Hi Sammy,
I’m sorry that you’re struggling with the chemo. It is really hard, but eventually comes to an end. Ribo really is no big deal in comparison.
I had chemo Aug-Dec 24, when ribociclib wasn’t even licenced for early breast cancer. I found out about it after completing my radiotherapy, just as I was preparing to return to work. I was very keen to take it as the reduction in recurrence is significant. For example if your survival goes from 90% to 94%, that’s a 40% reduction in risk of death -from 10% risk of death to 6%.
These calculations are done using mathematical models and for me personally, I wanted to do absolutely everything I could to avoid future metastatic disease. My Mum had a low risk tumour and wasn’t offered chemo, she then had liver and bone mets discovered 12 years later and went on to die of breast cancer, 15 years after her original diagnosis. That experience has definitely influenced my decisions.
I suspect in future people like me who were borderline for chemo (1 lymph node involved, grade 2, but relatively large tumour-4cm) might only be offered ribo, not chemo + ribo. I am very glad to have been able to have both.
I have just completed cycle 7, initially my bloods were ok. I’ve been working three days a week since cycle 3, and am tired towards the end of each cycle, but it’s manageable. its absolutely nothing like chemo! I had to have a 2 week gap prior to the most recent cycle due to low neutrophils, and now another longer break with low neutrophils and slightly raised LFTs. I suspect I am going to end up on the 200mg dose.
Just try and take it all one step at a time, one chemo cycle at a time. Chemo really does take all your physical and emotional strength, and the next steps will become clear once you’ve got through it.