When I say I’m new I mean I’m new to this group. This is my second round with cancer. Metastasized breast cancer. The second time I came back in my pelvic bone. The doctor say it’s the only area. I have radiation done in that area feels back to normal.
I started Ibrance a month ago and my white blood count neutrophils got as low as .4. Is there anything that can help keep my ANC. My oncologist says no. I’ve looked into 4life. Does anyone know anything about this product?
Gratitude
Christina
Hi Christina -
I'm sorry about the mets and the ANC's, but so glad you've started Ibrance, it really is a great drug (I've been on it for 5.5. years, loving life! 
).
My ANC's are low, but not that low...So I really don't do anything special to boost them. However, I'm pretty certain that some people here have talked about juicing greens to boost them. I'm hoping someone with more knowledge chimes in.
If you're unable to get them up, reducing dosage is always a good option. I've read one very credible study referenced on this site that indicates that reducing dosage does not reduce efficacy. Now, this having been said, I tend to be a "more is better" kid of gal, but that's not based on an reasoning. Except maybe that they seem to start us all on 125...there must be some thinking behind that? Still, I don't mean to cast doubt...science indicates that 100 or 75 can be just as effective...
Reading your details makes me want to mention something...are you familiar with "oligometasteses"? i.e. where someone has one or just a few mets at a time? Not all docs agree that this is a separate category, but increasingly the medical community seems to be viewing this differently and treat for a "cure" vs. maintenance. As an example, his might involve radiating tumors to obliterate them as opposed to just to reduce pain...
The prognosis for "oligo" patients is much better, and it sounds like you might fall into that group. If you enter that term into the search bar, upper right, you'll find our discussions. If you think your cancer might be oligometastatic (sp?), it might be worthwhile to ask your doc or find one who treats that differently? Just a thought. I definitely don't fit into this category, wish I did!
Good luck with the Ibrance and ANC's...Take care...and, again, welcome to the community
Lynn
Good morning Lynn,
I was not aware of OMBC. So I did a bunch of research yesterday. It seems to be that I do follow under that category. I will be getting a bone scan and a CT scan on the 18th. I’ve already had radiation completed in the pelvic area. What I’m hoping to see is that my body has no active tumors or activity. Do you know, if you have mats in your bone do you also have it in your blood?
Thank you so much for the information you have no idea and how much strength that gave to me. I really wish you the best and I hope and pray for a long life for you and everyone on here.
Christina x
Hi Christina! Good question, re: "do you also have it in your blood?"...I'm not 100% certain what you're asking....but I don't know how to answer anyway. I mean, you don't have any blood cancer but when you're metastatic, there are tiny cancer cells floating (?) around in your system, but I honestly don't know where they hang out....I assume it's in the blood stream, but don't truly know the answer. Might be in the lymphatic fluid /system? I really don't know, but would love to learn this! I hope someone with more knowledge responds...
Good luck with it, please do keep us posted!
Lynn
Welcome to the board!!! I am on Ibrance too but my anc's haven't gone below .75 (which is low). My doctors have told me that there is not anything to bring them up (I had seen something on TV about a patch). He said that doesn't work with Ibrance. Some ladies juice.
Best of luck with your treatment. Let us know how it goes. Blessings, Hannah
Thank you so much for your response. I heard that there is a supplement called 4life. It claims to boost your Immune system. I’m not sure if this will help but I am researching it.
Best of luck to you.
Christina
Are you talking about 4Life's Transfer Factor products? I've been taking the regular and professional strength (slightly different formulations) since diagnosis, and my oncologist has been fine with this supplement. My cousin is an R.N. who specializes in supplements and complementary therapy; she's dealt with breast cancer herself, and she was the one who initially recommended exploring transfer factors.
I had a similar drop in ANC with Ibrance and ended up on a reduced dose for about a year until my CA 27-29 numbers started increasing. Now I'm still on letrazole, Xgeva, and have added fulvestrant. We will see what happens in the next few months. Everybody's cancer journey is as unique as the person, and for me Ibrance never felt right. I can't explain it other than gut feel. I know a lot of folks have seen remarkable results from this drug.
Welcome to this group. I haven't been here long, but you're in good company with a lot of knowledge, empathy, and solidarity. May your years be many and each day a precious gift.
Thank you so much for sharing. I have not taken a transfer factor. It’s very costly so I wanted to research other peoples opinion on it first. My concern is that I don’t want to reduce a medication if my body can become used to it. I don’t feel terrible just a little fatigue. It sounds like you have introduce your body to multiple drugs and you’re doing well. We will all have setbacks. I wish you the very best and I pray for every woman on here. There is so much support and love.
Christina x
Thank you so much for your response. I heard that there is a supplement called 4life. It claims to boost your Immune system. I’m not sure if this will help but I am researching it.
Best of luck to you.
Christina
Hi Christina: Glad you joined our group. I also had MBC to the left pelvis bone & I received SBRT along with IBrance & Faslodex shots since I am ER positive. I was diagnosed with MBC April 2019. Original breast cancer in 2016. I started IBrance at 125mg & after 8 months I moved to 100mg. Still NED at 16 months. I had less fatigue when I took IBrance in the evening & I walked daily. I also take lots of supplements for immune building & eat lots of fresh fruits & veggies. I double check the Sloan Kettering app that lets me know if any supplement interferes with my treatment. My oncologist knows all the things I’m taking. You can look at my profile to see them.
I wish you the best quality of life!
❤️🙏❤️
Hi,
Did you start with Foslodex right away, or did you start Letrozole first? Why did you move down to 100 mg after eight months?
I started with Faslodex right away as it had better outcomes in combination with IBrance. I went down to 100mg of IBrance because of fatigue, numbness in my fingers & toes, quality of life concerns, & many women on this board who went down to 100mg and still had good results. I too have experienced good NED results. I hope that helps! ❤️🙏❤️
So happy that you’re having great results. I think I will be going down to 100 as well. I do have numbness in my toes and fatigue. The reason is because of my ANC AT .4.
Thank you for your response I really appreciate it. Take care and stay safe
I’ve been on Ibrance for two years at a dosage of 75 mg except for the first two months when I was on 125 and then 100. It looks like I could be nearing the end of its efficacy as my tumor markers are going up but we will know more on Tuesday when I get the results of the scan I had yesterday. So it seems that if 125 works, so does 75! My oncologist says that two years is the average for most people on Ibrance. I’d like to be one of those not average people who go 5 years but I’ll take average. I wouldn’t be afraid of asking to decrease your dose.
Elaine
Hi Sandra,
Thank you for the kind words and the advice. I think I’m going to learn how to juice. Best wishes 🙏🙏🙏
Hi Christina-
Welcome to this wonderful group. It’s just a drag that what brings us together is MBC. I’m on Ibrance 125 7 months in combo with exemestane. So far so good for me. Best wishes to you!
Welcome to the group Canchondo. My neutrophils were low while on 125mg of Ibrance. After switching to 100mg they eventually came back up to 1.40
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Hip pain? New normal? Lies?
