I was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in late 2019 and since than have undergone six cycles of chemotherapy twice. The first six cycles were completed just before the first lockdown on April 2020 and I was then in remission for a few months until December that year. I then had another six cycles of chemo and am in remission again. I have been prescribed the parp inhibitor Rucaparib which is an alternative to Niraparib. I did not tolerate the highest dose very well and so it was stopped and I am now on a slightly lower dose which again I am not coping too well with. The tablet adversely affected my platelet levels and so was stopped. It now seems to be adversely affecting my liver function levels which are too high so it is likely that it will be stopped again. Side effects are variously sickness, diarrhoea, food and drink tasting nasty and extreme fatigue and sometimes breathlessness. My ability to go for walks has been curtailed and doing little jobs in the house or the garden wipe me out. Before cancer I was a very fit postwoman in my late 50s and now I get extremely frustrated at my inability to do any exercise or anything remotely physical. I had dealt with the chemotherapy well and so hoped that taking this tablet would be ok but I have found it harder and the thought of having to take the Rucaparib for the rest of my days fills me with gloom. I was super positive throughout the chemo but have felt less so recently. If I am unable to tolerate this tablet and it is stopped permanently what then? If anyone has coped with this treatment I would like to hear your experience.
