Ribociclib v Abemaciclib

[AlwaysALargeSauvignonBlanc]

I'm really keen to hear some real life experiences of Ribociclib and Abemaciclib.

I had surgery to remove breast cancer followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I'm started Letrozole and Zoladex at the end of November and now need to make my decision regarding which cdk4/6 inhibitor I want to move forward with.

I know diarrhoea is the big side effect on Abemaciclib but the 2 years and less appointments is seeming more appealing. I don't want to make a rash decision though so real life experiences (not sugar coated) would be much appreciated.

I’m on Abemaciclib. I’ve been on it for 5 months.
I had a lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiotherapy. I’m now on Zoladex and Exmestene and on plan for 2yrs of Abemaciclib. I was never offered Ribociclib, I was told Abemaciclib for 2yrs was recommended as I was in a high risk category of recurrence (age 39, grade 3 cancer spread to lymph nodes).

I started on 150mg and the diarhoea was terrible. You are prescribed Loperamide to try and manage the diarhoea but even with that I was going 5/6 times a day and my blood results were showing anemia, low white cells and my liver wasn’t happy! So after 1 month on 150mg I was changed to 100mg.
Since then things have been so much better!

I do get diarhoea but now probably only twice a week and as soon as I have an episode I take a Loperamide and it stops it. My blood results have all improved too. Initially I had blood tests every 2 weeks but since month 3 I’m not having them every 4 weeks.
100mg has been manageable. I can cope with the side effects. The only one really has been the diarhoea.

The hospital said you can have the dose reduced down to 50mg if needed. They told me most people can’t tolerate the 150mg but everyone starts on that and then is tapered down if needed.

I was very apprehensive before starting it but now I’m getting on just fine.
The tip I recommend is to not take it on an empty stomach. So I take 1 tablet in the morning with breakfast and the 2nd one with my dinner in the evening. If I’m in a rush in the morning and don’t have breakfast then I make sure I have at least a biscuit, something to go down with the tablet!
Good luck and let me know if you have more questions.

Hi
I started ribociclib just over a month ago, 400mg daily. I haven't had any side effects at all so far, I wouldn't even know I was on another drug. Blood tests and ECG have all been fine so far too. Hoping it continues like this.
I had surgery for the BC may 24 followed by chemo and radiotherapy and have already been on letrazole, zoledex and zometa for over a year. The ribo has only just been approved here (Ireland) so that's why I've only just started. I'm very lucky that theres a nurse service with the drug here so my bloods and ECG are done at home.
Wishing you the best of luck with whatever you decide

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I'm really glad you both seem to be coping OK with your setups.

I have my blood test booked (but I'm on holiday so need to reschedule) but should be starting mid March