Triple Negative Chemo Cocktails
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Topic: Triple Negative Chemo Cocktails
Posted By: liven42day
Subject: Triple Negative Chemo Cocktails
Date Posted: Jul 19 2007 at 9:28am
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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.
Anyone read the report from June 2007 that Adrimycin may only help 8% of bc patients? Is CMF better than AC, sorry lots of questions, second quessing my Oncologist before I start chemo.
Thank you for any answers Charlene ------------- Diagnosed 6/12/07 IDC Stage II, grade 3, trip negative, 7 negative nodes, 8 rounds of chemo 4xA/C done, 4x Taxol, almost done with chemo, then onto 35 rads |
Replies:
Posted By: fd411
Date Posted: Jul 19 2007 at 2:29pm
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Hi Charlene, I had neoadjuvent Taxotere/Adriamycin/Cytoxan (TAC). 6 rounds 3 weeks apart. Now, I'm on Xeloda and Navelbine for mets Ferne |
Posted By: Raine
Date Posted: Jul 19 2007 at 4:12pm
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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 |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Jul 20 2007 at 3:28am
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Charlene is there anyway you could speak to your Onc before your treatments begin so that you can ask him these questions? He would be able to discuss the different chemos and tell you why he has chosen what he suggests for you and if you have questions ask him, let him know what's on your mind, maybe he'll give you something else or show you that the ACT is the best for you now.
I have read the June 2007 report about Adrimycin and I notice different women saying they are told it is still the best while others say their Oncs won't use it anymore. I am currently on Taxotere for my second time.
Best wishes, ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: yowyow
Date Posted: Jul 25 2007 at 1:51am
| hi Charlene, I did 6 x FEC (3 weeks apart) |
Posted By: Jules
Date Posted: Jul 26 2007 at 2:15am
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Hello Charlene My chemo started 6 weeks after surgery - Xeloda (Capecitabine) & Taxotere (Docetaxel) on days 1 - 14 of a 21 day cycle x 6 cycles.
Jules
Wishing you well ------------- IDC, Stage1, 17mm - clear nodes & margins, Grade3, 3neg, NED  ! BC post-Hodgkin's rads to mantle field, family history of BC & OC
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Posted By: Stanski33
Date Posted: Jul 26 2007 at 9:19am
| 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... |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Jul 27 2007 at 2:58am
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Hello Stanski33, it's nice to have you here. We are excited about this foundation and a place for all of us to be together.
Will you be doing the Taxol every 3 weeks too? I have done Taxol every 3 weeks 4 yrs ago but my daughter just finsihed Taxol once a week for 12 weeks and she got along pretty good except for being tired.
Hopefully you won't have alot of bone pain with Taxol. We are all
different and react differently to our meds. They have some good meds
to help us get thru these treatments now. Best of luck to you
and keep us posted ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: Ronda
Date Posted: Aug 01 2007 at 5:53am
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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.
My naturopath and onocologist recognized the use of L-glutemine to prevent permanent nueropathy from the Taxol (30 grams) the day before and 3 days after. Also L-carnitine (2000mg) to protectect the heart from the AC. The area I'm from and hospital strongly support integrative medicine. My Naturopath has worked along side doctors at several cancer institutes helping people through their chemo. My labs have been great and nausea and side affects have been minimal. Good Luck to you
Ronda
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Posted By: Coreen
Date Posted: Aug 10 2007 at 3:49pm
| hopefully chemo is going well for you....starting #7 next week... |
Posted By: liven42day
Date Posted: Aug 12 2007 at 2:54am
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Hi Ladies,
My first A/C chemo, I felt like a dishrag. I was sick and had diarhea for 5 days, I am taking Emend and Zofran. I talked to the Onc and he is going to do something different tomorrow for round 2. They tried to get a blood draw from my port Friday but to no avail. I had an infusaport check later in the day and found out the tubing (catheter) is not in the right place. It is in a small vein instead of a large one dumping in towards my heart. I have no clue what tomoorw will bring, but I am pushing forward to get this crap over with. After tomorrow I will only have 2x A/C left...............woohooo! Then I will get 4x Taxol.
