One of the hopes in taking Rucaparib is that it will be "better than chemo". But is it?
I'm a week in so it's very early days but let me compare.
Chemo: a week in to the typical gynae cancer regime I would be flattened with long bone pain, shivering with lowered body temperature and breathless from the hit on my red blood cells. I'd be worried about getting an infection so wary of going out. That's just from the chemo itself. I'd have constipation from the anti emetics and be nearly insane from the steroid-induced insomnia and general madness. I'd be piling on the weight too - another steroid side effect. Marvellous drugs for managing chemo side effects, for sure, but not without consequences.
I would not feel safe to drive until week two of the three weekly cycle. Food would be starting to taste like cardboard and my hair would be starting to come out in handfuls so I'd be thinking about booking a head shave. I would have missed choir practice last night.
I'd have spent a day and a half on hospital visits. Once for blood tests and medical check then another whole day for the chemo IV. My veins would be hardening.
But I would be bottoming out and could expect to feel better soon. Before it all started again...
Rucaparib: I feel rougher than I had hoped. I am very tired and fairly nauseous but not so much that I need drugs to cope with side effects. That is a huge plus. I have a vaguely unpleasant taste in my mouth but I can still taste food. My appetite is not huge - but exercise is beyond me for now so my weight may be rising. I can manage a slow walk round the supermarket but it's a struggle. The weekly over 50s badminton session is out of the question but I reckon I could manage the very gentle yoga class. I went to choir last night and enjoyed the singing and the company. I can drive.
I'm able to manage my energy levels so far. It feels like my batteries are able to charge only to 20% so I have to pick one thing to do in a day. I think if I overdo things I will pay for it later by feeling rough - post viral, like that phase after flu when you are no longer really sick but feel wiped out by the smallest effort.
I think I'm very likely to feel like this for at least the next 3-5 weeks and possibly 12-15 weeks, without let up. The first timescale I think I can manage; the latter is daunting.
On the upside, my hair is unaffected. I'm not so vulnerable to infections and my veins are fine - Rucaparib is taken as a tablet. If it gets too much I can stop. Just like that. I'm much less frightened than I was on chemo.
Verdict: I'd choose Rucaparib over chemo any day. It's not a walk in the park but it certainly has benefits compared to the traditional treatment. It also holds the hope of giving me a better, longer response.
