Has anyone developed a cough, bronchitis like, while taking a ciclib (inbrance, verzenio, Kisqali). I started coughing in August while in Kisqali. Took two different antibiotics which knocked it back but not out.,then I started Ibrance and the cough returned. Again two different antibiotics and it is much less but not gone. Sometimes I cough up clear phlegm, although much less now that I just finished the second antibiotic. I’ve been off ibrance for 12 days. Onco want me off it until the cough is gone (makes me nervous to be off the drug for so long). In 2018-2020 I was in the Monarch E trial on abemeciclib (Verzenio) and didn’t experience a cough.
my recent PET scan doesn’t show anything and lungs are clear, just in the bronchial system.
Wondering if anyone else experienced this and what you did to clear it. I’m hoping to stay on Ibrance and save Verzenio for the future.
Thanks
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DianaTrapani
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I’m currently on Verzenio and some days I have several coughing fits, other days almost nothing. My lungs are clear, sometimes I have a bit of phlegm. It’s irritating as heck.
I have a cough, too, and am on Ibrance, Xgeva, and Aromasin. Cough is off and on, but lungs are basically CLEAR except for some mucous from time to time.
I have been on Ibrance since late 2018, and have had a handful of "breaks" anywhere from 5 months to a few weeks, to allow me to recover from different events (surgery, COVID, shingles). Stayed on my hormone suppressant, but no Ibrance. And, just marked 4.5 years of NED. Good luck and get well.
Hi Diana, I have been on Ibrance for almost 4 1/2 years, and from the very start, I have had a dry cough. Not productive, just annoying. I have had several breaks, and still doing very well. A cough is listed as a possible side affect of Ibrance. Best Wishes & Hang in There!
hi Diana, I have been on Ibrance and Letrozole for about 52 weeks and about 3 months ago developed a bronchial type of cough. I also had to keep blowing my nose. I went to Urgent Care and the on-call doctor checked out my lungs (with an x-ray) and did all the other things they do - including looking into my throat and could see nothing wrong. The doctor at UCare said that there was no sign of infection. He gave me a couple of steroid pills which eased the cough somewhat but the cough returned in a few days. I was very scared so I decided to do a fast. So I id a two day fast (no food - just plain well water). The cough subsided a quite dramatically. That was about a couple a months ago. Now I only occasionally cough and usually when I start eating. I am now beginning a three day water only fast and hopefully I get good results again. My husband did the 72 hour water and some coffee fast and it took away the pain he had and it improved his vision. He can now read the green light buttons on his coffee machine without his glasses. He was amazed. So fasting does seem to have benefits and that is why I am trying it again. In spite of the fact that my blood tests and scans show no evidence of disease I am getting scared because I am now at the outer limits of what Ibrance and Letrozole are supposed to be able to do. So I am worried about my cancer flaring up again. Although I believe that there are other drugs that might help me prolong my life. I sure hope so because I feel good most of the time. I am right now on my 7 day rest period so I am using this rest period to begin my 3 day fast. I have read that fasting actually helps women with breast cancer who are doing chemotherapy maintain a good immune system. Chemo really thrashes the immune system so if fasting reduces that loss it is a good thing to do. I did read on line about Ibrance causing lung inflammation problems. Of course my chest x-ray showed my lungs to be clear. I hope my experience helps you. Hugs Marlene
hi Diana hope you are feeling well. I’ll be 75 on 12/10. I’ve been on ibrance 125 since 2018. Prior to that I was on femara since 2011 when I found a lesion on t6 had radiation upon my insistence.I’ve. Even stable. I had previously been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. So having occasional cough didn’t alarm me I expected it. Ibrance can cause lung damage. Currently I have mild bronchectisis. And some other issues. I use trilogy once a day and an inhaler not often only if I push myself physically. I still have a cough but my complaint is more phlegm do to bronchectisis. My original breast cancer stage 2 with 2 positive lymph nodes was 9/1992. Lumpectomy chemo and radiation. I was good for 19 years. Anyway there are side effects but trust me I do my homework. Be confident in your doctors if not get another. It’s a hassle to change but keep all of your reports and films always. Hope that helps. You need the medication. I’ve kept myself alive and stable since 2011. It’s not pleasant to accept but it’s a must. Find lozenges that can help. Whatever it takes. Good luck oh also get fasladex injections and PET scans 3 or 4 times a year
I developed shortness of breath in Spring and continued to get worst and affected ability to walk distances. I could walk into a building, but once in I was exhausted. October petscan showed ground glassy patches but oncologist didn't pick up on it. It took until October 12th to get a pulmonologist appointment. Got a 5 day medrol pack. It did not help. CTA scan on Dec 6, showed lung inflammation. Pulmonologist diagnosis pneumonitis, a side effect of Kisqali. Dec 8 started 60mg prednisone. Felt like a new person for 4 days. Then side effects of prednisone set in weak, jittery, sleep interference., appetite increase too much (felt awful). Prednisone dosage lowered to 40mg. Yesterday it was lowered to 20mg. I could sleep last night and I feel better. I will have a petscan the middle of January but oncologist said pulmonologist should schedule CTA scan in four weeks to monitor to see if prednisone has cleared lungs. My point here per oncologist don't rely on petscans to pick up inflammation. She may be covering her butt. Per oncologist I will not go back on Kisqali. If petscan in the middle of January shows no increase in activity I will only do Faslodex injections. We did discuss Verzenio and Elacestrant in the future. My first diagnosis was June 2001. Bone mets March 2013. I got a good run on Aromasin and Zometa IV (7 years and loved it).
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