Thank you for all you encouraging words,
We will all get through this!
Take Care all Charlene ------------- Diagnosed 6/12/07 IDC Stage II, grade 3, trip negative, 7 negative nodes, 8 rounds of chemo 4xA/C done, 4x Taxol, almost done with chemo, then onto 35 rads |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Aug 13 2007 at 4:18am
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Hang in there Charlene, you are right, we will all get through this! ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Aug 13 2007 at 6:08pm
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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? ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: josey2003
Date Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 11:48am
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I had chemo before surgery every two weeks (dose dense). Four AC then four taxol. It was doable. I never was nauseus - just tired and weak. I am now four years from diagnosis and feel great - no lingering effects from the chemo. The only thing that I do have is lymphedema - 22 nodes removed - one had six cancer cells. ------------- JoAnn |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Aug 20 2007 at 1:40pm
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Joanne: Did you have the same "cocktail" after your surgery or did they change the combination? ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: josey2003
Date Posted: Aug 21 2007 at 8:04am
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I did not have any chemo after surgery. Eight treatments prior to surgery was enough.
------------- JoAnn |
Posted By: JaneRA
Date Posted: Aug 24 2007 at 1:04pm
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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 ------------- Jane |
Posted By: theresa31
Date Posted: Aug 25 2007 at 11:39am
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Memorial Sloan Kettering published a study in which they found that dose dense AC followed by T improved survival rates for trip neg. It had no significant impact on hormone receptive tumors.
Considering that chemo is all we have, I think it's worth it. - t. |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Aug 26 2007 at 8:01am
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Hi Jane, it is good hearing from you. How have you been doing?
------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: liven42day
Date Posted: Sep 04 2007 at 3:57am
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Hi Ladies,
Thank you all for your encouraging words. My Onc gave me Aloxi in my pre meds IV along with the Decadron and the Emend pill I take at home 1 hour before A/C. We have found that Zofran does not work for me, at my 2 nd port surgery (it needed to be replaced) the hospital gave me Zofran before surgery and I got very sick from it. SO Ladies if you are suffering se's with chemo talk to your Onc, they have more anti nausea drugs in their arsenal.
Curently I am wiped out the day of chemo and sleep between hot flashes for about 12 hours.............lol day 2 I feel pretty good, then I get my Neulasta shot, that night the nightmares are horrendous, not an se' you really hear about, day 3 is a wipe out day again, then by day 4 I start to feel better by that night, by day 5 I am pretty good to go, Hope this helps the new people on A/C. Oh yeah almost forgot get yourself some Zantac or similar the indigestion is yechthy after eating very little for a few days.
I have my last A/C Sept 10, I cannot wait for that to be done, but I am getting nervous about se's of Taxol. Take Care all, We will get thru this together! Charlene ------------- Diagnosed 6/12/07 IDC Stage II, grade 3, trip negative, 7 negative nodes, 8 rounds of chemo 4xA/C done, 4x Taxol, almost done with chemo, then onto 35 rads |
Posted By: texasgirl
Date Posted: Sep 11 2007 at 8:14am
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Looking over the cocktails I have had a very different treatment. I just finished my 12 weekly taxol and had very little side effects. My blood counts always stayed in normal range without any medications to bring them up. Only problem with taxol was bone pain which I took pain meds and was fine. I justed finished my first of 4 FAC treatments. I got my FC on day 1 and then went home with a pump with A for 3 days and then another dose of F on day 3. I also have had no medications with this cocktail to keep blood counts up. So far so good, just tired and some bowel issues. My nurse said that was due to the Zofran to help the nausea. The good news is at week 7 of my weekly taxol the tumor had gone from 8.5 cm to 5cm and most of the positive lymph nodes they could not see anymore on the utlrasound. I really do think that everyone is different especially for us triple negatives and what works for some people may just not work for others just like any other diseases. If something is not working or you are having too many side effects let your onc know and they might change your treatment.
