URGENT-TC versus TAC-opinions needed

     My name is Billie and I did research and loving caregiving for my beautiful sister Betty.She is soon to be 69 and I just thought that I would let you know that in 08 she went through the lumpectomy,chemo,radiation,back surgery in Oct. of 08,loss of her husband in March of 09,hip replacement in latter part of March 09,and as of today she is in fantastic condition.Some of us old brodes they just cannot keep down.I guess that I should not be talking like that about her because because she is in the church house a lot more times than I.

    Her oncologist chose the taxotere-cytoxan times 4 every three weeks.I myself at the time would have never dreamed that she would have come through the chemo like she did.But Fran she came through with flying colors.Oh yes, it is all very traumatic but you will make it and come out on the other side in great condition.We had a big discussion on this forum about the chocises that this oncologist made for my sister and the choices made for other women in reference to the kind of chemo and the amout of times.4 verses 6.Some saying that 6 times musch better than 4.Because we did not want her to have to come back and do it again,we wanted to make sure that she had enough chemo at the time.When we asked her oncologist how he came to the conclusion that she was to have 4 treatments and none of the tac he politely said that the choice that he made was based upon her age and that is the choice that he made for her.Now mind you both of you being healthy older women ,and both of you having pretty much the same diagnosis in size of tumor and node negative was pretty much why his decision was what it was.Oh I forgot to say that he was practicing at one time at this cancer center under the guidence of MD Anderson.One thing that he said to my sister that she continusely practiced was that he told her that she was going to be tired and that she was going to want to stay in the bed,but he said to her,I want you to never give into to this.Make yourself get up and move around.Get rest of course,but never give into this.And Fran,I want you to remember this also,never give in.I want you to also know that knowledge is power and if you know what to expect before it might take place then you are prepared to handle it.We had already researched nulasta,so we knew what to prepare for extreme bone pain.But after a few days it will go away.I can remember back and that was perhaps the toughest for her to get through.But she knew that it was going to be pretty bad ,but that it was only going to be temporary.The nulasta was not needed until around her 3rd treatment.Have your family do your research for you and be prepared and never hesitate to as these ladies if there is a question in your mind.Be Prepared.Do your research for the radiation if you are to receive it.My sister prepared her skin all week with emu oil and other suggested ointments.Do Not wait until it is a bad burn.

       Fran,you are going to be fine.And when you are on the other side of this journey your family is going to look at you the same way that I look at my sister.When I look at my sister now I cannot keep from smiling because I know in my heart what all she has had to endure this past year in such a short time , she made it on the other side even stronger today than when her journey began.And if this beast decides that it has to return then we are again ready for the fight because even if she is soon to be 69 she still has a lot of fight left in her and we know a little more now about what to expect.Yes the fear will be there,but it will not be that paralizing fear that you have when you know nothing about Breast Cancer and you hear the word cancer for the first time.You have made a great choice in your treatment.Lots and Lots of Huggggggsssss    Billie