joint replacement and ibrance

[Lilykristymichael]

I had a knee replaced on Sept 14. My oncologist took me off Ibrance two weeks before and I am supposed to startup again two weeks after the replacement. Has anyone else had this surgery and how long was your Ibrance delayed after the surgery? I am curious what other oncologists recommend as far as healing and Ibrance are concerned. I am on 75 mg and have been for nearly 3years. I would appreciate any of your thoughts on this. Thank you. Madlyn

[Mimiholl]

see my previous reply mimiholl how my treatment was

[Lilykristymichael in reply to Mimiholl]

I am sorry but I cannot find that reply. What can I do to access it. Thanks. Madlyn

[USIrishcolleen]

Hello Lilykristymichael,

My oncologist asked me to stop the Ibrance a certain amount of days before and after my breast lumpectomy. It is because the white blood cells can be lowered on Ibrance and infection is a concern. “I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on t.v., so be sure to ask your medical oncologist if this is why they ask people to stop a couple days before their surgery, and then restart, a certain amount of days after the surgery.

Best,

Colleen

[Lilykristymichael in reply to USIrishcolleen]

thank you so much.

[8576]

Your oncologist was right. It is a common practice to remove the Meds before surge Just be sure when starting up again that you give it a fair chance to get back. Mine showed a slught increase in disease after surgery and I was taken off it but I aways felt they acted too quickly.

Cheers, June S.

[Lilykristymichael]

thanks for your reply. Did you mean to say you should have paused the Ibrance a little longer?

[Totheriver]

I took a month off last winter just to have a mental and physical break from Ibrance because I was always fighting with low wbc and neutraphylls. I have been on it 3 years and everything is stable. Hope things work for you too.

[Lilykristymichael in reply to Totheriver]

thank you so much for your reply.

[SushiLife in reply to Totheriver]

Did pausing a month give you a good mental and physical reset? Any changes in your cancer protection by skipping a month? I feel so worn out by the meds and sometimes get down at the thought of being on it for the foreseeable future. But overall I’m very grateful it exists and offers an alternative to chemo. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[Totheriver in reply to SushiLife]

Pausing for a month did give me a good mental and physical break. I have had 3 sets of scans since and no progression. I am planning on doing it again this winter if we go south. I sometimes cringe when I have to start my cycle again. I just take a break from the ibrance not my letrozle. It is the ibrance that usually makes me feel lousy for 4 or 5 days a month. I get tired of all the meds I take too. Theresa

[Lilykristymichael in reply to Totheriver]

I know exactly. I almost feel normal when I am off Ibrance. Thanks for your reply.

[Dragonfly2 in reply to Totheriver]

Hello...just reading how you had to get off Ibrance to get a break from the low WBC...do ask your ONC about trying the 5 day on and 2 day off schedule that has been recently trialed and approved....it has done wonders for me...I don't have the crashing lows anymore and can take the meds regularly. 😍

[Lilykristymichael in reply to Dragonfly2]

thanks for that info. I will ask my oncologist in two weeks when I go in. Madlyn

[Southside25]

I had pacemaker replaced and my onc stopped Ibrance 3 days before surgery and 7 days after. If you're off the Ibrance, your neutrophils are likely to rise which would be defense against infection and to promote faster healing.

[Lilykristymichael in reply to Southside25]

yes, thank you for your reply.

[Fiercefighter13]

Your oncologist is your best bet for knowing how long to be off of Ibrance for that kind of surgery. I was started back on Ibrance 2 weeks after having my ovaries removed (much smaller surgery than a knee replacement!), and within 10 days of going back on Ibrance I developed a serious infection from having low neutrophils and ended up in the hospital for 6 nights and 5 days on I.V. antibiotics....then had to take oral antibiotics for 6 weeks after that to control and get rid of the infection that had set in. At that point I was taken off Ibrance while I was in the hospital and the full 6 weeks while on oral antibiotics. I was able to start back up on Ibrance after that. I know other people who have had surgery and only been off Ibrance for 10 days to 2 weeks and they did fine. I unfortunately did not. I would recommend being very vigilant for any signs of infection and get anything out of the ordinary checked out as you go healing. Good luck to you, I hope you heal quickly and get back on your feet soon!!

[Lilykristymichael]

thank you so much for that information. It all makes sense that our blood counts need to be normal to heal properly. I am glad you got straightened out. I will watch carefully for any side of infection.

[LittleMary]

I had a knee replacement, but only missed one day of Ibrance because the timing of taking it did not fit with the timing of the operation. Neither my oncologist or the orthopaedic surgeon thought I should stop taking it, my blood results were good. No ill effects at all - and btw, you will be seriously glad you had the knee operation, it has made the world of difference to me. The consultant said quality of life was important and he couldn't see any reason why I shouldn't have it done, it would give me years of better quality life. The fact that he said years made me feel so much better! I'm on 100mg of Ibrance and the knee has healed very well in the 14 months since I had the op. I have exercised it carefully as per instructions from the medical team, including months of physio. Good luck!

[Lilykristymichael in reply to LittleMary]

thank you so much. This is valuable information.

[friesianfan]

My wife had both knees replaced while on Ibrance, stopping roughly two weeks before and two weeks after surgery. Surgeries were successful (about six months apart, one before our daughter’s wedding and one right after) and they didn’t cause any problems returning to Ibrance either time. This all happened within her first year on Ibrance, which ultimately lasted about three and a half years before moving on to the next three protocols. In one of the most positive/reassuring comments of our five plus year relationship so far, her onc had said at the time, “I can’t tell you how long you are going to live, but I CAN tell you that you are going to live long enough to be glad you had your knees done!” Besides being absolutely the right decision for her knees, it was a huge emotional boost just six months into her de novo MBC journey! Good luck with your recovery and definitely keep up with the PT!Dave

[Lilykristymichael]

thank you Dave. Good information.

[Dflur]

I had a hip replacement, and my oncologist did the same, no problems.

[Lilykristymichael in reply to Dflur]

thank you.

[Andersl]

Hi Madlyn

Im not on Ibrance. Im on Kadcyla every 3 weeks.

Ive had breaks in treatment for a cataract operation, radiotherapy to the brain and a trip to see my son in the US (I live in the UK).

The reason the consultant stopped the treatment (3 week gap before and after) for the cataract op and radiotherapy was to prevent my immune system getting too low. The anti cancer drugs lowers the immune system as youre no doubt aware. To heal after surgery you need your immune system to be the best it can be.

I think 2 weeks either side is a good timeframe. Not too long, not too short.

All the best for your op.

Louise x