Hello Effell and thank you for contacting us.

I am sorry to hear about your daughter's diagnosis and your worries about the recent treatment decision.

Immunotherapy is usually given for a maximum of 2 years. Like all other treatments, (chemotherapy, and radiotherapy) a treatment would only be provided for a set period. I'm sorry if this was not explained to your daughter when she started her Olaparib treatment.

As you will see on our website we state that 'you may stop taking Olaparib after 2 years if there are no signs of cancer on any scan'. This is a direct reference from the NICE decision and the information on the EMC (Electronic Medication Compendium) which is referenced at the bottom of the Olaparib page. It states that 'Patients with evidence of disease at 2 years, who in the opinion of the treating physician can derive further benefit from continuous treatment, can be treated beyond 2 years.' 

Previous research into immunotherapies shows that due to the many side effects, very few people overall could tolerate 2 years of treatment, so it is good that your daughter has managed them so far. This treatment may now be enough to trigger her immune system to continue the good work that Olaparib has already done.

I hope this has explained the decisions made about immunotherapies. Ask your daughter to talk things through with her doctor or specialist nurse if she has queries about her treatments. Her team will be able to be more specific about her situation than we can be, as they know her full medical history.

Take care Effell, I am sure it is incredibly hard seeing your daughter go through this. I hope you all have support. If you find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline, the number is Freephone 0808 800 4040, and the lines are open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

Sarah.