When you hear the words “It’s breast cancer,” you might have any number of reactions, from sitting in stunned silence to texting all of your group chats. (And they’re all okay.) Then, you have to quickly figure out what comes next — and that can be easier said than done when you’re dealing with a major diagnosis like cancer.
For one thing, it can be difficult to pencil in a biopsy or stay on hold with the pharmacy when you’re also trying to keep track of field trips and PTO. And for most people, it’s similarly hard to follow all the medical jargon when your doctor starts talking about receptors and hormones and the different types of breast cancer (who knew?). With that in mind, here’s a simple roadmap to help you partner with your care team from diagnosis to treatment.
What Is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer happens when healthy breast cells change, or mutate, and stop growing normally. These mutated cells may then divide and multiply which can then lead to tumors.¹ But breast cancer isn’t just one disease: There are several types that have unique characteristics and treatment approaches.²
Let’s start with the basics. In the early stages of breast cancer, the tumor is contained in the breast or nearby lymph nodes, and hasn’t reached other parts of the body.³ Metastatic breast cancer, on the other hand, means that the cancer has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes to other areas, like the bones, lungs, or liver.³ It’s more advanced, but, as with early breast cancer, can still be treated.³
The Thinking Behind Breast Cancer Testing
Beyond it being early or metastatic, what type of breast cancer are you dealing with? That’s a big question to ask when you’re sitting down with your doctor, because the type of breast cancer can point you in the right direction for potential treatment options and it’s where testing is especially important.
If your doctor mentioned genetic testing, they probably referred to BRCA — because in some patients with breast cancer, BRCA (BReast CAncer) genes are to blame. Everyone, men included, has two BRCA genes, which usually help your cells repair damaged DNA.⁴ When there’s a mutation in one of these genes, either passed down in your family or developed at some point after you’re born, then they can’t do this work.⁴ That can increase the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.⁴
(But why does BRCA matter if you already have a breast cancer diagnosis? Well, if you have a mutation in a BRCA gene, then you might be a candidate for targeted treatment options. And since mutations in BRCA genes can be inherited, you can also talk to family members about their own cancer risk.)
Two other types of cancer biomarkers are human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a protein which helps some breast cancer cells multiply, and hormone receptors (HRs), which relate to cancers that grow in response to the presence of hormone receptors like estrogen and/or progesterone. Similar to knowing your BRCA mutation status, knowing your HR and HER2 status can help inform treatment decisions.⁵
Your inherited BRCA mutation status and the type of cancer serve as clues to guide you (and your doctor) towards treatment options that may be appropriate. Plus, they can also reveal how your cancer might behave or progress, so you can be better prepared for any developments down the road.
What Makes Treatment Personalized
No one wants to undergo cancer treatment, much less do it while caring for little kids or navigating a high-pressure job — or both. The good news? There are a lot of options out there, including chemo, radiation, and targeted therapies.
One option that targets the tumor’s biology is LYNPARZA® (olaparib), an oral targeted treatment for certain patients with high-risk early or metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-negative (HR-positive or triple negative) with an inherited BRCA mutation. Triple-negative cancer cells grow in the absence of hormone receptors and without a higher-than-normal level of HER2 expression, therefore requiring their own approach to treatment. LYNPARZA may help block the activity of a protein called poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) that helps cancer cells repair their DNA, and in doing so, helps keep them from surviving and growing.
LYNPARZA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults who have HER2-negative breast cancer with a certain type of inherited abnormal BRCA gene:
● with a high risk of recurrence. LYNPARZA is given after surgery (treatment after surgery is called adjuvant therapy). You should have received chemotherapy medicines before or after surgery to remove the tumor.
● that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). You should have received chemotherapy medicines, either before or after your cancer has spread. If you have hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, you should have either already received hormonal therapy or hormone therapy is not the right treatment for you.
LYNPARZA can fit into your daily routine. It is a tablet taken by mouth twice a day in the morning or evening, with or without food. It is a total of four tablets daily (600 mg daily dose).
Important Information About LYNPARZA
LYNPARZA has serious risks that may lead to death. These include bone marrow problems called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML), lung problems (pneumonitis), blood clots (venous thromboembolism [VTE]) and liver problems, including drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Signs or symptoms of MDS/AML may include weakness, weight loss, fever, frequent infections, blood in urine or stool, shortness of breath, feeling very tired, or bruising or bleeding more easily. Signs or symptoms of pneumonitis may include new or worsening lung problems, including shortness of breath, fever, cough or wheezing. Signs or symptoms of VTE may include pain or swelling in an extremity, shortness of breath, chest pain, breathing that is more rapid than normal, or heart beats faster than normal. Signs or symptoms of DILI may include discomfort on the right side of the stomach-area, dark or “tea-colored” urine, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms.
This is a summary of some of the most important information you should know about LYNPARZA. For more information about these and other side effects, as well as other information about treatment with LYNPARZA, please see the Important Safety Information at the end of this article and see complete Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
Talk to your doctor about genetic testing to see if LYNPARZA might be right for you.
Okay, So What Comes Next?
First, ask your provider about your testing options and the timeline. They’ll need to have the results on hand in order to give you a full run-down of your treatment options, including how they work and what they involve. It’s also important to discuss side effects and how your doctor plans to manage them.
Then, work on the logistics before you start treatment. It can be daunting to figure out how you’re going to get kids to school, delegate a big project at work, and show up to the onslaught of scans, follow-ups, and treatments — so assemble your support team early and know where you can turn for guidance and info. For instance, if you have been prescribed LYNPARZA, you can explore MyLYNPARZA on the Go, which is a support program to find helpful tips and answers for LYNPARZA treatment on your phone or tablet. The information provided through this program is educational and not a substitute for advice from a healthcare provider. For questions about your treatment, contact your doctor’s office. Friends, family, and colleagues can also provide back-up if you’re feeling stretched. If your work wife offers to drop off dinner for you, let her.
