Eribulin (Halaven )stopped working

[Euebdbdbddh]

Dear ladies , I have metastatic breast cancer ( liver) . I was on Ibrance nearly 3 years and it stopped working in September 2020. My oncologist put me on Eribulin and only had 4 cycles, when unfortunately Eribulin attacked my neutrophils and took nearly 2 weeks to get it back to normal. Doctors are saying I can not have any more chemo because it will attacked my bone marrow. If you can , can you please let me know if you experienced something like this , any advice , any suggestions? Thank you

[SoCalLady]

Have you been taking Zometa, or Xgeva for your bones?

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to SoCalLady]

No I am not, my oncologist put me on Eribulin , back in October 2020 and treatment is not working for , chemo is attacking my bone marrow and my liver mets are growing

[Hidden]

I have Denosumab injections once a month for bone strengthening and also take Calcium and Vit D as prescribed. I am on Letrozole, Ibrance also for metastasis in my bones and lungs.

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to Hidden]

Have not had denosumab injections at all, or calcium or vit D , does this help with your bone marrow please ? X

[Hidden in reply to Euebdbdbddh]

I do believe it’s just a bone strengthening injection. You should definitely ask your Oncologist about the Calcium and Vitamin D.

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to Hidden]

Will ask him

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[atoth17]

Can’t they give you an injection to help with the neutrophils? Neupogen or Neulasta? At least you could try other drugs.

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to atoth17]

They gave me injections, my neutrophils are up again now, but my oncologist is saying that if I have any more chemo it will destroy my bone marrow completely. This is the first time I have no hope at all . I can not describe how upset I am, I have no words , just want to cream and cry .

[Buffwright in reply to Euebdbdbddh]

How low were your neutrophils?

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to Buffwright]

They were 0 for 8 days , now they are 6

[Buffwright in reply to Euebdbdbddh]

Mine were typically at 8 and as low as 6...but I only got a UTI, no other infections, and I travelled to India and Puerto Rico while on ibrance. 0 is something else!! Glad it’s back up!

[cdutton in reply to Euebdbdbddh]

YOU DO HAVE HOPE WITH FENBENDAZOLE-PANACUR C-I AM TAKING X 1 YEAR FOR MBC. 1 GM NO SIDE EFFECTS AT ALL!

[atoth17]

I am so sorry they said they to you. I’m not a doctor but that sounds off to me. Can you get a second opinion? I’m newly diagnosed MBC and my current Oncologist isn’t always positive and hasn’t given me a ton of hope, I’m getting a second opinion next month and feel like I will most likely be leaving his care. He’s a nice guy but I need someone who gives me hope and other solutions. Hang in there. 😊

[Hidden in reply to atoth17]

I switched oncologists when I received MBC diagnosis after 2 prior occurrences starting in 2004.

She “meant well” I suppose as the saying goes. But I found it difficult to have a dialogue with her.

I made the change after we discussed a procedure (which ended up being unnecessary and I avoided.). She said, “I don’t want to fight with you.”

I replied, “I’m not fighting with YOU. I’m fighting for my life.”

I’ve had my new oncologist for 2 years. She’s smart, savvy, open minded, and receptive. She is not threatened when I ask questions. It is a big relief.

I encourage your decision to find a new doctor. Dealing with my prior oncologist was stressful. The last thing we need is anxiety from our doctors.

Good luck. Keep us posted

[Euebdbdbddh]

Thank you for your kind reply, I don’t have mets in my lungs , they were detected in my liver and bones . X

[Hazelgreen]

Perhaps ask your oncologist about taking tamoxifen which strengthens bone, and maintains white blood cells. Although it can lead to heart issues, I'm not sure why oncologists have quit suggesting it since it was the breakthrough treatment for breast cancer in the 1980's. It seems all oncologists simply go to the newest drug without figuring out whether that particular drug is the one best suited to an individual patient. To be fair, drug trials do not divide breast cancer patients according to their genomes so I guess oncologists simply don't know which drugs will suit individual patients.

[Bestbird]

It's unusual to be placed on an IV chemo straightaway after only one endocrine therapy failed (with Ibrance, you would have had either an Aromatase Inhibitor or Faslodex). Usually another type of endocrine therapy or combination will be tried, and after failure on that Xeloda, which is an oral chemo, is generally prescribed before IV chemo is given.

