How long do you take ribociclib? from john robert's blog

The duration of treatment with ribociclib (Kisqali) depends on several factors, including the specific type of cancer being treated, how well the patient is responding to the drug, and whether there are any side effects and Ribociclib Price in Malaysia.

Ribociclib is typically used with letrozole (an aromatase inhibitor) or fulvestrant (a selective estrogen receptor degrader) in the treatment of HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Ribociclib works by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), which are involved in cancer cell growth.

Here is a general guideline for how long ribociclib can be taken:

1. Continuous treatment:

Ribociclib is typically taken daily for 21 days of a 28-day cycle. This means you take the medication for 3 weeks and then rest for 1 week. This cycle is repeated until the treatment is no longer effective or the patient has unacceptable side effects.

2. Duration of treatment:

This is indefinite, as long as the treatment is working and the patient can tolerate it. If the cancer remains controlled and side effects are manageable, many patients can continue taking ribociclib for months or years.

If the cancer progresses (i.e., the tumor grows or spreads) or if there are serious side effects that cannot be managed, treatment may be stopped.

Your oncologist will monitor your health with regular imaging (such as scans) and blood tests to determine how well the medication is working.

3. Stopping treatment:

If there are serious side effects, such as low white blood cell counts (neutropenia), liver toxicity, or other significant issues, treatment with ribociclib may be stopped.

The decision to stop or adjust the duration of treatment will be based on factors such as disease progression, side effects and overall health.

Key considerations:

Monitoring: Since ribociclib can cause side effects such as decreased white blood cell counts, liver toxicity or increased QT interval (which affects heart rhythm), regular monitoring is necessary.

Combination with other medications: Ribociclib is often used with other medications, such as letrozole (for early-stage breast cancer) or fulvestrant (for metastatic breast cancer), and the treatment plan may change depending on the response to treatment.

Final note:

Always follow your oncologist's guidance about how long to continue treatment with ribociclib, as they will tailor the plan to your specific needs and your response to treatment. If you have concerns about the duration of treatment, it's best to discuss this with your healthcare team and Ribociclib Price.