Anyone have ACT Chemo Treatment? |
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Kellyless 
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Joined: Jun 18 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas Status: Offline Points: 1143 |
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 Posted: Sep 03 2009 at 12:46pm |
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Freaked out now Girlpower? I would recommend you see two oncologists and get two opinions - second opinions are important! Take a tape recorder and record your appointments - then play them back later and make notes. Your decision will come to you.
Here's to hoping you come back negative on the mutation, then the ovaries can just stay put and you won't have to go thru the additional surgeries. Odds are you will be negative, although it's still good to do the harvest, as this put me into full blown menapause. You might get your periods back since you are younger (I was 45), but better safe!
I'm very glad I did the every 2 weeks and got it over with. My onc said the 12 week sked didn't offer me any big difference (1% not being big), the only reason to do it would be if I couldn't tolerate the higher every other week dose. It wasn't fun, but I made it and got it all behind me that much faster. The sooner I finished the better for my teenage son that suffers from a chronic illness. It was completely "doable" as you will hear everyone say! Re
On the A/C I felt bad for a week at a time - so I felt ok a week at a time. Taxol I was able to function better, with a shorter down time. To really feel better you have to get it behind you - so that's another plus to every two weeks instead of 3 - it's over quicker. |
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IDC, 2.2 cm, Stage IIb,lumpectomy 1/30/09 ACx4,Tx4 36 rads
6/1/16 Local recurrence same breast, same spot 1.8cm Carb.4x every 3 wks, Taxol 12x once wk. Dbl Mast. PCR!! Reconstruction fail, NED! |
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unklezwifeonty
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Joined: Aug 08 2009 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 203 |
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Posted: Sep 03 2009 at 10:06am |
The jury is still out on whether Adriamycin (A) helps for TNBC and if so, how much and whether it s worth the risk of heart damage and other side effects. Ask the original oncologist (or both of them!) why they recommended the treatment plan they recommended. The answer would educate us all. Some doctors give vague answers some times like "research has shown" or "it is the best treatment for you". Ask for copies of research papers to back their claims. Here is one meta-analysis study that indicates that Adriamycin may be ineffective for HER2 negative BC. There are other meta-analysis studies too. http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/HER2-anthracycline0108 And recently a Phase III Clinical Trial (NSABP 46) was started for HER2 negative BC which will compare TAC vs. TC vs. TC and Avastin. They usually don't use regimens in Phase III clinical trials that they have reasons to believe would reduce your chances, so I suspect TC is almost as good as TAC. This trial is: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00887536 Edited by unklezwifeonty - Sep 03 2009 at 10:25am |
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Dx: Jul/09. Age: 37. Grade: High. Size: 3cm. BRCA: -ve. Lumpectomy: Aug/09. Micromet 1/9 node. Chemo Start: Sep/09. Kicked from E5103 due to Taxol reaction. Now on AC->Abraxane. Zometa (S0307).
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unklezwifeonty
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Joined: Aug 08 2009 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 203 |
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Posted: Sep 03 2009 at 9:58am |
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Taxotere is Taxol's cousin. They are both in the Taxane family and work in very similar ways.
In a head to head study weekly Taxol had the best results, followed by triweekly Taxotere followed by triweekly Taxol followed by weekly Taxotere. The differences between DFS rates were like 1-3% between the 4 regimens. Do ask the doc why she chose 2 weekly Taxotere for you over weekly Taxol. Believe it or not, often times it is just convenient for the doc and/or patient to get chemo 4 times than 12 times. If you can get 12 weekly dosage, go for it. PS: Corrected errors in my old post to prevent future readers from being misled. Edited by unklezwifeonty - Feb 02 2010 at 9:15pm |
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Dx: Jul/09. Age: 37. Grade: High. Size: 3cm. BRCA: -ve. Lumpectomy: Aug/09. Micromet 1/9 node. Chemo Start: Sep/09. Kicked from E5103 due to Taxol reaction. Now on AC->Abraxane. Zometa (S0307).
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girlpower731
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Joined: Sep 02 2009 Location: Connecticut Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: Sep 03 2009 at 9:36am |
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Is Taxol the same as Taxotere? Taxotere is what I would be getting (generic name Docetaxel).