Also, you should have been tested for tumor mutations and inherited mutations to determine whether you may be a candidate for targeted therapies.

As atoth17 said, this does not sound quite right. I highly recommend obtaining a second professional opinion and getting the aforementioned tests.

With good wishes.

[SoCalLady]

Also ask about Y-90 (Yttrium 90) Radioembolization for Liver Metastasis. It is a newer procedure that delivers radiation therapy directly to the tumors in the liver. It must be administered by an experienced Interventional Radiologist. With the help of imaging guidance, an interventional radiologist makes a small incision and guides a tiny tube (called a catheter) into the artery that supplies blood to the liver. Micro beads containing the radioactive substance known as Y-90 are injected, The beads can travel into the small blood vessels that feed the liver tumors. Once inside, they can destroy the tumor from within. This procedure minimizes any damage to nearby healthy tissue. Not a cure, but proven to prolong life for months or years and improve quality of life. Has anyone had experience with this procedure? Also, if she has no plans to give you chemo again, what's her plan?

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to SoCalLady]

At the moment he has no plans to give me any more chemo , we had a call yesterday and he suggested hormonal therapy , to be reviewed every two weeks , I will ask him about radioembolization as I have never heard about this treatment before and he also never mentioned x

[626262 in reply to SoCalLady]

I am currently inquiring about the Y90 for my liver mets. A Guardian 360 test will be scheduled first to thoroughly evaluate any mutations. The Y90 seems to be a very sensible approach in that it addresses only the liver tumors without the systemic IV chemo side effects. It is done on an outpatient basis with twilight sedation. The description seems complicated and best performed by an interventional radiologist with substantial experience. I'm hoping to be a candidate (there are a lot of tumor and location variables)and find the perfect physician. Would love to hear about anyone's experience with this procedure also.

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to 626262]

Where are you based ? I am based in the UK. Not sure if my insurance will cover Y90 , I will seek second opinion immediately x

[626262 in reply to Euebdbdbddh]

I'm in the U.S., it is performed in most states here. Wishing you all the best. Will provide updates as my process unfolds. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Euebdbdbddh]

Has anyone tried megestrol please ? My oncologist is suggesting megestrol treatment, many thanks

[Dragonfly2]

Hello! I’m sorry to hear about your difficulties...and I hope you have contacted the onc for some direction. Have you asked about clinical trials or immunotherapy? Continue to have conversations with your doctor or seek another opinion. My heartfelt best wishes to you.

[Dragonfly2]

Here is a link to a story about Judy Perkins who was on the ropes...she went the route of immunotherapy. I found her journey hopeful and helpful. newscientist.com/article/21...

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to Dragonfly2]

Thank you so much x

[Shelby4now]

Hi

My last meeting with my oncologist we discussed my pet scan and she wanted to start Eribulin(Halaven). This will be my third treatment of IV chemo. I started with chemo then onto oral treatment now back to IV chemo . The oncologist has said this will probably my last line of treatment . So I know how you feel. I have strictly bone mets.....it looks like you got some wonderful information from the ladies and you are perhaps on a different path. I hope all goes well for you .

Take care

Be safe

Shelby

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to Shelby4now]

Why did she say it will be the last line of treatment? Before Eribulin my oncologist was saying we have many different options... I only had 2 different treatments before ( capacetabine, Ibrace and Letrozole) x

[Euebdbdbddh in reply to Euebdbdbddh]

And now all those options disappointed, that what really makes me sad x

[Tinkerbell03 in reply to Shelby4now]

My Dr told me the same thing, there are a bunch of other chemos they can try if and when these chemos fail.

[cdutton]

HI I HAVE HAD MBC SINCE 2019-BEEN ON IBRANCE-NO EFFECT ON MBC AT ALL= UNTIL I ADDED FENBENDAZOLE 1 YEAR AGO. NOW HAVE OVER 50% REDUCTION IN TUMOR SIZE. NO SIDE EFFECTS AT ALL!. . PURCHASE ON AMAZON-PANACURE C-BY MERCK. IT WORKS!!!!! START WITH 1 GM 5 DAYS ON-2 OFF.