Rucaparib mimicking Covid

[Lizzieanne]

Just read on a post on a Parp Inhibitor from a lady in New York saying that Rucaparib mimics results of a positive Covid test. Wondered if Ovacome have heard this. She was kept in isolation hospital for four days has returned home and has had no covid symptoms. I wondered if she was one of the people that have no symptoms but have Covid and nothing to do with Rucaparib.

[Caleda4]

I am on rucaparib,& will be having a covid test (1st one since being on this drug) on 30th December. While I was on chemo I had 3 covid tests all negative. So this will be interesting. Have a good Christmas.

[Lizzieanne in reply to Caleda4]

Thanks for your reply. If you have a minute perhaps you could report back. I dont see my onc till end of Ja nuary but I will ask her.

[JustKBO in reply to Caleda4]

I think the mix up is easy. I had two Covid tests on Rucaparib that were negative and 1 positive when I really had Covid but to begin with thought I was going down with an infection. Definitely are similarities in the symptoms.

[JustKBO]

I went to hospital thinking I had yet another UTI and possibly sepsis starting. I did have a few bugs in my urine so was given antibiotics and sent home. I felt worse as the days passed so went for a Covid test and was positive. The problem is the symptoms of infection and the side effects of Rucaparib are very similar to the on set of Covid. Slight nausea, temperature or hot flushes, fatigue and in my case the Rucaparib dehydrates me so I often get a headache. I can however tell you that Rucaparib effects are intermittent and mild for me whereas the Covid was horrible it was like cycle 4 of chemo and took me 3 weeks to shake it off completely.

[bamboo89 in reply to JustKBO]

Wow! I'm impressed you had Covid while on a cancer drug and recovered from it, that's pretty amazing...very glad you did

I had to go to A&E on Tuesday evening with severe chest pain - was there nearly 9 hours, then sent home, but only in the last hour did I realise I had been placed in the Red zone,, which is where they put anyone with a cough in case they have Covid. I didn't have any Covid symptoms (I always have a cough, normal for me) and nor did they test me, but other patients in that area were pretty close with the nearest one (who was coughing) not 2 feet from where I was sitting in a wheelchair. And the doctor had the cheek to ask if I'd been exposed to Covid when I've been shielding since March! Not before I came here was my answer... so now I'm quarantining myself for 10 days, just in case I picked it up in there. Such a joy, all this, not...

I would say Merry Christmas, but, well,, that seems somewhat out of place this year, so I'll say here's to a better year in 2021.

Miriam

[JustKBO in reply to bamboo89]

I’m very surprised that you were put in a red zone if they knew your medical history. Fingers crossed that you haven’t caught anything. I would think you’d know by now so stay safe.

[bamboo89 in reply to JustKBO]

Its not yet the end of day 5 since exposure - I have to say I don't feel good today, very tired, headachey (bit like I do on niraparib really except I'm off it at the moment) but we'll see what develops over the next couple of days...

M

[JustKBO in reply to bamboo89]

Well good luck. I’ll be thinking of you. Have you lost your sense of taste and smell? That happened quite quickly with me. Keep track of your temperature and drink lots of water.

[bamboo89 in reply to JustKBO]

Been checking sense of smell because my sense of taste is barely there - its muted, but not completely gone,I can still just about smell coffee in the jar... I've ordered a Home Covid test tonight, just in case. Otherwise I've been rinsing and gargling mouthwash with CPC 4 times a day since I got back from the hospital, not much else I can do really. Fingers crossed its not Covid, but I am encouraged by the idea you had it and made it through🙂

Cheers

Miriam

[tarney in reply to bamboo89]

Hello - I, too started with a higher dose of Rucaparib about a year and a half ago and have had it reduced twice. I am now on Rucaparib 300 mg. only one pill a day and have been maintaining rather well this past year, until recently. My CA125 is creeping up slowly(now 34) , and neuropathy, is getting progressively worse. I'm not blaming the latter on Rubraca however, because I've had neuropathy since 2016 or 17 . Perhaps readers could send tips for treating ascending foot/leg neuropathy (without pain, just numbness). AND any comments on the EMG test - which I have refused.

A month ago, I too was in the ER with serious chest pain, so I'm interested in knowing what your diagnosis was, if you have one (which I don't).

