Hi everyone- after my dad met with his oncologist regarding the mild progression he had- he will be switching to Lynparza/ Olaparib for the BRCA2 gene. He was on Ibrance, Letrozole, and Lupron for 15/16 months started in June of 2022, but she feels it is time for a switch.
Anyone that has words of wisdom for this drug please let me know as nothing about changes are fun unfortunately.
Hi Jennifer , I'm sorry your father had progression. I know someone on a different support board that has been on Lynparza for 2 years (with brca gene) and it has kept her stable. She was on ibrance and letrozole for 4 years. Hope your father does well on this !
Thank you so much for the well wishes!
I'm so sorry about your dad's progression. I do not know anything about those medications but hope he will do well on them and that they will get rid of the progression and keep him stable for many years. Sending you hugs and prayers.
Thanks so much. Appreciate it!
Hi Jennifer, It is going to be two years since I have been on Lynparza (November 2023). My Onc has mentioned stopping treatment soon because it is time to let the body heal on its own. My levels are great so far and there are no signs of cancer. I was advanced stage 3b when they diagnosed me for ovarian in 2020 and later became a good candidate for Lynparza for maintenance treatment as the cancer showed to be platinum sensitive (meaning it was responsive to platinum-based chemotherapy).
My understanding is that the treatment is meant for patients who have a mutated BRCA 1 or 2 gene and have responded to chemotherapy treatment. I've also heard stories of people who were not able to reach remission with standard chemotherapy regimens but had better results with Lynparza. I'd say everyone's case is different. The Dr's are monitoring the response to medicine and are able to tell if it is worth staying on the treatment for longer.
My experience with Lynparza so far is that it barely has any side effects. I was able to quickly gain some energy within months and can say it has been nothing but a blessing to me. I am very optimistic with the treatment as it was not available for some members of my family who endured the same type of cancer years ago. Medical technology has come a long way.
I hope all goes well with your dad and that he is able to regain energy and strength with this new treatment. Sending positive energy your way.
Hi TinaTina20, I'm just starting the drugs and was curious if your taking 2 pills in the am and 2 pills in the pm? Plus I'm nervous about side effects. Thank you
Hi Jennifer,
I was switched to Lynparza due to progression and being BRCA2 in late April . (300 mg/twice Daily).The adjustment for me was major fatigue and indigestion.. The fatigue abated after about 4 weeks, but it was hard to get off the couch during this time. Taken with food and eating smaller more frequent snack/meals helps, as does Pepcid AC 24 h extended release in the evening. Anemia is the major issue with this medication, and although that has not surfaced for me the food aversio/metallic taste in mouth has. Again, pepcid at night helps me with that as well.
So, everyone is different. Some folks tolerate it well with little s/e. I found after the initial month or so I was feeling better and stronger. My counts have dramatically dropped and praying it lasts for me for many years to come. Once I stabilize we will explore reducing the daily dose a bit but TBH I will gladly take this dose if need be to achieve remission again.
Wishing your Dad all the best.
Hi Jennifer
My husband has been on Lynparza for three years. He has the ATM gene. Over the last three years he’s had anemia, fatigue and he’s not as sharp as he used to be but the medication is working and keeping his PSA in the undetectable range. He just had his scans this past week and will get labs and see the doctor at the end of the month. Hopefully, he will remain undetectable and there will be no progression on the scans.
Praying that your dad will have a favorable outcome as well. I read this past week that the they are seeing many people on this medication progression free for greater than five years!
Hi Jennifer, we've messaged before. So I'm curious how much progression your dad had that the doc wants to switch, when you said "small"? My oncologist and many others like to get as much mileage as possible out of each drug. Unless, of course, your dad is having increasing bone pain or such. (Is it bone mets only)?
I stayed on ibrance until my symptoms started to progress more and TM were on a steady increasing increase! I got nearly 3 years on that regimen. Ironically the Lynparza (specific for my type) only worked for about a year and then I had progression into the liver, so it really didn't work so great for me (in my eyes anyway). Symptom wise it was fine though! I had no issues, similar to ibrance in that respect. I'm on Afinitor now.
Hello- my doctors MSK and Florida doctor both agreed the Ibrance was no longer helping him because his initial spots of cancer were reactivating. His chest wall increased in SUV and size from July scan to now and his hip started to light up again which is site of his initial diagnosis.
Wishing him well with the Lynparza! I’m sure he will find it very similar to the iBrance in how it effects him
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