------------- dx 5/11/07 (Age 41), Stage IIIC, Grade 3, 12 weekly taxol, 4 FAC, 8.5 cm, Extensive positive nodes, Masectomy 0/17 nodes, 30 Rads, Currently NED |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Sep 11 2007 at 9:52am
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Thanks Texas Gilr I have had a lot of se from the TC, mainly I think it was the Taxotere. The Nuelastia caused bone pain, but only for a day or two...I can live with that. I am very much afraid of the "A" drug. They let you take it HOME, and give it to yourself? WOW. My son had a number of treatments with it and it had to be given slowly and outside of his IV...so it coudl be watched drop by drop as it can distroy the veins. ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: texasgirl
Date Posted: Sep 12 2007 at 7:34am
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Hi Ladylaw, I too was afraid of the A. As my nurse calls it Agent Orange. I have a subclav cath where my chemo now goes instead of my a regular IV. This allows you to take chemo home and it slowly drips into your body over a 72 hours period. My onc said that way it puts less stress on your heart and less side effects. Sorry you are having so many se with the T, I guess I was very lucky. I might have had less se since I was getting it every week and maybe a lower dose. I will ask the onc next time I see her.
------------- dx 5/11/07 (Age 41), Stage IIIC, Grade 3, 12 weekly taxol, 4 FAC, 8.5 cm, Extensive positive nodes, Masectomy 0/17 nodes, 30 Rads, Currently NED |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Sep 12 2007 at 11:05am
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WOW...that drug is so dangerous they will not add it to an IV. The infusion nurse must slowly administer the drug herself. There is no way I would ever take that drug home and give it to myself. It is not only the se that are at issue but the destruction of the veins. I am hoping my Onc will decide on some other form of treatment than TAC. I am having enough se from the Taxotere. I really don;t think I could take another dose of TC. Thanks for your reply - Jean ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: poookyquilting
Date Posted: Oct 04 2007 at 3:00pm
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Hi...you and I were diagnosed on the same day. I have IDC, Stage IIIA, Grade 3, 1 of 10 nodes positive for cancer. I had a mastectomy and a lumpectomy on opposite breast. Lump. was okay. Am taking Adriamycin, Taxotere and Cytoxan..every six weeks and a shot a day of Neupagen for ten days after each chemo tx. Then when this is finished I will begin six weeks of radiation. Not feeling too good. VERY tired and weak, But do have an hour or two during the day that I feel close to normal. I also had polio and use braces and electric scooter to get around so some of the fatigue could be the polio after effects. Hope you do GREAT with your treatment.
jan |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Oct 04 2007 at 6:06pm
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Hi Jan I hope you are feeling better...I am feeling terrible. Got out of the hospital yesterday after a week. I had my mast&reconst (bilateral) and my Pacemaker moved for rads. It looks like I will have 4 txs of AC followed by 4 taxotere. RIght now I feel like vomiting and my right side is very swollen, the BC was on the left Jean ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: poookyquilting
Date Posted: Oct 04 2007 at 7:04pm
| Hi Jean, I'm sorry you are feeling bad. I have a prescription the onc. gave me to keep me from getting nauseated. It works quite well. I think it is called Clonopine. Also, when they did my first chemo, they put a bag of anti nausea in the IV first. That helped tremendously. I have not thrown up once yet and have had very little nausea. Ask your onc. about meds to help with the nausea and your next chemo, tell them to add a bag of anit nausea because they can control it. My left side is still very swollen too. Mostly from lifting. My masectomy was left side also. I didn't have reconstruction because my surgeon said because of my disability, polio, that it would take me alot longer to heal. The less you lift, the better the swelling will get. But I have two new twin baby granddaughters and no way I can keep from holding and hugging them. Any info I can give you, please let me know. take care..and i'm here if you need to talk. |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Oct 04 2007 at 10:52pm
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Congrates on the new G--Babies. I couldn't help but picked them up also. Have your daughter or dIL placed them ...one at a time...on your lap. Don't try lifted them yet....SOrry My typing is so bad...I am doing it in the dark, and in pain. ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: ruth
Date Posted: Oct 11 2007 at 12:39am
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I am going to have my second chemo today. I am being given cytox and taxotere. I have this every three weeks. There will be in all four treatments. The first went O.K. not too many side effects.
