Morning everyone
I have contacted COVID this Friday and unable to speak with my oncologist
Medication - ibrance 125 mg and letrozole
I rang out of hours support and was put through to haematology ward and the nurse I spoke with said , I would continue taking your medication if I were you!!
Has anyone been in this situation in UK and what advice where you given ?
I'm not in the UK, but I was told by my onc that if I got covid, and was close to the end of the 21 days of Ibrance, to stop taking it, in order to help build my blood back up. By close to the end was meaning like 2-3 days. I have gotten covid yet, but she was preparing me just in case. I hope you have just a mild case, maybe your onc will be available on Monday to inform him/her and find out what to do. Hope you feel better soon!
I would call the specialty pharmacy you get your drugs from, or the drug company itself probably as a hot line. If it were me I would stop it. I recall my onc saying (while I as on iBrance) if I were to get something (any infection) to stop the iBrance. In fact I did do that a couple of times when I had a vomiting migraine. I do not think it’s going to change anything with your cancer for a couple of days anyway. Just my 2 cents. Drink lots of fluids regardless of how you feel
Hi
Not in the UK but I’m on same meds and recently had Covid. I was told to keep taking Letrozole but I stopped Ibrance until I was out of quarantine. Now that restrictions have changed I’m not sure what your protocol is. I tested positive at the start of my off week and was unable to get the blood work that I usually do before starting the next course. So in my case I had to wait until I tested negative to be able to get to the oncology centre.
I think it is a good idea to postpone taking it if your mid course as it can effect your recovery by lowering your WBC.
Hope you get better asap!
Rest up even if you have a mild bout, you want to take it easy to allow yourself to recover.
Best wishes
Zoe x
Also don’t worry too much about the effects of having brief breaks in your treatments. I’ve had quiet a stop start experience. I changed my first meds and had a detox drug free break, then had another break with the Covid issue…but still had encouraging scan results. My oncologist actually said not to be concerned…when I asked her if there was anything worrying about delaying meds briefly.
Not Covid, but I had to have my pacemaker battery replaced, and my onc. told me to stop Ibrance 3 days before and 7 days after surgery to help the healing process by increasing neutrophil levels. Are you fully vaccinated? That should certainly make a difference. Pharmacy might have info about this situation, or could direct you to a hot line or some direct phone # to Pfizer.
I would ring acute oncology at your hospital - they should be able to advise you. I am in the U.K. stay safe x
Hi Jen, I am in the same situation. My oncology nurse told me to stop taking Ibrance until I finished with covid and tested negative.
Same here
I was in hospital with a kidney infection in August and the doctors took me off ibrance saying my body needed to fight infection. When I came off antibiotics I had blood test and spoke to oncologist who then restarted me. It's not had any long term effects on scans and results. I had an earlier infection and my GP didn't stop ibrance and the infection came back and I was poorly for ages. So try phoning oncologist to check. I find it easier to contact the secretary as she can have a quick word and get back to me or get them to phone me. Good luck, hope you get better soon. Carolyn x
I’m also in the UK and I’m pretty sure they will advise you to stop taking Palbo but continue Letrozole. I stopped for a few weeks when I had covid back in December 2020 and after two operations since. I’m currently NEAD so I wouldn’t worry as 🤞🏼it will have no impact and that any symptoms will be mild.
Wow congratulations on your NEAD status!That’s amazing!
I hope the drugs work as well for me…I think I’m on the same combo…But I’m only 8 months into this whole experience.
Wishing you all the best….your my new hero!
Zoe x
Thanks! I was only NEAD after about a year on the drugs so hopefully same for you in a few months. Oddly enough though, now I worry more about the scans than I did before🤦🏻♀️ I keep on trying to live in the present and focus on the positives but it’s not always easy eh?!
Hi, can you please tell me what NEAD is? Thanks Claire 🌷
Hi I think it’s No Evidence of Active Disease . Correct me anyone if I’m wrong .?
Debra xxx😍
Yes that’s right so a complete metabolic response to the meds and currently no evidence of cancer in the body (at least that they can detect). But of course as we are stage four we can’t be cured (at the minute!) so at some point the drugs will stop working and we can move on to a different line of treatment. x
I am not in the UK. but I was told to go off Ibrance before surgery. and didn't take it until a month later. No ill effects but it is difficult to say, because I have had progression regularly for the last two years. Mine is a slow growing ,
Cheers, June S.
Hello. I’m not in UK but I had Covid in Dec. My. oncologist took me off of Ibrance for a week ( even when I had a colonoscopy a year ago she did this to build up my white blood cell count). Also I was sent to get an antibodies infusion to build up my antibodies to help fight the infection. My primary care Dr gave me a prescription for an inhaler and antibiotics and nose spray as it settled in my upper respiratory area. Hope this helps. I hope you Get your dr advice soon! Prayers.
Not in the UK, but had COVID end of December. I am fully vaccinated with booster as well. I did test positive during my "off" week, but my oncologist never advised me to stopped Ibrance. I did however skip that month's bloodwork since the virus would likely to throw the numbers off. I have lung meds. Best answer is to wait to speak to your oncologist.
I hope you get through this virus quickly!
Progression of my MBC 
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