There’s no question that a breast cancer diagnosis is scary; after all, it means that no matter your prognosis, the next few months and years will look different from how you might have imagined them. But knowing what you’re working with, as well as your options for treating it, can help you feel that much more capable and confident in navigating this stretch of life.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about LYNPARZA?
LYNPARZA may cause serious side effects, including:
Bone marrow problems called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Some people who have received previous treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or certain other medicines for their cancer have developed MDS or AML during treatment with LYNPARZA. MDS or AML may lead to death.
Symptoms of low blood cell counts are common during treatment with LYNPARZA, but can be a sign of serious bone marrow problems, including MDS or AML. Symptoms may include weakness, weight loss, fever, frequent infections, blood in urine or stool, shortness of breath, feeling very tired, bruising or bleeding more easily.
Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood cell counts:
· before treatment with LYNPARZA
· every month during treatment with LYNPARZA
· weekly if you have low blood cell counts that last a long time
Lung problems (pneumonitis). LYNPARZA can cause serious lung problems that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening symptoms of lung problems, including shortness of breath, fever, cough, or wheezing. Your healthcare provider may do a chest x-ray if you have any of these symptoms.
Blood clots (venous thromboembolism [VTE]). Some people may develop a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg (venous thrombosis) or a clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism [PE]), which may be severe or lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms such as pain or swelling in an extremity, shortness of breath, chest pain, breathing that is more rapid than normal (tachypnea), or heart beats faster than normal (tachycardia). Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these symptoms and may prescribe blood thinner medicine.
Liver problems, including Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI): People taking LYNPARZA may develop liver problems which may be severe and can lead to death. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests before and during your treatment with LYNPARZA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice discomfort on the right side of your stomach-area (abdominal), dark or “tea-colored” urine, or yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice).
Your healthcare provider may change your dose, temporarily stop, or permanently stop treatment with LYNPARZA if you get certain side effects.
Before taking LYNPARZA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
· have lung or breathing problems
· have kidney problems
· are pregnant, become pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. LYNPARZA can harm your unborn baby and may cause loss of pregnancy (miscarriage)
Females who are able to become pregnant:
o your healthcare provider may do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with LYNPARZA
o you should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 6 months after the last dose of LYNPARZA. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you
o tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you might be pregnant following treatment with LYNPARZA
Males with female partners who are pregnant or able to become pregnant:
o you should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 3 months after the last dose of LYNPARZA
o do not donate sperm during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 3 months after your last dose
· are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LYNPARZA passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 1 month after receiving the last dose of LYNPARZA. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking LYNPARZA and certain other medicines may affect how LYNPARZA works and may cause side effects.
How should I take LYNPARZA?
· Take LYNPARZA tablets exactly as your healthcare provider tells you
· Your healthcare provider will decide how long you stay on treatment
· Do not change your dose or stop taking LYNPARZA unless your healthcare provider tells you to
· Take LYNPARZA by mouth 2 times a day with or without food
· Each dose should be taken about 12 hours apart
· Swallow LYNPARZA tablets whole. Do not chew, crush, dissolve, or divide the tablets
· If you are taking LYNPARZA for early breast cancer and you have hormone receptor-positive disease, you should continue to take hormonal therapy during your treatment with LYNPARZA
· If you miss a dose of LYNPARZA, take your next dose at your usual scheduled time. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed dose
· If you take too much LYNPARZA, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away
What should I avoid while taking LYNPARZA?
Avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice during treatment with LYNPARZA since they may increase the level of LYNPARZA in your blood.
LYNPARZA may cause serious side effects (see “What is the most important information I should know about LYNPARZA?”).
Nausea or vomiting is common during treatment with LYNPARZA. Tell your healthcare provider if you get nausea or vomiting. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines to treat these symptoms.
The most common side effects of LYNPARZA when used alone are:
· tiredness or weakness
· low red blood cell counts
· diarrhea
· loss of appetite
· headache
· changes in the way food tastes
· cough
· low white blood cell counts
· shortness of breath
· dizziness
· indigestion or heartburn
· low platelet counts
These are not all the possible side effects of LYNPARZA. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products (Opens new window).
WHAT IS LYNPARZA?
LYNPARZA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults who have:
· human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer with a certain type of inherited (germline) abnormal BRCA gene:
o with a high risk of recurrence. LYNPARZA is given after surgery (treatment after surgery is called adjuvant therapy). You should have received chemotherapy medicines before or after surgery to remove the tumor
o that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). You should have received chemotherapy medicines, either before or after your cancer has spread. If you have hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, you should have either already received hormonal therapy or hormone therapy is not the right treatment for you
Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that LYNPARZA is right for you.
It is not known if LYNPARZA is safe and effective in children.
Please see complete Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
References:
1. National Library of Medicine. Breast Cancer. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/breast-cancer/.
2. Breastcancer.org. Breast Cancer Stages. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://www.breastcancer.org/pathology-report/breast-cancer-stages.
3. National Cancer Institute. Breast Cancer Treatment (PDQ®), Section: “Stages of Breast Cancer.” Accessed July 21, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK65969.14/#CDR0000062955__148.
4. National Cancer Institute. BRCA Gene Changes: Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet.
5. American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/breast-cancer-hormone-receptor-status.html.
6. LYNPARZA® (olaparib) [prescribing information]. Wilmington, DE: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP; 2025.
©2026 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-113929 Last Updated 8/26
