TNBC Polls & Surveys - More chemotherapy

Print Page | Close Window

More chemotherapy

Printed From: TNBC Foundation
Category: TNBC Forums
Forum Name: TNBC Polls & Surveys
Forum Description: A place to ask questions and survey the community
URL: http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=7153
Printed Date: Mar 26 2026 at 6:17pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: More chemotherapy

Posted By: tdeliberty
Subject: More chemotherapy
Date Posted: Sep 24 2010 at 2:46pm

I completed 6 rounds of TAC in April. My cancer started out as a 5 cm lump (2 cm was fluid filled and 2.3 to 3 cm was solid tumor). Despite all of the research that suggests that TNBC is responsive to chemotherapy, the solid portion of tumor did not shrink noticeably. During my mastectomy, the surgeon pulled out a 2.5 cm of residual disease. The surgeon got good margins and there was no node involvement.

An MD Anderson study suggests, however, that when there is residual disease, there is an increased chance of distant recurrence. As a result, my doctors (including a second opinion) have suggested more chemotherapy because of my age, race, grade of tumor, etc. I am a 39 year old, African American woman and was diagnosed with stage II, infiltrating ductal carcinoma (TNCB) in December 2009.

This time around gemcitabine and carboplatin, which I am told poses less longterm risks (to heart) than TAC. I feel pretty good about doing more chemo under the circumstances.

Has anyone else done a second round of chemo because there was residual disease after the first round.