I am looking for advice about this particular drug and your experiences of it. For anyone who is on it, please advice if the side effects are manageable? How you are coping with taking it? Thank you so much <3
I started Olaparib last September with a three weekly infusion of Bevacizumab. I’ve included that because it has side effects too and so it can be hard to decipher which is doing what. Unfortunately I’ve struggled on maintenance with lots of weird stuff like nose bleeds, very runny nose, headaches, nausea etc some settled a bit after a few weeks. I had a break in February to see how I was and the biggest thing I felt was my head cleared, I felt more like myself and no where near as tired. So when the oncologist kept asking me how was I feeling I realised it was hard to describe feeling generally unwell and so I used to pick on certain bits. For me I think it’s the Olaparib that’s been worse than the infusion but that adds to the general tiredness and feeling meh!!! I was told that a lot of women can’t deal with the side effects and so reduce or come off them. I have a rising ca125 so they are monitoring me for a possible reoccurance which makes me feel like I wish I hadn’t suffered with them for as long as I did. I think tho that reading things on here that everyone’s experience of all the treatments can effect people so differently. Hope this helps x
i took it for 2 years as maintenance- finished in December 2022, i coped really well, occasionally felt sick but i had anti sickness tablets but found a banana worked just as well! I had aching joints- especially my thumbs - but it was manageable with paracetamol- they tell you every side effect, but most people only get mild problems- good luck and ask away if you need anything!
So sorry to hear about your side effects. It must have been awful to deal with. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. It really helps. Take a good care, Jagoda xx
I was in it for a year and it did stop the tumours growing but came back three months post stopping. It actually made me really ill and I spent most of my time in bed so in terms of q o L - I decided to stop. Apparently therefore I am never allowed to try it again because I chose to stop!
