In the UK Olaparib only seems to be available for those testing positive for BRCA. Is this a cost issue that it is not widely available?

[Beej59]

My partner has advanced PC with tumours in ribs, spine and iliac. He has been stable on Zoladex for 8 years but this may now be changing. We insisted on a BRCA test which has come back negative but from what I understand Olaparib is only being made available to patients in the UK for those who test positive. I am wondering if this is purely down to cost (Nice will cap certain drugs for us) or whether I will have to fight for it as it is better than say Docetaxel. He has not had chemo yet - only radiotherapy at the outset. Awaiting bone scan and ct results but I have a feeling that things are changing with fatigue levels falling off a cliff and pain in L2 region of spine where there is a tumour. He has had no bone pain at all up until now. There have been many new treatments coming through since I last was on this site - probably about 5 years ago as we just needed to get on with life whilst we can. But now here we are ....

[mrscruffy]

Not sure how effective it is for those of us that are not BRCA2+

[God_Loves_Me]

Good reading, I need help. I might be wrong, I spent 30 min and believe here is the clinical trials for patient who has not reported BRCA2+.

there were clinical trials for the patients who has not detected BRCA2+

thelancet.com/journals/lano...

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NC...

[Tall_Allen]

It is ineffective in men without the BRCA mutation:

prostatecancer.news/2019/10...

And it is very toxic -- it has some awful side effects.

Docetaxel is much better.

[positive-thinking in reply to Tall_Allen]

This is my husbands next step we are told down the road when he becomes castrate resistant. Scares me to death to hear this as he just finished chemo 3 weeks ago and that was not all that fun. So he is expected to have awful side effects?

[Tall_Allen in reply to positive-thinking]

Olaparib should never be used in men who are not BRCA+

[positive-thinking in reply to Tall_Allen]

My husband is BRCA2 positive . I was just commenting because we are told down the road this will be what they put him on , when nubeqa starts to fail . Scary hearing this is so bad for side effects

[j-o-h-n]

Hello Beej59 and Partner,

How old is your Partner? As for us Yanks what is "Nice will cap certain drugs for us".

Keep on posting...

Thanks, I hate abbrv......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[pd63 in reply to j-o-h-n]

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, probably similar to NNNC in the US

[j-o-h-n]

T.H.A.N.K.S. similar to THANK YOU...in the U.K.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n