Anyone taking Kisqali for breast cancer? What are the side effects?

It's completely understandable to have concerns about starting a new medication, especially when reading about potential side effects. Many community members have shared their experiences with Kisqali here, and connecting with others who have firsthand knowledge can provide valuable insights as you prepare for this next step in your treatment journey.

I took it for 6 months but developed horrible shortness of breath and had to be taken off of it. I had no noticeable side effects.

I took it for 5 months before surgery. Will take the remainder of the 3 years after chemo and radiation. At my daughter’s wedding I had a small amount of alcohol to toast them and also punch with some wine. It made my liver numbers go up to 150. Steroids brought them back down. Other than that, no side effects so I won’t drink alcohol again, maybe ever. Also, primary care doctor changed my BP meds from diltiazem to olmesarten to avoid prolongation. It is controlling my BP better.

Thank you! Will keep you updated on my experiences with taking it.😊

I am 4 months into my 3 years of kisqali. Side effects seem to be leveling off. I take it at night to help. I have not had to change diet, etc. I have a couple of drinks a week and it does not efrect my liver levels. Everyone reacts differently.

Thank you. They r telling me to take in the morning?

I have been taking Kisqali for almost 2 years. No side effects taking 200 MG. I did have a problem starting out with the 400.Mg. No nausea.

I just started it 2days ago. I will keep you posted. My dietitian told me watch out for diarrhea and eat certain foods . I take it at night with the Femara

Thank you.?what foods to avoid? I also take Femara. I take both an am

Only food I was told to avoid was grapefruit and grapefruit juice. I am on the 400 mg dose and have had no issues with diarrhea. I have had constipation instead, but take colace on the "on" weeks and it helps tremendously. This is my 4th month on it and my side effects continue to lessen.

Constipation is also an issue for me. Taking Metamucil and stool softener. Your right! Said to avoid grapefruit. Ding like anyway! 😊😊

Note from my dietitian: Well you can eat your regular healthy Mediterranean type diet but do not eat grapefruit or pomegranate for their juices. Watch your bowel movements closely …. they may change so if you do have loose stools make sure you drink enough fluids and make sure to stay away from high fiber rich (like big salads or beans or bran) or fried foods because they can make diarrhea worse

Thank you!

I took Kisqali as a neoadjuvant, but my liver didn't tolerate it. I had to stop for a month, then I took Ibrance.

Someone took iBrance also ?

I was diagnosed with mbc a year ago, and have been taking 600 mg of Kisqali along with Femara since then. I experienced diarrhea at first, but that hasn’t been a problem for a while. In the last 6 months I’ve started losing my hair. That’s been a huge bummer, but obviously not life threatening. 🤷 My bloodwork every month is showing that the meds are doing what they’re supposed to do.

Sorry to hear your losing hair. I was told it would just thin some. No true? Need to read more on this

Yes, it’s mostly just thinning. It is what it is. 😊

I was on it for 3.5 years and while it continued to be effective at keeping my liver lesions under control I had to stop taking it because it increased my creatinine levels putting me at higher risk of renal failure (2 years later and they still haven’t recovered so my bladder feels like it should be in a 90 year old man…..) and I also developed pulmonary fibrosis so am now on oxygen. The lower lobes of both of my lungs are full of scar tissue so even doing small things like having a shower makes me out of breath and I feel like I am suffocating. I was on 600mg daily and took it at night.

Was on Kisqali for a couple months after my double mastectomy. Just before radiation started, I noticed a few small bumps under my arm towards my back. Turned out to be more cancer lesions. I’m now on capecitibine. 1500 mg twice daily gave me hand-foot syndrome. Terrible blisters on the bottom of my feet. Now on 1000 mg twice daily and that seems ok. My CA 27.29 bloodwork recently went from 57 down to 22. I’m so happy. But being Stage 4 mbc, you’re always on edge.