12 months on RUCAPARIB

Posted on by alisphere

aeb_oct2016I’m not apologising for being slack about updating this blog. The situation is this: I’m still really well and making the most of my freedom. I have an easy treatment that allows me to forget about cancer most of the time. Woo hoo! I’ll say that again – forget about cancer most of the time!

To recap, the tumours in my abdominal lymph system (ovarian cancer metastases) began growing again last year. I transferred from the Brisbane Mater hospital to the RBWH so I could join a clinical trial. I’m taking an experimental drug, rucaparib, that targets the cell repair mechanism. I think it works by stopping the unnecessary repair of faulty cells so they don’t accumulate as tumour growth.

I am one of the really lucky ones for whom this drug is effective. I’ve been on the treatment for a full year now, which is more successful than any other local patient as far as I can find out. Hopefully there are lots of other women around the world experiencing the same sort of positive result from trying this drug.

Best of all, rucaparib is in the form of pills, so I’m not hanging around the hospital these days except for monthly check-ups. There were unpleasant side effects at first, but not any more except for challenging my liver in a way that I don’t notice, but it preoccupies my medical team. My liver function is monitored carefully and so far has been ok. No one knows how long this treatment will continue to be effective and safe for me. Each appointment I hope to be told the tumours have shrunk, but this hasn’t happened so far. I have learned to be very happy with the news, “cancer stable” which means the tumours haven’t grown bigger.

So this is the story – same story each month lately – Phew!

I have been full of energy and free to enjoy some travel and concentrate on meaningful projects. Recently I attended a conference about Building a New Economy and here is my report. (You might have to scroll down a little way and click under Recent Posts on the right hand side.)

Published by alisphere

Hello and welcome to my blog.

26 thoughts on “12 months on RUCAPARIB”

  2. Hello Alison thanks for your positive update. You are a brave and remarkable woman. please contact us and and stay for a meal when you're next in Atherton. cheers and love from

  3. Thank you THANK YOU everyone for your kind wishes and wonderful support!! Also for persisting in reading my blog even though CB has changed and makes it more difficult. love to you all xxx As for the link to my conference report – you might have to scroll down a little way and click under Recent Posts on the right hand side.

  4. Thank you for the good news update. Lovely news. Keep on this path. We are all well. Sara came home to visit recently. Whole family together for a week.

  5. Good news. Fully convinced that having a positive attitude and active lifestyle definitely helps to defy cancer as well and you certainly fit that description 🙂 xx

  6. So glad to hear all is well. Must be such a treat to have a pill giving you more time to enjoy your life. Well done for all your persistence and your positivity. xx

  9. Good news Alison. What a wonderful drug that is. The future is looking very good thanks to all the scientists who keep working away. Wonderful news! XX

  11. Alison, It is so fantastic to hear about your update. I have moved back to the USA with my family and doing well. I am doing some art instruction at a local art studio and enjoying the slower pace. I hope and wish that things continue to go well for you.

  12. Great news Ali, 😊 you are such an inspiration. Enjoy being 'stable' and making the most of life!, love Carolyn xx

  13. Wonderful news! Great to hear all is going along as best as it can! So true – trying to live without the word 'cancer' in your mind and everyday is a challenge. I'm told Herceptin is going to be available in an easier form soon & I won't have to front up to oncology every 3 weeks. I feel so good and normal! Let's keep it going for a very long time 🙂 Love Gina

  14. Wonderful news! Great to hear all is going along as best as it can! So true – trying to live without the word 'cancer' in your mind and everyday is a challenge. I'm told Herceptin is going to be available in an easier form soon & I won't have to front up to oncology every 3 weeks. I feel so good and normal! Let's keep it going for a very long time 🙂 Love Gina

  15. Great news Ali, 😊 you are such an inspiration. Enjoy being 'stable' and making the most of life!, love Carolyn xx

  16. Alison, It is so fantastic to hear about your update. I have moved back to the USA with my family and doing well. I am doing some art instruction at a local art studio and enjoying the slower pace. I hope and wish that things continue to go well for you.

  18. Good news Alison. What a wonderful drug that is. The future is looking very good thanks to all the scientists who keep working away. Wonderful news! XX

  21. So glad to hear all is well. Must be such a treat to have a pill giving you more time to enjoy your life. Well done for all your persistence and your positivity. xx

  22. Good news. Fully convinced that having a positive attitude and active lifestyle definitely helps to defy cancer as well and you certainly fit that description 🙂 xx

  23. Thank you for the good news update. Lovely news. Keep on this path. We are all well. Sara came home to visit recently. Whole family together for a week.

  24. Thank you THANK YOU everyone for your kind wishes and wonderful support!! Also for persisting in reading my blog even though CB has changed and makes it more difficult. love to you all xxx As for the link to my conference report – you might have to scroll down a little way and click under Recent Posts on the right hand side.

  25. Hello Alison thanks for your positive update. You are a brave and remarkable woman. please contact us and and stay for a meal when you're next in Atherton. cheers and love from

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