Lynparza

Started 4 weeks ago. No side effects really. Blood work next week to see if it's working!

debrajo said:

Thanks for the link No Time,

Thanks for the link No Time, I'm never good at getting those correct!  Scatm please let us know when you get your report!  This is the second or third time I have heard or read of a new approch to treating Ovarian cancer.  Like No Time, we grade C uterines go hand=in=hand with the ovarian girls.  Maybe, please Lord, this is the beginning of a tool to halt or cure all of us!

My ca125 went from 189 to 114 in the first month...I am cautiously optimistic!

Chris3 said:

Lynparza or Olaparib: cost and effectiveness

I have a good friend with Ovarian Cancer and is BRCA2 positive. She was diagnosed in 2011 and she has had 3 separate lines/types of chemo fail. Her doctor is proposing one of 2 options: Topotecan or a PARP Inhibitor such as Lynparza. In researching both options, it seems like the PARP Inhibitor might be more promising for her since she is BRCA2 positive. She is on Medicare due to disability from this horrible cancer. When she checked on the cost and how much Medicare would cover, her hopes were a bit deflated due to the cost. With her Medicare, her cost for the 1st month would be $3000. Then Month 2 would cost her $1700. Thereafter it would be $650 per month. The fact that the cost is front-loaded is a little discouraging. It would cost $3000 just to try it for 1 month. She is wondering whether the treatment provides benefits far and above the Topotecan option. What experiences have some of you had with PARP Inhibitors? Is the cost she has been quoted pretty standard for that treatment or are there any methods to getting the cost lowered (or at least spread evenly over the 9 months i.e. $1000 per month).

Thank you so much for your assistance!

Co-pay is paid forby Biogics Foundation. I don't know of anyone who has paid a cent out of pocket. I worried about this too but when it was prescribed for me, I automatically heard from Biologics who took my info and called back to say that I had been awarded $20,000 to pay the co-pay. I am on my 5th month with good results and few side effects. I highly recommend Lynparza..

Chris3 said:

Lynparza Cost

 I wonder if they are no longer "awarding" money.  My friend contacted Biologics with no success yet.  We will keep trying!

I have a question about the side effects -

Since the pills are taken every day, do you have side effects every time you take the pills or does your body acclimate after a while? With chemo, my friend usually had a few bad days - possibly a week - and then felt pretty good until the next chemo session. My friend is wondering if she will feel sick every day with the pills. Her doctor's nurse read off a long list of side effects and it made my friend worried that she will feel like crap every day. What types of side effects did you experience.?

I really appreciate you taking the time to help me help her.

Chris

The biggest difference is I feel well overall. With infusion chemo, I have always felt like a truck ran me over: achy, painful joints, fatigue and nausea. In general I feel great. The side effects that I have are mouthsores for which I take magic mouthwash prescribed by my onc, increased neuropathy because I can really feel how much my feet hurt since I feel so good...I started gabapentin 900-1200-mg and the pain is gone. Low hemoglobin so in 5 months I've had 2 blood transfusions. I hope this will work forever. The first 2 months my CA125 went from 185 to 114 to 40, then it went up to 45 and this past month it was up to 52. I have my fingers, toes and everything else crossed that it continues to work.

So, please tell your friend that the Parp inhibitor is a gift while it lasts. I wish her well! If she would like to email me with any questions my email address is scatsm@aol.com

Susan

do you have to be brca positive for this drug? 

kcslady01 said:

LYNPARZA

STARTED TAKING LYNPARZA THIS MORNING., I KNOW ITS GOING TO WORK HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND MYSELF..ALWAYS TOLD MYSELF., I MAY HAVE THIS DREADFUL DISEASE BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE ME..WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE 4 OVARIAN CANCER 3 YEARS AGO WAS IN REMISSION BUT MY CA125 NUMBERS KEPT CREEPING UP SLOWLY UNTIL LAST MONTH WENT FROM 2 DIGITS TO 3 DIGITS., SO NOW I'M ON THIS NEW MEDICATION.  LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS NEW CHALLENGE.  I HAVE TOO MANY THINGS I HAVE TO AND NEED TO DO SO DON'T HAVE TIME FOR MS. C...

Love your attitude kcslady.  Take care.