Any suggestions on how to handle taking ibrance and having a nasty flu bug ? I had just finished my week off 100mg ibrance when I was hit by a nasty flu bug . I needed to have blood work done to check levels for blood counts and to see if xgeva calcium levels were ok . I was too sick to go to the clinic and didn’t want to spread the flu. I also had only fluids in me so I opted to give myself another week off ibrance and start again this coming week . Has anyone else experienced this ? I know I should have likely called into the clinic to get their professional advise but at the time I had no energy to try to explain and then wait for a reply call and explain it again .
What is done is done but any ideas for another time ( wishful thinking that there wouldn’t be another flu bug )
Luann
Written by
Thatflowerlady
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thank you Tracey , I maybe should have . I had not ate so I was also afraid to take the ibrance with out food .
Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I think you really should call into your center to let them know. I would be surprised if they would have told you to stop taking the Ibrance, but at the very least, I think they would have told you what over the counter meds you can or the ones that you should not take. I think it is important to let them know.
Or, you could call Pfizer directly. When I first started Ibrance, I had a nurse that called me once a month to see how I was doing on it, or if I had any issues and if so, I would mention them to her and she would give me some advice but she also stated that I should always check with my onco first. I assumed she was taking notes and calling women that were put on Ibrance for research purposes.
I hope you feel better soon. Next time you go ask them what you should do in the future if you are not feeling well. But good thing you did not go to the center and possibly infect others.
That’s what I was thinking . Being further fatigued due to fever and adding a new round of ibrance didn’t make sense to me. With out knowing my blood counts first .
You should have phoned your Doctor or surgery. I was given antibiotics and steroids and told not to come'off Ibrance. I spoke to my Oncologist and he said I must take antibiotics if I am like that. Hope you managed to take your temperature. We are told max it should be is 37.5. Anything over that we have to phone the Chemo hotline. I haven’t been told I can make the decision myself to come off Ibrance at any time. Hope you are feeling better. Keep the fluids up and maybe try some soup or hot milk. X
Gosh, Thatflowerlady, I'm so sorry that you're dealing with a flu on top of everything else!
As others have noted, I would call your onc. And, honestly, I would get tested to find out is it a "regular" flu or something else. It's best to know what you're up against.
I'm a huge fan of Ibrance, but I think it "just" sort of boosts whatever other treatment we're on. If we have to skip a week or two, I think it's fine. So if skipping helps you get past whatever else you might have, it seems that it might be advisable. I would think that your doc can test to see what that might be...
And if you spike a fever, do call your doctor! I remember being hospitalized in 1994 while on chemo because I got a cold with fever. They gave me fluids and an injection to boost my immune system. I was in isolation for about 36 hours.
I think you absolutely did the right thing. Of course it would have been best to call your doctor , they may have prescribed you something, and they would want to know when you are ill and follow your progress.
Flu can be dangerous as you know so not good to combine with iBrance (and not the same as getting it from the vaccine. )
My doctor has always told me to stop taking iBrance if I get a fever. And only restart once I’m past a certain point of getting better (I have rung to describe current state to get ok to restart). I usually take 2 weeks between anyway just to get my counts high enough so you’re fine. But do call your doctor now and get your bloodwork done
As you stated, it's always best to check with your Doctor; but for me personally, if I were unable to do that (and I "get" the illness fatigue side of any of this). I believe my Dr. would want to double check my blood levels before suggesting anything.If my/your immune system is too weakened to fight any illnesses, she'd probably have me/you stop the Ibrance to let your levels regain some strength, then start again my next normal cycle. It sounds like you did the closest to probably the right thing, given the circumstances. I'm only using the me/you based on what I believe my Dr. would have me do. No sure thing. Praying you feel better soon!
My oncologist also supports stopping the Ibrance with fever or flu. Your body’s immune system is fighting when sick so don’t want to weaken more with the Ibrance. Sounds like you were pretty fatigued and weak so your body probably needed the break. And taking a break isn’t a big deal either and am sure your onc will reassure you when you follow up. I take breaks when side effects become too much as well, like when I become too fatigued or stomach issues aren’t settling down.
Good to monitor your temperature though as also told to go in to hospital if fever ever got to 38. But really more of a concern if your neutrophils are low at the same time as your body may not be able to fight on its own.
Sorry you’re not feeling well. I had the flu starting during my off week of Ibrance. It was confirmed via lab test & when contacted my onc was told me not to resume Ibrance until symptoms subsided. That took two weeks before I could restart, but my onc was okay with that. Did not want to knock down neutrophils with Ibrance until had gotten the upper hand on the flu. The oncologist emphasized how dangerous the flu can be when the immune system is compromised. Hated to interrupt the cancer fight but flu was a more immediate threat. Rest & take care of yourself.
IAs soon as I took my last Ibrance of my 21 cycle the flu hit me. It lingered so I called the nurse and rescheduled my scans and blood draws and appointment. I was too sick and didn't want to spread either. I'm on a 21 on and 14 days off so I had to stay off an extra 5 days. I didn't ask anyone what to do I didn't think you were supposed to take the ibrance when your sick. I was so sick I didn't care.
I think you made the correct decision by stopping for another week. I one time had a nasty stomach bug at the end of my week off and my doctor said to postpone the restart for another week to give my body a chance to recover. Having said that, I would still check with your doctor when you feel that you can.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Ibrance 
Progression on Ibrance
Traveling and Ibrance.
Low haemaglobin on ibrance
IBRANCE
