Does PARP inhibitor therapy treat triple-negative breast cancer?

Triple-negative breast cancer does not use oestrogen or progesterone receptors and does not make excess HER2. PARP inhibitors are oral medicines that interfere with a cancer cell’s ability to repair certain types of DNA damage. Cells with particular repair problems may be more vulnerable to this effect.

Your oncology team may consider tumour testing and inherited genetic testing when appropriate. The result, cancer stage, previous treatment, general health, and whether the cancer has spread all influence the choice. A PARP inhibitor may be used alone or in a sequence with other treatments; it is not a replacement for every part of breast cancer care.

Ask whether your tumour or blood has been tested for BRCA1 or BRCA2 changes and what the result means for you. Review the proposed medicine, dose schedule, and monitoring plan before starting. Tell the team about all medicines and supplements, because interactions can affect treatment.

Common monitoring may include blood tests because these medicines can affect blood-cell counts. Report new or worsening tiredness, breathlessness, fever, unusual bruising, or persistent nausea promptly. Take doses exactly as prescribed and do not stop treatment without discussing it with your oncology team.

Contact your cancer team promptly for fever, signs of infection, unexpected bleeding, severe weakness, repeated vomiting, or shortness of breath. Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or heavy bleeding. These symptoms can have causes other than the medicine, but need timely assessment during cancer treatment.

Could PARP inhibitor therapy fit my cancer’s receptor, stage, and genetic results? Which test identifies an inherited BRCA change, and what would a positive or negative result mean for my family? How will you monitor blood counts and other side effects? What should I do if I miss a dose or feel unwell?