Blood counts

[Sharon0122]

I went to both my GP and cancer doctor last week. My blood counts were 50% of what they should be. My Gp who I saw first never mentioned it and my cancer Dr was very concerned. I go to the cancer Dr every other month now? My cancer is stable. Now I have to have my blood checked every month. I’m on 100 mgIbrance and antrozle. I’m worried he’ll make me stop taking it. Yesterday I was breathing heavily when I walked and once I thought I was going to pass out. I’m very worried .

[Pups2Cute]

hi there, I hope everything settles down and your blood counts improve. Do you think it may be anxiety causing shortness of breath? My Mom was coughing when she was anxious about changing her meds. She was on Ibrance 75mg with letrozole 3 weeks on and 2 weeks off. That worked well for her for over two years but now her Onc switched her to Faslodex after seeing something small misbehaving in the liver. My Mom takes Zoloft daily and lorazepam when needed which has really helped. My Mom is doing well also and is otherwise healthy with arthritis. She had a knee replacement surgery in Sept which has allowed her to walk well again. Best to you.

[Sharon0122 in reply to Pups2Cute]

Well I’m hoping he’ll reduce my Ibrance to 75. I do have a lot of pain. I had a kyphoplasy in two fractured vertebrae which didn’t seem to help. I go to the pain Dr Monday. So maybe that has something to do with it too. Thank you. Hugs

Sharon

[Pups2Cute in reply to Sharon0122]

I hope your pain can be managed well. There is so much out there to ease those symptoms. Praying you find a good solution on Monday. Hugs

[Tolife_18 in reply to Sharon0122]

Hi Sharon, I’m sorry you’re in a lot of pain. Did the dr discussed the targeted radiation to reduce the pain? It worked well for my pain (although I developed radiation pneumonitis, not severe).

Wishing you well!

[Sharon0122 in reply to Tolife_18]

I had a kyphoplasty on two of my vertebrae. A very painful procedure, but it didn’t help as much as I thought it would. Hugs

[Sharon0122]

thank you!

[Pups2Cute]

Yes 75 mg Ibrance is good and would probably boost your counts. That’s why they put my Mom on the lower dose. She was just under with her wbc count and they were being conservative. That’s good I guess.

[Sharon0122]

yes as long as it keeps my cancer stable!!!

[jersey-jazz]

Dear Sharon0122-----We are the only ones that are completely involved with our health. This puts us in such a difficult position when we are dealing with all these doctors that know so much more than we do and care so much less than we do about us.

I guess this is one of those moans that come out every once in a while.

[Sharon0122]

you are totally right, we’re just a $ sign to them!

[Merma]

Yes, I’m also on Ibrance 100 mg. and this is the third time the wbc and neutrophils were way too low by the end of the 2nd week, and I had to take a week long break. I’m on Ibrance for over 5 ½ years. When my blood counts didn’t recover on the 125, my onc dropped me down to 100. Not sure if he’ll drop me down to 75. The frustrating thing is that he has an ailing parent, so he’s been out of town for two months. I feel like I’m in limbo.

[Gingerann1 in reply to Merma]

My Onc is on a LOA too with return TBD. I will have to see a different Onc on 8/8 after my scans. Feeling anxious about that. I’m starting to get concerned about my kidney filtration rate which is now flagged on my monthly bloodwork, having dropped over the last 6 months from 82 to 73 to 63, now 56. I’m sure it is because of the meds but if we stay on them like we want to (still on 1st line treatment after 32 months w/ Ibrance 125 and Fulvestrant ) is this considered collateral damage? Will be asking about that on my next visit. Managing the meds has been a lot more daunting than the cancer.

[Sharon0122 in reply to Merma]

I’m on 100 now. My oncologist is on vacation at the moment and to me a change in drs, sometimes is good. Best to you o. The 8th,hugs

[Sharon0122 in reply to Merma]

Is there not another oncologist you can see or does he not have a PA? I’ve seen the PA twice and I think she’s better than my dr. I hope you get some answers soon. Hugs

[Merma in reply to Sharon0122]

I will push to make an appointment with somebody if the blood counts don’t improve. My reg doctor will be back the following week.