Good luck to all.
Ruth
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Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Oct 23 2007 at 6:21am
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Hi Ruth, how are you doing?
You are half way thru your treatments, I sure hope they go well for you.
Let us know how things go,
------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: Galina2
Date Posted: Nov 01 2007 at 9:58am
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How did you treat the local cancer? Lumpectomy? |
Posted By: poookyquilting
Date Posted: Nov 01 2007 at 11:13am
| i HAD MASTECTOMY ON LEFT SIDE ANDLUMPECTOMY ON RIGHT. AND 10 NODES REMOVED FROM LEFT WITH ONLY ONE POSITIVE FOR CANCER. WILL HAVE SIX COURSES OF CHEM AND IN FEB WILL START RADIATION 6 WEEKS OF RADS. |
Posted By: Galina2
Date Posted: Nov 02 2007 at 8:39am
| Hi, what type of surgery are you considering? |
Posted By: Galina2
Date Posted: Nov 02 2007 at 8:57am
| Can you quote the article? Tx |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Nov 02 2007 at 9:01am
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You may want to ask your onc about a new form of Adrimycin. I cannot recall it's name but it is the same drug but encased in some way that the body absorbs the drug in a different way that prevents heart damage. If you have any doubts or questions tell your Onc you'd like to go over why he has chosen his treatment. Remember you will be seeing your Onc for years, it's important you two can talk.
------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: Broni
Date Posted: Nov 04 2007 at 3:38pm
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interesting reading your comments - I commence my first round of chemo in a couple of hours, dose dense AC x4, then taxol x4 - I am scared to be sure, but figure if I go in expecting the worst, and it doesn't happen, then I must be doing ok!!
good luck to you all
 |
Posted By: poookyquilting
Date Posted: Nov 05 2007 at 12:21am
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I pray that your treatment goes great and you have no side effects.. I do the same thing, think the worse and when it isn't that bad, I"m so tickled. Let's us know how it went. God Bless you and keep you in His care.
Jan in Michigan' T3,N1,M0.Stage IIIA, Grade 3 |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Nov 05 2007 at 6:44am
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Broni I hope your tx went well and without any complications, especially regarding the IV. It's strange but that seems to cause so much discomfort that I fear that more than the actual drugs. ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Nov 05 2007 at 6:51am
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Hi Broni and welcome.
Me too, hope your chemo goes smoothly. Post back when you can and let us know how you are doing,
Best wishes, ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: Galina2
Date Posted: Nov 05 2007 at 6:36pm
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Hello, Charlene,
thanks for your description during AC treatment. I just wait for my oncologist appointment. It's been from Oct1, 07. When do you thing they can call me? Galina2
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Posted By: cate611
Date Posted: Nov 14 2007 at 12:56pm
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Hi,
This is my first post, and not a reply. I was placed on Taxotere and Cytoxan, 4 cycles, every 3 weeks. I could not tolerate the steroid prep, so the Taxotere was switched to Abraxane. Has anyone been on this combination? If so, please let me know. I'm concerned about future recurrence, and want to hear from any of you who can speak to this issue.
Thank you.
Cate ------------- BRCA1-Stage1-gr3-node negative- bilateral mastectomies & reconstruction |
Posted By: cate611
Date Posted: Nov 14 2007 at 12:57pm
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Hi,
I'm finishing 4 cycles of Abraxane/Cytoxan. Concerned that this cocktail may not be aggressive enough.
Any thoughts?
Thanks.
