30 yrs old with stage 3a TNBC

Sorry to hear about your wife's diagnosis. We too are Indian by birth but we reside in Japan.  My wife too was diagnosed at 28 with tnbc and she completed treatment around April 2015. She is now 30. 

Like Gordon Said, Taxotere and Taxol are essentially the same.  So you shouldn't worry about that, but you can always ask your doctor questions to gain a better understanding to matters that concern you.  It is only natural to worry. 

As your wife is young, so you ought to get BRCA testing done (also depends on family history, but it can be very important), and if she in fact has a family history of breast cancer, then throwing Carboplatin into the mix could be useful.  You can discuss this with your doctor and push for it (BRCA Testing) as this will guide treatment to some degree.  But if she has a BRCA mutation, then how your doctor will choose to treat this will really depend on his/her feeling about your wife's specific cancer biology.  If she does not have the mutation, then her now regimen is fine and you need to focus on how she is responding to the treatments.  Get the BRCA test done soon (all you have to give is blood), because if it can guide treatment decision, then the doctors ought to give you data and research-backed opinion to best guide you.  It is well established today that women that do have the mutation respond well to platinum chemos.  But, please know this, your wife's now chosen chemo is standard and is the right treatment guideline.  

You can always ask your doctor why Taxotere vs. Taxol, but what I have been told from other patients is that dense dose Taxotere is a strong regimen (also in terms of side effects). 

If you have any doubts, you can always speak to another breast specialist at TATA Memorial in Mumbai, Jaslok hospital Mumbai, AIIMS DELHI, Fortis, Ruby Hospital in Pune etc.  (or other top hospitals in major cities in India - Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune etc.) - Not just any doctor but Oncologists with specialty in treating breast cancer. 

It is only normal to hope that your loved one is being treated with the best of what is available.  I totally understand where you are because I've been there and I too felt the same at the time.  

Also, after 2-3 treatments with the Taxotere, please ask your doctor for an Ultrasound/Sonogram to measure response.  This will guide you on how she is responding to treatment, and this will give some insight to your doctor on the current regimen.  Insist on Ultrasounds after every 2-3 treatments, and ask any questions that you may have to your doctor.   

Hang in there my friend.  If your wife or you ever need to reach out, then feel free to drop us a message.  We'll speak to you anytime.

Where are you based in India?  There are plenty of fantastic institutions in India. Ensure that the doctor that you are working with has plenty of experience with TNBC and he / she is on top of research and latest studies on the subject matter.  

Take care of yourself, and also your dear wife.  

Best Wishes,

Desh

Well you've received really thorough responses, so I don't have any additional information for you, but I just wanted to send some support.  It sounds like you are getting great medical care (so, so sorry for your wife's family, with your brother-in-law's diagnosis as well).  It does seem like I hear of chemotherapy regimens split approximately 50/50 between Taxol vs. Taxotere.  Maybe shifted a little more towards Taxol recently, but those drugs are in the same family, and it sounds like your wife is already responding well, so that's great.

All of the advice above is spot-on, and it's obviously crucial to be on top of the medical side of things, but I especially like the advice about making sure you keep laughing....depending on whether or not your wife needs radiation, and what type of surgery she has, etc, this can be approximately a year of treatment.  Even though there are lots of tough times during this first year with treatment, etc , you don't want to look back and think you wasted a year!  I just put my photo album together for 2015 (I was diagnosed in April), and it was so great to remember through the photos that in addition to all the love & support we enjoyed last year due to the TNBC diagnosis, we also had lots of AMAZING times regardless.  Tough year in many ways, but also a fabulous year with lots of highlights.  I'm so grateful for that.  So don't be afraid to enjoy life this year!  And keep up the good work on ensuring she's getting the best medical care.  Good luck with everything!

Tulips