[CalGal56]

Hi Sharon0122 - I am on 75mg Ibrance and Letrozole 2.5. I just finished my first 28 day cycle and have been diagnosed with grade 3 neutropenia. My Onc starts most of her patients out on a low dose to watch the Neutrophil counts mine plummeted to 825 <1000 is grade 3. So I am off Ibrance for a week or two, until I get them back up. We are then going to looking at a new dosing protocol. Possibly 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. Though there is a dosing trial right now 5 days on 2 days off 5/2 consistently no breaks at 75mg. It looks promising because the Ibrance is always present but at low dose with regular short reprieve for recovery. She will be looking into this for future reference. I am masked up in public spaces with lots of people and hanging low and close to home for the next week and until my next blood draw. She has my blood being drawn every week now. My take, “It’s working! Now let’s get that dose right so I can get back to my horse, dancing and restaurant dining! I hope you feel better and your counts get stronger! P.S. I am a big hiker in the hills behind my home 4-5 mile loop every morning I have gotten out of breath (rare before MBC) so I go a lot slower now, I believe it is the fatigue that is hitting me. My Onc has told me to keep moving even with the low count, just slow down a bit. Good Luck! Sending you blessings of strength and good health.

[Sharon0122 in reply to CalGal56]

I don’t understand why just all of a sudden your blood count goes down. Now I have a uti as I guess I can’t fight infection. Hugs!

[Threadsgirl]

I have had bloodwork every month for the past three years I am on Ibrance, on 125 mg but take a two week break due to low neutrophils. Once my bloodwork is checked I get the ok to continue taking the med. Otherwise I would probably get a longer break, onc doesn’t want to change if it is working. It will take a little time to build back up so take it a little easier but keep on going!

[Sharon0122 in reply to Threadsgirl]

I’ve been on it for two years and I just don’t understand why it’s just plummeted? How can a person fight infection? I have a uti now and the first time in six months as my gp has me on antibiotics twice a day for the past six months. And now I have one, I’m sure it’s due to the low blood count? Hugs

[Eliactida1955]

It goes down with those drugs and you have to watch but they can stop for a couple of weeks or so to recover. It tumor markers are good then you can stay on it. My wbc and r b c were below normal. Platelets too but I stayed on the regimen. I wish you luck🙏✝️

[Sharon0122]

I hope they find something soon, I go back for blood tests o. The 17th bit as I look at my tests my counts have been going down my last three visits. And now I’m wondering why just now they are concerned? Hugs

[HelenWi]

When mu WBC fell dramatically with Ibrance, I started getting an injection to boost the count and it worked quite well. Are you not getting that?

[Sharon0122]

No, they haven’t mentioned it and now this morning I have a uti, in spite of the fact I’m on an antibiotic twice a day to prevent them . So that’s not working now, bummer! Hugs

[HawaiiLulu]

My doctor told me to stop my Ibrance on the 20th of this month because I could not breath good . I’m an asthmatic also but I got so out of breath that just going to the bathroom and back to the living room I was huffing and puffing . It felt different from my normal asthma and this happened before so my doc cut my Ibrance in half after having me stop it for a week but when I started again I got the same way with my breathing so now I’m off of it until my next visit in august and then I’ll see what is next. My daughter read that when on Ibrance if you feel you can’t breath good tell your doctor right away . I don’t know what he will put me on next but aside from my breathing issue Ibrance was working very well for me and I really am worried about what he will put me on next. I hope you do better but know I understand your worries being off of Ibrance. Hoping for the best for you

[Sharon0122 in reply to HawaiiLulu]

At this point I’m not sure which is worse the cancer or the Ibrance? I’m having a hard time standing and my husband after months of being in pain has been so good, but in the past few days he’s been grumpy. These are our retirement years and I think he’s upset we can’t travel because of all the pain I’m in. Not sure what to do? Hugs