Hi Fellow MBC’ers: I’m considering radiation to my fractured pubic Ramus to help reduce pain & remove any random breast cancer cells floating around my pelvis (even though I am still considered in radiological remission). I have been on IBrance for 33 months. Should I stop it before radiation? If so, for how long?
Doctors are recommending radiation to reduce pain & help those bones heal faster.
Can’t seem to find a standard of care on this topic.
Happy Friday!
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When l was diagnosed l had palliative radiation and am glad l did because it did decrease the pain. I couldn't start lbrance until after radiation was completed can't remember how long l had to wait to start it.
Thanks for bringing this up - it would be good to know, and I’ll be asking my onc about it also, I’m having radiation for the first time soon (on my hip) and so far no one’s said anything about stopping the Ibrance…
I did not have to stop my Ibrance during radiation treatment 2 years ago. But I would confirm with your radiologist as it could depend on your specific treatment plan. I hope the radiation provides relief for your pain.🤗
I had two sets of radiation treatments, one set in November and one in March. I stayed on Ibrance both times. I was never told that I needed to be off of it during treatment. I would check with your doctor though. Best of luck with your treatment. My radiation treatments were painless and seems to have worked. One lesion is completely gone (based on 2 scans) and the other is sclerotic and stable.
Thank you!!
I had 15 sessions of palliative radiation this past June/July which greatly eased the pain in my hip. I did not stop Ibrance as my doctor said it wasn't necessary to do so. I did fine. Your radiologist will know what's best for you. Good luck!
Thank you!!!
I have niggling pain that kept me awake all last night. But I did do a long hike during the day. But what kind of pain do you have to have to get radiation? Do you wait until writhing?
I suggest you talk to your oncologist if you have any pain that does not go away. It is one of the signs of cancer. I’m not a doctor so I obviously can’t advise you. My pain is from MBC in the pelvic bones.
Mine too… niggling pain that kept me awake last night but usually just take Tylenol… but wonder if I have to wait until it gets worse pain before radiation. My onc isn’t too keen on it. Maybe because it might hurt my bone marrow?
Hi Hope, I had 10 radiation in 10 days for reduction of painand suppression of cells in my L1 and L3 spine MBC. I continued Ibrance (125) and letrozole. The radiation went in through my stomach to get to spine. I was extremely nauseated and needed to take Promithizine before treatments. The radiation worked! my pain is greatly reduced and numbness in my leg and my latest scan showed everything is stable. Best of luck. Check with your oncologist about Ibrance, but mine said to continue. Love, Clair
How long did it take for the pain to subside after radiation? Thank you!
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It took 3-4 weeks after mine. It really helped me. ☺️
I didn’t take Ibrance during 5 radiation sessions (T4-T6) because both may have an impact on the immune system. I also had 1 session of STRT for the cerebellum lesion administered during my off week. My understanding is that there are different approaches that are individually driven and largely depending on the location and duration of the radiation therapy.
Wishing you best of luck and hope that the therapy will alleviate pain.
Polina
Hi, I was on Ibrance and Letrozole. I didn’t have to stop my medication when I had radiation on my pelvis. I have never looked back either. It really helped me.
WOW thank you so much for this topic. Because of the issue you raised I asked my oncologist if I should stop iBrance and letrozole during the radiation I will start later this week (15 visits zapping Thoracic vertebraes 1-3), and she said stop the iBrance, continue the Letrozole, and have a blood test at the end of the radiation.
She knew I was scheduled for radiation and never mentioned that until I asked her. !!!!
So yes, ask your oncologist. I hope yours is better than mine. And good luck to us all, may we all live to tell these tales.
I am on verzenio. The radiologist doctor told with my onco and got the okay for me to stop taking the Verzenio a week before, during my two week radiation treatment to the spine, and a week after. For first few days, I forgot to take the verzenio again bc I got used to not taking it.
Thank you! That’s helpful Sandra. I start today. I’m currently on my 3rd week of IBrance. Oddly enough, both my radiologist & oncologist said I can stay on my meds. I am doing normal low dose radiation 10 days 3 min per day targeted to the fractured superior pubic ramus. I also get my Faslodex & Xgeva shots next week during my week off. With that, I’ll see my blood counts & make the best decision with my doctors.
They say I should have no side effects except maybe having to urinate more frequently. This location affects the bladder (temporarily, I’m told).
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Good morning!I had radiation to sacrum and lumbar spine prior to starting Ibrance. I had to wait one week after completing radiation to begin. You should check with radiation Oncologist to see what their protocol is.
PS, the target of radiation plays a large part on if you need to stop your Ibrance or not!
My radiation oncologist told me I would have to stop Ibrance during radiation treatments. Many people here said they did not have to. Like many other things, it seems to be based on what the specific oncologist thinks.
yes, you will need to stop ibrance during radiation. The reason they gave me was because both reduces bone marrow blood cell production. Ask your oncologist or oncology pharmacist. They will guide you as to how to navigate it. Good luck! Radiation was a pain game changer for me.
When Ibrance stops working.
PET showed progression Ibrance stopped
Ibrance + Letrozole just stopped working
Ibrance stopped working, lots of pain in back 
Do you think weight and height could have anything to do with Ibrance?