Thanks! Blessings for a better, more healthy New Year to everyone.

[Lizzieanne in reply to tarney]

Hi Tarney would also be interested in hearing about tips to help neuropathy. Also what is EMG please. I suspect when you tell me I will say of couse. Best wishes for 2021

[tarney in reply to Lizzieanne]

Used by neurologists as a electrodiagnostic medicine technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. Routinely ordered for neuropathy, it is a painful diagnostic test using needles and electric current. Has 2 components: During a needle EMG, a needle electrode inserted directly into a muscle records the electrical activity in that muscle. A nerve conduction study, another part of an EMG, uses electrode stickers applied to the skin (surface electrodes) to measure the speed and strength of signals traveling between two or more points. Although frequently an effectively diagnostic tool, I believe EMG's are sometimes ordered routinely as a matter of course, and would like to know if others have opted for less intrusive methods, like an MRI perhaps. (part of description taken from Google and Mayo).

[Lizzieanne in reply to tarney]

Thank you for yr reply. Sounds quite a complicated procedure and am impressed with your grasp on the procedure. Have you found out why your CA125 has risen slightly. Keep safe and well and I hope your neuropathy doesnt get any worse and that you find something suitable to ease it.

[bamboo89 in reply to tarney]

My awful chest pain (like having a knife in the sternum every time you took a breath) was exactly what I thought and hoped it likely was - costochondritis and inflammation. I've had costochondritis before, but never had it so bad that it inflamed the sternum (and I hope I never have it again), but I am rather curious as to why I had that level of inflammation (shown by a high CRP blood result) and whether that has anything to do with being on a PARP inhibitor (although I am on niraparib, not rucaparib). One piece of luck though - I did not get infected with Covid whilst I was there🙂

Miriam

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Hello Lizzieanne

Thank you for posting about this. We will look into it and see what we can find out. As always, anyone who has any concerns should speak to their medical team.

Best wishes

Julia

Ovacome Support

[Lizzieanne in reply to OvacomeSupport]

Thank you.

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team in reply to Lizzieanne]

Hello Lizzieanne

We've looked into this and sought some advice. We understand that there’s currently no clear evidence of a link between rucaparib and false positives for Covid. As you mentioned, it is possible to have Covid and not display symptoms, so routine testing is more likely to identify it.

It's important to speak to your team about any symptoms or other concerns so that they can offer individual advice.

Best wishes

Julia

Ovacome Support

[Lizzieanne in reply to OvacomeSupport]

Thank you and Happy Christmas

[Caleda4]

Hi Lizzieanne, I meant to say about the parp rucaparib to you, I started on the highest dose 2x300 mg in the morning and 2x300mg in the evening and i felt really unwell,could not eat,felt low with headache, and was shaky. So I spoke to the Oncologist who suggested I come off of it for 4-5days which I did and then the dose was halved. So i am now just on 300mg morning and evening and so far i am ok after ways. I will have a blood test on the 30 December and a Consultation on 31, so not sure if they will try to increase the dose again. I hope not but it depends if it is working or not.Have a good Xmas and all the best for 2021.

[Lizzieanne in reply to Caleda4]

Thanks I know my body and know it will be same for me. So will do as I am told and start taking them on 28 Dec oncologist rang to say she didnt want me looking at my xmas dinner and not wanting to eat it, hence start day on the Monday. I know hopefully it will give me longer but not at the price of poor quality of life feeling low as I feel your state of mind is very important to your health. Do hope you continue to manage and would love to hear how you are doing. Sometimes less is more. Did read somewhere of the strength of the chemo cld be reduced as the results seem to be the same as full strength. Cant remember where I read this and expect there will be lots of trials before we knowcwhether this could work. Have a good Christmas x

[Caleda4]

I hope things go well for you when you start on the 28th,at least you will be able to enjoy your Xmas food. Do let me know how you get on,as it is always interesting and you can learn so much sometimes from other peoples experiences. I have noticed that people who take niraparib,& olaparib sometimes have the doses reduced and seem to be ok. Like you I feel quality of life is sometimes more important. Take care, Caleda x

[Lizzieanne in reply to Caleda4]

Thank you and will report back. Have a good xmas and hope you feel better x