CommunitiesBreast CancerAnyone taking Kisqali for breast cancer? What are the side effects?

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

LI

Community Member

12 days ago

Hello, Anyone currently taking Kisqali for breast cancer? My oncologist is putting me on this in November. Been reading up on the side effects. Don’t know if I want to start taking this Anyone out there able to share? Linda S

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19 comments
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accepted answer

Accepted Answer

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.

3+ patients found this helpful

CA

Community Member

12 days ago

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.

SB

Community Member

12 days ago

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.

DN

Community Member

10 days ago

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.

LI

Community Member

9 days ago

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

SS

Community Member

6 days ago

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.

LI

Community Member

6 days ago

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

JA

Community Member

3 days ago

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.

TS

Community Member

3 days ago

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

LI

Community Member

3 days ago

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

SS

Community Member

3 days ago

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.

LI

Community Member

3 days ago

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

TS

Community Member

3 days ago

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

LI

Community Member

3 days ago

Thank you!

LI

Community Member

3 days ago

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

LI

Community Member

3 days ago

Someone took iBrance also ?

PM

Community Member

3 days ago

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.

LI

Community Member

3 days ago

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

PM

Community Member

3 days ago

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

CM

Community Member

2 days ago

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.

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