Triple Negative Chemo Cocktails

Hi, I am fairly new here, but as I am waiting for my infusa-port surgery July 23 and pending chemo July 30, 2007, I am wondering what chemo cocktail has been given to some of us trip negs before or after surgeries. I am not at all looking forward to getting ACx4 then Taxol x 4.

Hi charlene

I was 1 st dx in 1997 and had AC x 6 post surgery  and  have  had no problem regarding the A . I t did it's job as  I had 6 + nodes and so far no distant mets, I was however dx with a new primary last july in the other breast and had a mast followed by 4 x FEC and 6 x Taxol.  The A and E are similar drugs and so far am doing well.

Hope your chemo goes well

hi Charlene, I did 6 x FEC (3 weeks apart)

I saw 3 different oncs for opinions and all said AC for 4 cycles followed by T for 4 cycles. the only difference was one wanted to do dose dense every two weeks and the others said the 3 week cycle and the 2 week are comparable, no difference in outcome. I am doing the AC every 3 weeks and my 4th is next week. Halfway done with chemo, although I am a bit scared of the Taxol coming next because "they" say it causes lots of bone pain. Grrr... as if the nausea wasn't enough with AC. At least the T does not cause nausea. Good luck with your treatment. Keep us posted...

I was 2 1/2 cm node negative and am just finishing my last round of Taxol.  I did dose density 4 AC 4 Taxol every two weeks.  From what I've read this is the new standard because it's well tolerated when used with Nuelasta (for white blood cells) so you get you life back in 4 months rather than six.  My odds were 56% to survive without reoccurrance which was bumped to 78% with chemo.  The percentage of benefit seems marginal but I'll take what I can get.

Edited by Ronda - Aug 01 2007 at 9:34am

Hi Ladies,

I am on TC. I had my second chemo, Taxotere/Cytoxan, Friday. My first treatment was a nightmare, but htis time I had Emend, 1 pill before the chemo started and another for day 2 and day 3.

It appears to have helped much more with the nausia. My headache was not as bad this time as the first. (I had to keep ice on my head for 3 days.)
I think the headache may have been caused by the Neulastia. I am still very, very tired and sleeping a lot. I will be having a mast/resconst then more chemo. I am not sure if I'll have the same cocktail the second time around.

Has anyone had a second cocktail after their mast/recon surgeries, or just continue with the same as before surgery?

Joanne:

Did you have the same "cocktail" after your surgery or did they change the combination?

It doesn't surprise me that AC may only help 8% of patients.

All chemotherapies are less effective than we probably kid ourselves. 8% is probably quite good.

I had AC before surgery and it seemed to shrink my tumour but I still had active cancer and 23/25 nodes with cancer. Then had taxotere and was in remision for 2.5 years before regional recurrence in April this year. Now on xeloda and navelbine.


Chemo is not  a wonder cure or wonder drug but it does delay progression in some cases and send into permanent remission in  a few. But many have chemo unecessarily becasue the cancer hasn't spread anyway,...trouble is no one knows for sure whose cancer has and hasn't spread.




Jane

Hi Jane, it is good hearing from you.  How have you been doing?