Thank you all for your info.
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unklezwifeonty
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Joined: Aug 08 2009 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 203 |
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Posted: Sep 03 2009 at 8:44am |
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Girlpower,
Do ask your doc if they can do the Taxol weekly over 12 weeks instead of biweekly over 8 weeks. The 4 cycles of AC would still be biweekly. There is research that indicates that to be 3-4% better in terms of overall and disease free survival. Prophylactic removal of both breasts and ovaries substantially reduce your chances of getting breast and ovarian cancer. However, there is still a 2-3% chance of getting breast cancer in the very little tissue left. Love, |
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Dx: Jul/09. Age: 37. Grade: High. Size: 3cm. BRCA: -ve. Lumpectomy: Aug/09. Micromet 1/9 node. Chemo Start: Sep/09. Kicked from E5103 due to Taxol reaction. Now on AC->Abraxane. Zometa (S0307).
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girlpower731
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Joined: Sep 02 2009 Location: Connecticut Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: Sep 03 2009 at 8:05am |
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I am married. My first chemo starts on our 2nd wedding anniversary. We've been together for 7 years total. My husband is handling my BC worse than me. He truly loves me though.
Because chemo sessions are closer together, how bad does the body get hit compared to them being spaced 3 weeks apart? Did you feel that once you starting feeling better another chemo session started up, or did you have times that you felt ok in between sessions? My attitude towards BC is whatever it takes I'll do it.
I'm getting my hair cut two weeks from today and having a "hip hat" made in Tampa using my real hair. I'm getting a wig that day as well.
The only reason why I'm waiting to start chemo (last week in Sept) is because of the fertility treatment. I have to harvest those eggs. My husband and I were supposed to start a family next year(the regular way). Obviously that will have to wait, but as long as my uterus is ok after chemo, I should be able to have a baby with the embryos.
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Kellyless
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Joined: Jun 18 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas Status: Offline Points: 1143 |
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Posted: Sep 03 2009 at 7:37am |
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You'll find that a lot of us here had the exact same chemo, dense dose AC x4, T x4 - every 2 weeks on the whole thing. You can ask us ANYTHING and we'll be happy to answer the best we can. Deep breaths, one thing at a time. Everyone kept telling me waiting was the hardest part - and it is! It sounds like you are doing all the right things, asking all the right questions.
Are you married?
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IDC, 2.2 cm, Stage IIb,lumpectomy 1/30/09 ACx4,Tx4 36 rads
6/1/16 Local recurrence same breast, same spot 1.8cm Carb.4x every 3 wks, Taxol 12x once wk. Dbl Mast. PCR!! Reconstruction fail, NED! |
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girlpower731
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Joined: Sep 02 2009 Location: Connecticut Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Posted: Sep 03 2009 at 7:16am |
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Is there anyone here that has gone through ACT Chemo treatment? My original oncologist wanted me to do 4 treatments of CT Chemo but when I got my second opinion, the new oncologist strongly recommended ACT Chemo and more sessions-- 4 of AC and then 4 of T.
Has anyone gone through the same treatment that can share some insight? I'm choosing to do it every two weeks rather than every 3 weeks (Dr. recommended that also). I realize everyone is different, but can anyone share their story with me, either in a post or private message?
I'll be 32 when I receive the treatment, healthy otherwise with the exception of BC and migraines. I am stage 2a and had a lumpectomy. The 2nd oncologist is also strongly recommending that after chemo is done, that I go back to have another surgery to make the margins clear. Prior to that I'm taking a genetic test to see if I have the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2.
I have to admit, I'm still somewhat of a newbie. I just got diagnosed July 31st. If I have either gene mentioned above, that gives me higher risk for ovarian cancer and breast cancer reaccurance, correct? If I choose to have a double mesectomy after chemo (and get implants) does that rid my chances of having breast cancer again? The cancer never metasicized, no lymph node involvement. Or is there still opportunity to develop something after you have implants?
PS--If I have the gene, I'm planning on removing my ovaries once I am clear and had a baby through IVF. I'm harvesting my eggs to freeze embryos in the coming weeks.
Any insights you can share would be great.
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