Cate ------------- BRCA1-Stage1-gr3-node negative- bilateral mastectomies & reconstruction |
Posted By: texasgirl
Date Posted: Nov 16 2007 at 12:58am
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Hi Brani, I just finished my chemo this week. I had 12 weekly taxol and 4 FAC x 4. The taxol was great, just a little aches and since I had no side effects they took me off the pre-steroid and gave me benedryl. The FAC was a little harder because my blood counts really took a beating. The neausa medicine defiinatetly works. My attitude in the beginning that this was not going to be too bad and really it wasn't. Even being in the hospital with a staph infection from my cvc line. The key is to drink water or any fluids as much so you do you do not get dyhdrated. Just remember that each type of chemo effects everyone differently and do not get discourage. It usually works on my triple negative. My tumor has done from 8.5cn with significant lymp node involvement to less then 1cm and all the lymph node are showing NED. In fact, they said all along said I was going to have a Masectomy and now they are talking lumpectomy. Good luck.
------------- dx 5/11/07 (Age 41), Stage IIIC, Grade 3, 12 weekly taxol, 4 FAC, 8.5 cm, Extensive positive nodes, Masectomy 0/17 nodes, 30 Rads, Currently NED |
Posted By: Broni
Date Posted: Nov 17 2007 at 12:03am
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Well, I am happy to say that if what I experienced for my first chemo is anything to go by, then I am more than pleased with how it went.
I was given an Emend tablet to take an hour before hand, not to mention a local anaesthetic patch over my newly inserted portacath. At first I was given fluids and dexamthasone to combat nausea, then the nurse slowly injected the Adria (or the red cordial as I call it). I got a bit more fluid, then the cyclosphamide(?), and at the end more fluid.
I felt fine on the way home - I was sent home with more emend and dex for the next 2 days, had to come back the next day for neulasta injection. Despite being extremely tired on the first 3 days, I had no ill effects. For me, the worst was day 4 & 5, but only because I bloated up and suffered the most terrible constipation...it made me nauseas. Once day 6 came, I was slightly relieved, and then from Day 7 to now - you wouldn't even know that I had had all that toxic stuff in me!
Round two is monday morning, hopefully this time I will preempt the constipation issues, and tired is all I will be!
thanks for your thoughts and well wishes
Broni
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Posted By: trip2
Date Posted: Nov 17 2007 at 7:20am
Texasgirl I just wanted to congratulate you on how well your treatments are going and that you have completed your chemo.
You go girl! ------------- Stage 2 2003 Stage 1 2007 BRCA 1+ |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Nov 17 2007 at 9:24am
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Broni Great - you are a very lucky lady. I hope all your treatments go as well. Has your hair started to fall out yet? I completed my CT prior to my mast/resconst, and was to have started back up following my surgery. However I developed 2 infections. The incisions had to be re-opened, the incisions removed and the area cleaned out, which pushed back my chemo 3 times. I will be starting again next Friday - darn my hair has just started to materialize and it will be quickly falling out once again. I hope you continue with no issues. Drink a lot of water and take a stool softener the next time it will help with the constipation. Jean ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: Broni
Date Posted: Nov 17 2007 at 4:54pm
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no haven't lost my hair yet.......but my scalp has been really irritable over the last couple of days, so I am thinking that it is only a matter of time now..........
May I say what I find different in this US forum is the number of you that have had all your ct treatments prior to surgery......over here they seem to prefer to operate first, and then toxify after.......Does anyone know why that is?
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Posted By: Cheranthia
Date Posted: Nov 18 2007 at 12:37pm
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Hi Broni, My onc had me do chemo first, then surgery. I think this order is especially recommended for people with larger tumors upon dx. Even in the US, people are surprised to hear I had chemo first. It is done for several reasons. 1) to reduce the size of the tumor prior to surgery. In my case, this meant I had a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy. 2) to prevent mets by chasing down any rogue cancer cells that may have escaped the breast. 3) to see how well a tumor responds to a particular chemo cocktail. Post-surgery, it's hard to tell. I'm glad your first chemo went well. My experience was similar to yours. I had a few bad days each time, but I would bounce back and start to feel pretty good after about a week. If you do have side effects, don't suffer in silence. Mention them to your onc or your chemo nurses. They usually have good suggestions. Best to you, Cheranthia |
Posted By: cate611
Date Posted: Nov 18 2007 at 1:07pm
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Hi Ruth,
Am completing my last chemo tomorrow - had to switch from Taxotere to Abraxane because I couldn't tolerate the steroid prep w/the Taxotere.
