In a recent Instagram video, she filmed herself doing Pilates, writing: “Last year I got a stage 3 ER/PR positive, HER2 negative breast cancer diagnosis. Today…I’m sucking at Pilates! lol, could be much worse. This is how the comeback starts!!”

RELATED: Just Diagnosed With Breast Cancer? An Expert Shares First Steps and Questions for Your Doctor

 

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Lowe also shared, “I still hate Verzenio, and I’m talking to the doctor about lowering my dose.”

Verzenio (abemaciclib) is a CDK4/CDK6 inhibitor used to slow cancer growth in women with HR‑positive, HER2‑negative metastatic breast cancer.

It’s often added to hormone therapy after surgery, typically for two years. CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors target cyclin‑dependent kinases 4 and 6—proteins that regulate cell division and can drive uncontrolled tumor growth. By blocking these proteins, the drugs help stop cancer cells from multiplying.

Women with HR‑positive, HER2‑negative early‑stage breast cancer face about a 30% chance of recurrence, but a phase 3 clinical trial showed that adding a CDK4/CDK6 inhibitor to post‑surgery endocrine therapy significantly reduced recurrence risk.

Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, Breast Medical Oncologist at Valley Health System, highlighted the durability of benefit seen with abemaciclib.

“The nice thing that we’ve seen with Abemaciclib is we have five‑year data. We’ve shown about a 7% decrease in risk of recurrence, disease progression, or death…when you take the abemaciclib for two years, there’s at least a five‑year benefit,” Dr. Teplinsky said.

She also noted that ribociclib is a welcome addition to treatment options, but questions remain about who should receive it.

“What we’re really trying to figure out is whether this drug is for everyone. How do we balance the benefit with the side effects? …How does that impact quality of life?”

Despite the advantages CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors offer, side effects can make patients reconsider their dosage.

WATCH: What Are CD4/CD6 Inhibitors? And How Can They Fight Advanced Breast Cancer?

Lowe is now considering lowering her dose.

According to the National Library of Medicine, possible side effects of abemaciclib include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Neutropenia (low neutrophils)
• Leukopenia (low white blood cells)
• Anemia
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)

“For the most part, the side effects that patients can face on these drugs are usually very well managed and can be managed either with additional medications or sometimes just by lowering the dose,” said Dr. Elizabeth Comen, medical oncologist at NYC Langone Health, in an interview with SurvivorNet.

SurvivorNet often encourages patients to be active participants in their care.

Treatment decisions evolve over time, and just as Lowe is considering a dose reduction based on how her body is responding, SurvivorNet experts urge patients to regularly reassess their treatment plan with their medical team to ensure it aligns with their needs and quality of life.

The past year has been intense for the actress and mother of two.

Lowe first sought medical attention after noticing a large mass in her right breast. Initial imaging didn’t reveal anything concerning, but the mass persisted, and then it changed.

She was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, which often involves a larger tumor that may have spread to nearby lymph nodes, skin, or muscle. Treatment typically includes chemotherapy, and if the cancer is hormone receptor‑positive, hormonal therapy may also be recommended.

Lowe has undergone chemotherapy, experienced hair loss and regrowth, and a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) followed by breast reconstruction.

WATCH: Stage 3 Breast Cancer Explained.

“A double mastectomy typically takes about two hours for the cancer part of the operation, the removal of the tissue,” Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, tells SurvivorNet. “The real length, the total length of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction [a patient] has.”

“My symptoms have been manageable, and my hair is growing back!!” Lowe wrote, celebrating a milestone that many patients cherish.

Helping Patients Get Answers

Cancer treatment breakthroughs are arriving fast, and for many patients and caregivers, keeping up can feel overwhelming. SurvivorNet’s AI-powered tool, My Health Questions, is built to cut through that complexity by helping people understand what new therapies mean for them and how to talk about their concerns with their care teams.

WATCH: See How SurvivorNet’s ‘My Health Questions’ Is Another Valuable Tool for Your Journey

Embedded throughout the SurvivorNet website, My Health Questions delivers structured, clinically grounded answers based on medical guidelines and expert-reviewed research. Users can type or speak their questions and receive responses tailored to their individual profiles, with suggested prompts available for anyone unsure where to start.

Designed to support both major treatment decisions and everyday concerns, the tool is backed by leading oncology specialists. Its purpose is to complement conversations with clinicians — helping patients arrive at appointments more informed, more prepared, and more confident.

As SurvivorNet expands its patient-focused resources, My Health Questions represents a major step forward in how technology can support people navigating cancer.

Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams

Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual, like a lump, does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.

For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like, so if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.

Below are common symptoms to look out for:

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
• Any change in the size or shape of the breast
• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Skin dimpling or peeling
• Breast or nipple pain
• Nipple turning inward
• Redness or scaliness of the breast or nipple skin
• Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding

When to Screen for Breast Cancer

The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.

The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.

WATCH: When you’re getting a mammogram, ask about dense breasts.

Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.

Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.

Questions For Your Doctor

• What stage is my cancer, and how does that affect my treatment plan?
• What are the recommended chemotherapy options for triple-negative breast cancer, and what side effects should I expect?
• Are there any clinical trials or emerging treatments I should consider?
• How will treatment affect my fertility, physical activity, or ability to work?
• What follow-up care and monitoring will I need?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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