longer than we know! Listen to your body, go on your trip and enjoy! If I'm going to be out in a crowd, I use antibiotic ointment or coconut oil and Vicks in my nose, wash my hands often and move away from coughers!

[Zebra2018 in reply to Survivornow]

Oh, thank you so much for your input, can you buy antibiotic ointment out of the counters, or it is prescription?

[Nmartinez15 in reply to JonaC38]

I took a break of letrozole one time since I start on jan 2019. I feel like sinner! But I feel sometimes that my body need a break. But I get scared doing it.

[JonaC38 in reply to Nmartinez15]

I felt the same before but just keep an eye on your scan results...I don’t recommend what I do. I decided to do those skips because I watched carefully my scans and blood works. In the end after 1yr of Ibrance n Letrozole all my cancer lesions in lungs, liver and sternum were gone and stable healing bone met. So my regimen works! thanks to my Creator🙏

[Nmartinez15 in reply to JonaC38]

I watch the the truth of cancer the new one from Asia. And its unbelievable how other countries can use natural medicine with no problem and the government give health coverage to everyone. Also I have close friend on USA that never did chemo bc her cancer was aggressive, so she opted to use B17 and other natural things. And she still alive after the 5 years of that. Its make me question chemo therapy and radiation.

[Zebra2018 in reply to Nmartinez15]

I know! like addicted person!🤣🤣

[JillMA in reply to JonaC38]

I too am having high liver readings. What did you discover?

[JonaC38 in reply to JillMA]

If you are into herbal drinks take the blood test before you stop taking them, and after. I discovered that the guyabano leaves is making it high. Other natural drinks like barley didn’t make my readings high.

[JillMA in reply to JonaC38]

I don’t do herbal drinks so that must not be it. Thanks for your reply.

[Fighteragain18 in reply to JonaC38]

My oncologist said my liver ( something ) was a bit high too n checking my serum folate and vit 12.. always a worry but ct n Bones to come so we will see x

[Kdiet]

I just arrived in CA for a ten day vacation. My onc wants me to keep taking Ibrance. Frankly, I feel more secure on it.

[Zebra2018 in reply to Kdiet]

Are you on different time zone? I leave in VA and usually take my med around 10 AM Should I take it over there around 7?

[Kdiet in reply to Zebra2018]

I will co tinge to take mine at breakfast. My onc moved my Letrozole to evening to see if my sleep would get better b

[Fighteragain18]

Hi I went to oz kept my watch on U.K. time and took my tablets still xx

[Zebra2018 in reply to Fighteragain18]

Oh, thank you for info! 🙏👍

[Fighteragain18 in reply to Zebra2018]

My neurophylls has doubled this Wednesday having 2 weeks off. But now ive laryngitis kids love it I can’t talk lol xx

[Fighteragain18]

However I’m away when I due my bloods for my next round so deferring it for a week, hopefully will boost my neurophylls too xx

[Zebra2018 in reply to Fighteragain18]

Hopefully you get a better results ❤️🌹

[Gram10]

When I went on a cruise 4 months after starting Ibrance, my onc told me to stop it for a month. Mostly because I was having bad side effects plus the danger of catching the well known cruise ship sickness. Have a great Thanksgiving with your little ones!

Patricia

[Zebra2018 in reply to Gram10]

Thank you so much! Happy early thanksgiving to you!🥰

[Snallygaster]

When my husband needed surgery in Seattle, my oncologist had me wait till I returned home to Alaska to start my next cycle of Ibrance. He was worried about the immune system suppression and the germs I would encounter. I still took my Letrozole. The biggest challenge was finding the non inflammatory foods I usually eat.

[Gmaoftriplets]

I have been on Ibrance since May of 2017, I have traveled to NY twice (I live in CA) and never stopped my Ibrance I wear a mask on the plane and board first to disinfect the seat and tray table, I use the bathroom on the plane and just wash my hands, as a wise woman on this site told me "take your medication and leave your cancer at home". Have a wonderful trip

[Red71 in reply to Gmaoftriplets]

I love the wise woman in your life. I’m going to adopt that slogan! Elaine

[Zebra2018]

Thank you so much for your input! I really appreciate it🙏

[Zebra2018]

Thank you Sandra for your kind input, yesterday I went for blood test and injections and nurse told that my WBC is 1.70 and NEUT is .77 so I have to be very careful at the airport! I came home I checked my results online and I noticed that my October results is about the same ANC= .77 however, earlier months my ANC was above 1. I called them and they will talk to doc and call ma back on Monday! Now I have anther thing to think about!

[Hokie]

Hi, I agree with what all the ladies have said above. The only difference in what I do when I travel I is I wear compression stocking on my legs to prevent clots which I read somewhere can be a side effect of Ibrance. Of course I also wear my compression sleeves on my arms for the lymphadema. I also wipe the tray down and my arm rest. The last thing is the face mask. I ordered mine from amazon, they have some cute patterns and they have ones that are washable. I figure if someone is going to look at me because of the mask I might as well be sassy with it,lol. Enjoy your time with your family. Happy thanksgiving 🦃

[Zebra2018 in reply to Hokie]

Thank you so much for sharing these info. I really appreciate it 🌹👍

[morty87]

Personally I would not suspend Ibrance. I traveled to Hawaii back in May with a 5 hour time difference and had no issues. However, if you take the Ibrance in the mornings after breakfast as I did, I discovered that I began very nausea with motion sickness on the plane and in the car thereafter. I teach school and I take my Ibrance after breakfast before student arrive, so I don't have a lot of motion thereafter. When I took the Ibrance after landing and while I was at my destination, I did not have nausea. Just something to consider as it took my several trips to "discover" this side effect on my own. My oncologist was not as sympathetic. I took my medicine, it was just at a different time. Good luck!

[Zebra2018 in reply to morty87]

Oh, thank so much for sharing this important info! Last time my white blood cell was so low (.78) that, he changed my schedule for taking it every other day therefore, I have to continue to take it while over there.

Thank you so much again, otherwise I wasn’t thinking of it.❤️🌹