Digital Guide: PARP Inhibitors For Ovarian Cancer

The easiest way to think of how PARP inhibitors work in cancer cells is that they're "taking away the crutches from someone who has a broken leg," says Dr. Willmott. "But for a cancer cell that's a good thing because we want the cancer cell to die."

PARP inhibitors can help extend the amount of time that certain women can live without their ovarian cancer coming back. For many women, this can result in an improved quality of life.

Who can receive PARP inhibitors -- and when -- depends on several factors, including genetic mutations and whether your cancer has responded to chemotherapy.