The treatment has been a breeze, other than fatigue. I am wondering what your stage & nodal status were at the time of your diagnosis.
I was stage 1, no positive nodes, and did bilateral prophylactic mastectomies, having already had prophylactic oopherectomy in 1997.
My Mom died in 1976 of ovarian cancer, and I'm BRCA1.
My concern, which I will express to my terrific oncologist, is that my treatment "may" not be aggressive enough.
Do you have any thoughts? And by the way, how are you?
Thanks for your post!!
Cate
------------- BRCA1-Stage1-gr3-node negative- bilateral mastectomies & reconstruction |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Nov 19 2007 at 8:10am
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Cheranthia Just another point of view on chemo before surgery. My biospy turned out to be a lumpectomy, 6cc tumor. Following that I had 3 treatments of chemo before having a bi-mast/reconstruction. I was told the cancer had spread. The good and bad news was my path report showed no signs of cancer so the mast was unnecessary, as was the recon ( I am now on week 6 post surgery) and, of course, all the pain and infections that have gone with all these procedures. I had to have 2 post-surgery "procedures" which amount to more surgeries to remove the entire incision (one side) clean out and resuture. The other side required only half the incision be removed. Because of being triple negative , no form post surgical meds to prevent a relapse, my onc will start me on 2 MORE chemo (TC) - just to be safe and kill any remaining cancer cells, if there. I was to have started these 3 weeks ago but do to the infections it has been pushed back 3 times. I will be starting them the day after Thanksgiving. Jean ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: Galina2
Date Posted: Nov 19 2007 at 3:06pm
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Hello, Jean, I am sorry to hear you have so much trouble with your mast/recon and you got infections. I also had bi-mast, I am happy I did that, but now I thimk I should have gone for chemo first, since I am 5 months after original lump discovery and still waiting for chemo.
When was your mast/recon done? They wanted to do chemo 3 weeks after? Wouldn't that be too soon? Galina
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Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Nov 23 2007 at 8:34am
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Galina: I had my lumpectomy in June, followed by chemo three weeks after. Three weeks after completing my chemo, I had my mast/reconst. (Sept 26th) I was to have both rads and chemo starting shortly after (Chemo I guess 3 weeks) however I developed an infection on the BC side within 2 weeks. My PS had to cut me open, clean out the infection, remove the incision's scar and resuture. Two weeks later, the non cancer side became infected. Last week, I had my stitches removed. On the BC side, the stitches had been in for 4 weeks. Both sides looked like they were starting to become infected again. (I thought 4 weeks was far too long to leave in stitches, but the PS would not removed them sooner. The most upsetting fact in this entire fiacso is, the path report showed no sign of cancer ...NOTHING. That means all the chemo, removing my breasts, the horrors of reconstruction, infections etc., was all done for no reason, except to provide my BS with an Orient vacation. AS I had no BC, my onc said NO RADS. He does want me to have more chemo, "just in case". He fears a cell could have gotten loose and he wants it killed. (HE is my second ONc, the first one caused all this horror.) ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: Galina2
Date Posted: Nov 24 2007 at 7:14pm
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Dear Jean, looks like you have got a great onc now. I would take his advice to do more chemo! Ask what are his reasons? All depends what chemo/for how long you got before your mast/recon., sometimes they follow with a second part after surgery. Also, check with your onc. on blood MARKERS, they can be elevated: e.g. CEA, Ca1.3, Ca27.7 and CA-125 can all indicate mets. Maybe, because he is your second onc., he just want to be SURE your are going to be OK! Maybe, because you already had recon. he doesn't want you to have rad., because it can damage your new boobs. Ask him all these questins before you decide to refuse any treatment.
I have just started my chemo; it took me 4.5 months to get it. Whole 8 weeks after mast.! I saw my onc. just 2 weeks ago for the first time! I had no quidance from onc. through those 4 months of waiting. They also did not find any more cancer in any of my breasts. But, I do have 2 friends who worked in path.labs for 20 years. They told me they usually do only 1 SLIDE per tumor!!! They can miss!!! Second, with triple neg, I believe the best is to do mast. The chance of having recurrance in too great. My surgeon told me its 20% minimum.
