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“Do whatever you can, I need to live – I have my little girl”: Lina’s story

by Elisa Mitchell , Amy Warnock | Personal stories

28 October 2024

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Lina speaks to Dr Hugo De La Pena who is looking at cancer scans on a computer screen
Dr Hugo De La Pena shows Lina how a new drug for faulty BRCA driven cancers has melted her cancer away, buying her precious time with her daughter

Just hours after giving birth, Lina, who was 28 at the time, discovered a lump in her breast. 

“In 2017 I had just given birth to my baby and when I went to feed her, I felt a lump. I mentioned it to the staff and asked to see a doctor but I was sent home before they came to see me,” said Lina. 

“I wondered if it was down to the fact I was feeding my daughter but it began to hurt and bleed so I had it checked out and tests revealed the devastating news that I had stage 2 breast cancer.” 

Lina had surgery to remove the lump and received radiotherapy treatment. 

She was also put on a drug called tamoxifen for four years, to help prevent her cancer from returning.  

The second diagnosis 

In 2022, Lina came off tamoxifen as she wanted to try for another baby. But she began to lose weight, had pain in her pelvis and developed a limp.  

“I had no appetite and went from being 80kg to 59kg and could barely walk. I was so scared and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was eventually given an MRI scan and two days later I was told my cancer was back. It was in my bones and this time it was stage 4 and incurable. 

“Nobody could tell me how long I might have left and I just said, ‘Do whatever you can, I need to live – I have my little girl.’” 

 Lina has lost several family members to breast cancer, so her doctor decided to carry out genetic testing. It revealed that she had inherited a faulty BRCA gene.  

What are the BRCA genes? 

Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. They’re an important type of gene called ‘tumour suppressor genes’ that stop the cells in our body from growing and dividing out of control.  

A fault (or mutation) in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene means that cells can grow out of control more easily. This can lead to cancer developing.  

Both men and women can have faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. People who inherit faulty versions of these genes have an increased risk of developing different types of cancers, including: 

  • breast cancer  
  • ovarian cancer 
  • prostate cancer 
  • pancreatic cancer (although the risk associated with prostate and pancreatic cancer is much lower) 

Only around 1 in every 400 people have faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.   

Find out more about inherited cancers 

The power of PARP inhibitors 

Lina went through several months of radiotherapy. Then Lina’s oncologist, Dr Hugo De La Pena, told her about a new drug called talazoparib, which belongs to a group of drugs called PARP inhibitors. It could be taken in tablet form and was specifically developed to treat BRCA-driven cancers. It was hoped that this drug could help stop her cancer growing.

Just three months after taking talazoparib, Lina’s scans now show no signs of active cancer.  

“Lina has responded incredibly well to the PARP inhibitor, talazoparib, and when you look at the before and after scans, it is like day and night – the difference is remarkable and is clear to see,” said De La Pena, Cancer Research UK ambassador and cancer consultant at University Hospital Southampton.  

“She is no longer in pain, her cancer markers have plummeted and because the drug is in tablet form instead of chemo, she has a much better quality of life.”  

What are PARP inhibitors?  

Talazoparib belongs to a group of drugs known as PARP inhibitors, which block a protein called PARP that helps damaged cancer cells to repair themselves. By blocking PARP, this helps stop cancer cells repairing themselves.   

Our researchers led the underpinning work to understand PARP’s role in DNA repair, and we supported the early development and first-in-human testing of two early PARP inhibitor drugs.   

Learn more about how we were involved in the development of PARP inhibitors.    

For now, Lina will continue to be monitored and her daughter, who is now seven, can be tested for the faulty BRCA gene when she is 18.  

“This drug has given me hope and now I’ve been given a chance to spend more time with my family,” said Lina  

“It’s not only helped me physically but has helped me mentally and I can look forward. 

“Now I feel like I have time to do the things I once feared I might not be able to do and I’m so grateful for the research that has got me to this point.  

“Advances like this simply wouldn’t be possible without regular monthly donations from the public that keep the charity’s scientists researching month in, month out.” 

Making more breakthroughs 

It is now 30 years since Cancer Research UK scientists were involved in the discovery of the first BRCA gene.  

Since then, we’ve made huge leaps forward in understanding faulty BRCA-driven cancers. 

“As a breast cancer consultant, it’s incredible to know that we are now able to buy people precious time thanks to the discovery of the BRCA genes 30 years ago,” said De La Pena.  

“With the knowledge we now have, it means faulty BRCA carriers with no cancer can choose to access earlier and more regular cancer screening, make healthy lifestyle changes or take drugs such as tamoxifen or anastrozole – types of hormone therapy Cancer Research UK played a leading role in developing – that block oestrogen from telling cancer cells to grow.” 

But our work isn’t done yet. Our researchers are hard at work looking to make more breakthroughs that can help bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.  

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