Is anyone else taking Lynparza (olaparib)? How are you doing?

Greetings
I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage 3C in April 2025. I had chemo, then a major debulking operation with HIPEC, then more chemo. I started on Lynparza about three weeks after my last chemo. I have been on it now for about three months, although my oncologist stopped it for a few weeks when my blood indicated neutropenia. I was originally on 300 twice a day - it was tolerable, but it made me feel just generally bad. Now I am on 250 twice a day and it feels so much better. If you are having trouble with it, ask your doctor to reduce your dose, it makes a huge difference and apparently it’s still effective in stopping the progression of cancer. I feel good now… I do have balance issues and lightheadedness, but I do not believe those are related to the Lynparza because they started suddenly and it was during the period when I was off the Lynparza. No one knows why I started having the balance issues and lightheadedness. I am working on it with a neurologist and cardiologist to find out the cause. I did have some balance issues originally when I had chemo. Also, I was smoking pot when I first was hit with the lightheadedness. But it hasn’t gone away, even though I am no longer smoking pot. I wish I could still smoke pot, but I don’t dare in case it is contributing to the lightheadedness. Smoking pot and eating gummies really helped me feel good and have fun, so I miss it. Thank you, and I hope everyone reading this is having a good day.

@missbiscuit Welcome to our Gynecological Cancers support group. You've been through a lot in less than one year. It sounds like the reduction ind osage of Lynparza allows you to feel better. The balance problem and lightheadness sounds awful. I'm relieved to know you are working with other specialists to try and figure out what's going on with that.

How are you feeling overall? Can you the things that you enjoy doing despite the balance and lightheadedness?

I have neen taking full dose of Lynparza for 10 months.

Yes I have some side effects like tiredness, sometimes light headedness which can throw off your balance.

But I also have neuropathy in my feet (not much) from chemo.

All in all I feel good. Just have to adjust to not having as much energy as I would like.

I will continue to take full dose unless side effects worsen.

It is a journey we are on and I am confident you and your doctors will get you feeling better.

I’ve been on Lynparza for 17 months now. I’ve been feeling a lot of fatigue. Even after we cut the dosage down. A little cough at night as well. My oncologist prescribed Ritalin to give me more energy and help with brain fog. I am a fitness instructor, so I’m always physically active. Ritalin is a great help but I only use it on the days I teach. Other days I notice the fatigue more.
Lynparza has kept me clear but there’s always the fear of my cancer returning. I believe that’s normal. I’m grateful I can continue to teach, my body is strong but I definitely struggle with fatigue. I am excited to get off this medication in July but worried about what happens next…

I took Lynparza for more than two years--December 2023 to February 2025. I did feel a little more than normal fatigue, but I did not have other side effects.

@lisadiane, yes fear of recurrance is completely normal. It sounds like your profession as a fitness instructor has served you well, keeping you strong physically and likely mentally as well. The fatigue must be frustrating. It's so hard to explain cancer-related fatigue to others. Everyone is tired these days, but this fatigue is different. It's like you're weighed down by a suit of armor with cotton wrapped around it - heavy and foggy at the same time.

As you push through the fatigue to teach, do you find the physical activity helps or do you crash afterwards (or both)?

@colleenyoung
It’s pretty hard for me to feel motivated in the morning. I teach at 9am and it takes a few minutes to feel clear and awake. I definitely have fun during teaching, especially Zumba but yes, I crash afterwards, I feel fatigued and sore. I fight taking naps but I do sit and rest for a little while.

@lisadiane, I'm glad to hear you can maintain teaching your classes. Before my cancer I enjoyed walking as my exercise and since then have not been able to return to it. I know it would be a good stress releaser but energy is not there.
More recently blood levels have been dropping even though I am told I am still in normal limits. At times this makes me feel a little lightheaded.

Keep on pushing thru it just so glad you are able to do something you love.

@lisadiane Wow, you teach Zumba!! That class takes a lot of energy and I would be the student, not the teacher. No wonder you feel tired after teaching.

I no longer have the endurance I once did for cross-country skiing. It's a huge disappointment for me. I have realized that I'm reaching for a goal that is neither obtainable or realistic for me. So, I'm working on adjusting my expectations. Going forward I will rely on technique and no more pushing to see if I can go as long or as hard as I did in the past. This is just me. I'm not teaching anyone so I'm not the mentor in front of the class as you are in Zumba. I rest when I feel my body is tired.

How often are you teaching Zumba or other aerobic classes?

@ginmav
Teaching Zumba and fitness classes makes me very happy, I think I’d feel worse if I stopped. After I recovered from chemo, my goal was to get back to where I was. Although I pay the price with heavy fatigue, I want to keep going. I get light headed too, but just off and on. Maybe you can try a few short walks around the yard, in small increments. Take it slow. As a fitness instructor, I know movement is vital! Not only is it important physically, but for our mental health as well!
Wishing the best for you.