You are breave you did recon. and you did it right after mast. That's the way to do it! Good for you!. I hope with all the other surgeries it still looks good! I did not have guts to do it and I wanted to get fast, fast to chemo...
I have got stiches which disolved after about 8 days. The nurse removed all dressing and tape basically with the stiches (the leftovers stuck to the tape). I have problem with one side which is still red. I tried all sorts of creams, they recommended to buy cream base and add VitE. They did not want me to tape it. The best what worked for me is ANTIBIOTIC cream.
Best luck. Galina ------------- Believing is 50%!Dx 7/10/07, Lumpectomy 8/24/07, double mast/no recont. 10/01/07, IDC, 3 cm, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes, Stage IIA, ER-/PR- HER2- Age 48, chemo 11/23/07 lung spots 3/08 |
Posted By: Galina2
Date Posted: Nov 24 2007 at 7:49pm
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Hello, I just had my first chemo of FEC100. The nurse had to administer both F and E manually. After 1 ml of F I got stomack problem and after 5ml I got pain on the left side of my chest, followed by convultions. The EKG was normal, they told me it was allergic reaction (!?).
The nurse told me sometimes the drug goes to the place of a tumor and as it kills the tumor, reaction occurs. I have few places in my body for which this statement might be true. E.g. before treatment feeling pain in lymph nodes and after treatment feeling "rubberish").
I would like to know, if anybody has had similar reactions and was told similar reasonigs? Tx. Galina ------------- Believing is 50%!Dx 7/10/07, Lumpectomy 8/24/07, double mast/no recont. 10/01/07, IDC, 3 cm, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes, Stage IIA, ER-/PR- HER2- Age 48, chemo 11/23/07 lung spots 3/08 |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Nov 25 2007 at 8:53am
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Galina I did have the blood markers done after the first surgery, but not following the bilateral. My first surgery showed clear margins. (about 1-2c around the tumor) There were a lot of slides done. The path report following my bilateral, had about 50 slides...NOTHING. The reason I was "talked into" the mast, was my BS told me the cancer had spread into my nodes. It had not. He did not remove one single node, just made up the spreading. I have all the labs, paths, PET, CT and bone scans. Not only do they state No cancer, but explain post op conditions. (these were all performed following my lympedicmy...done without removing a node!) I fully intend to move forward with legal action against both the BS and the first onc. I will have a lot of surgeries because of this jerk, not counting the replacing the implants every ten years. I can just see myself at 70 or 80 having implant surgery....what was this guy thinking? I guess I paid for his orient vacation. He left the day after, and I have never...NEVER...seen him since. I was in the hospital for a week and no one knew who to have sign me out as my surgeon was gone. ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: phillyborn
Date Posted: Nov 27 2007 at 11:16am
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Also had the chemo you're having.
A nurse told me to take a daily Vitamin B-6 while I was getting Taxol, to either avoid or diminish the bone pain/neuropathy. For me, it worked, as I had none during or following my 4 sessions of Taxol.
Best wishes!
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Posted By: like2canter
Date Posted: Jan 06 2008 at 10:17am
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Charlene, I was scheduled to get 4 AC and 4 Taxol, until my nodes came back negative. Then they switched to 6 rounds of Taxatere and Cytoxan together. I have also read the articles about Adriamycin. If they say you need it, I wouldn't question, but some of the suggestions I have read from the others are good. I take several supplements (have for years) that are mentioned here, so maybe they helped me and I didn't even realize it. L-Glutamine and L-Carnitine are also good for muscle development. If you exercise through chemo (I strongly recommend - even if it's just walking), the muscle development will help counteract the drop in your metabolism that chemo causes. I also took coQ10 for heart health and brain support, and I continue to take it because I seem to have better energy levels with it. I strongly recommend regular exercise, lots of water - or other non-caffeine liquids and a good, healthy diet (strictly limit sugar). You will do fine. Be strong and fight for yourself!! Nora |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Jan 06 2008 at 10:59am
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One side effect form Taxotere - you may well lose your nails, and not until long after your normal SE are gone. I started my first Chemo sessions about 5-6 months ago, three treatments prior to surgery, then more following surgery. I just completed chemo the day before Christmas. Most trama can show up as lines on your nails. I had three deep ones for each of my first treatments. About 2 weeks ago my nails started to lift. At first I thought it was just a large piece of nail polish that had lifted off, but to my horror it also included a large chunk of the under lying nail. Now, slowly, one by one they are coming up. However it wasn't just my nails, 2 days ago, all the skin on one of my finger tips just came up. I had little to no feeling on some of my finger tips, so had no warning. Yesterday, the same thing happened to another finger. Gee when will all this end and we can go back to some sort of a normal life? ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: poookyquilting
Date Posted: Jan 06 2008 at 12:10pm
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+I was diagnosed june 12, 2007. I will have my last of six treatments on January 23rd. Will have one month off and start radiation. My tumor was grade 3 and 5.2 cm. I had mastectomy but no therapy prior to surgery. My nails, so far are okay. Did you have Taxotere, Cytoxan, Adriamycin and Neupogen? that is what I am taking. I take a shot of Neupogen everyday for ten days starting the day after each treatment.
Jan in Michigan |
Posted By: like2canter
Date Posted: Jan 06 2008 at 4:04pm
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Lady4law - what is SE - oh - side effects, right? Congrats on finishing your chemo. You will feel more normal some day - just not right away. I am almost 5 months out and still have some SE, but nothing serious enough to impair my enjoyment. I misstated about my chemo - I only had 4 treatments, not 6. I think if I had more I would definitely have lost my nails, but I think they'll stay on now. Good, healthy nail is growing out to replace them and only one still looks like it might be partially loose. This is one of the surprises no one told me about, and I thought it might have been just trauma, although exaggerated from the chemo, as I had grabbed a long-haired dog (which was attacking me) rather abruptly and it's hair kind of wrenched my nails. The other thing that can come late is continued hair loss. My eyebrows and eyelashes never fell out until after my 4th (and final) chemo. That was weird, too. Jan in Michigan. best of luck with your last treatment - yea to be done soon!! Not everyone gets the Neupogen along with the chemo. I only had it when I ended up in the hospital with low white count. Radiation was easy compared to chemo, but you do get fatigued by the end. I was more mentally fatigued than physical and it was surprising even though I was warned by many people of the fatigue. Nora |
Posted By: lady4law
Date Posted: Jan 06 2008 at 4:54pm
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I had Taxotere, Cytoxan,and Nuelastia. However the forth Nuelastia put me in the hospital, so I had my last chemo without the benefit of anything that could boost my WBC. Nora - yes, "SE" means side effects. I started losing my nails almost half a year after the chemo. I guess there are a lot of SE that may take months or years to manifest themselves. ------------- IBC/TN 6/07 Lymph, Chemo, Mast w/rec, chemo, 2 infect surg, exchg (2x) redo rec (2x) 4 new tumors esophagus, colon, chest, mouth, (10/11- 5th SUV7)"Activity" in spine hip |
Posted By: memeclaus
Date Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 1:23am
| I start Taxotere & Cytoxan with Neulestra support next week. No Adrimycin because my white count is always below 3.5 sso it is counter indicated, |
Posted By: Galina2
Date Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 8:38am
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I had 100 FEC 3x every 3 weeks followed by Docetaxel (Taxotere) 3x every three weeks. They refused to do Dose Dense because of all the problems with Neulasta (people ending up in hospitals, I was told.)
There is a web site which specifies all chemo's depending on staging. But at the end, I think it is at the discression of the ONC! ------------- Believing is 50%!Dx 7/10/07, Lumpectomy 8/24/07, double mast/no recont. 10/01/07, IDC, 3 cm, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes, Stage IIA, ER-/PR- HER2- Age 48, chemo 11/23/07 lung spots 3/08 |