FEC 100 and Stats

Whitewind

I took FEC 100 and love to chat with other ladies who did the same as me. I love to know what the stats are on this Chemo presently for they were not that well known then.
LOve to meet you people and make new friends.

Bernadine

Hi there,
I'm having FEC right now for 6 round started my first chemo on April 30 and my second is may 22. I was pretty much sick when I got out of my treatment that day and didn't feel good until the 9th day. So FEC sucks....
I'm from New Brunswick by the way. Had a mastectomy on 9-03-07 and treatment on the 30 april. I'm not sure of FEC 100, here it's FEC

IDC,3.2cm,stage1,grade2,her/2-,19nodes-,margin clear,

makaryne

Hello Ladies:

I did FEC + Taxatere - FEC was nothing by comparison. Some nauseau on days 3-5 but nothing like the side effects from the other. I've also had a hard time finding out the stats on effectiveness.

Let me know what you find.

R

trumpkin46

Hi FEC buddies,
I had six rounds of FEC100. My onc said that in my particular case - ILC with one node involved, Her2 neg, ER/PR strongly positive - chemo gave me a 10% uptick in 5 year survival. Her read: surgery 50%, chemo 10%, hormone therapy 15% for a total of 75%. I had hoped for better, but as she said 'if you're in the 75%, your survival is 100%.

I took a marijuana deriviative (completely legal) for nausea. It's called Nabalone, and used extensively in peds oncology. It wasn't offered to me, I had to ask for it (but luckily my daughter works in Peds onc.) I also found that acupuncture the day after the chemo really helped with the nasty side effects.

I haven't been put on Taxatere, so can't speak to the improvement in stats after that treatment.

Alice

trumpkin46

The thing I forgot to say is that I found myself pretty flat/exhausted for the first week post chemo, very slow for the second week, pretty much back to normal for the third week and then we did it again. And showing up at the Ca Clinic to be knocked flat each time became an exercise in will power. Be sure to have a party at your last chemo - we did, with balloons and banners and a tiara on my bald head - and it was great to have all my wonderful supportive friends drop in (during the chemo) and celebrate with us. Chemo is 'insurance' - to knock off those rogue cells which may have gotten out of the breast tumour....I hated it, but I'd do it again...
Alice

linny

I have 6 FEC commencing Aug. 2005 to Dec. 2005. As far as statistics, the oncologist should know - they enter the information into a computer programme. Actually, any statistics are not based primarily on the chemo regimen alone, it would take into account tumour size, grade, nodes, etc.

Linda

eva2004

Brenda,
Don't know the numbers, but did FEC100 - 5 rounds, just couldn't take the last 6th one. It got really bad at the end- I was out of commission all the time.
But however bad it was / no sugarcoating - it is very powerful drug that will eventually knock you down as it has a compounding effect ! /I'm happy that my doc prescribed it for my stage IIIB citing some statistics that I don't recall now.
/ finished FEC100 2 years ago , and got 6 tx of Taxol , Carpoblatin and Herceptin/
Wishing you all the best
Eva

kimvidito

Hi everyone
I am just starting 3 rounds of FEC. My 2nd will be on thursday this week. I have metaplastic breast ca stage 2 grade 3 neg for everything else. I do 3 rounds of Taxol after. I am pretty tired right now but I rest a lot. It will be harder when the kids are home for the summer.
The statistics that I got were 50% chance of reacurence with no tx in 10 years. 85% chance you will not have a reacurence in 10 years with the FEC. So I think that is worth it. I am only 38 yrs old and my kids are teenagers. I don't want to think about this cancer after this is all done.
Take care everyone
Kim

BettyeE

I had 12 TAxol weekly and I have had only one FEC. I am still totally wasted after a week. I don't think I can do this every 2 weeks. I don't think I can do it every 3 weeks. I am not even the same person that I was. Has anybody else had this experience? My head hurts sooooo bad, I have nausea all the time, I am really disoriented and have lots of back pain.

bonnie_vanisland

Hi Kim
What is "metaplastic" breast cancer? I did FEC 100 (last treatment June 8/06)

kimvidito

Hi Bonnie
The doctors told me that metaplastic carcinoma is 2 kinds of cancer in the tumor that I have. One is invasive lobular carcinoma and the other is cells that are growing in my breast that come from another part of my body. I have a confused breast.LOL. They said they treat it just like invasive lobular ca and the reaccurence and prognosis are the same. How many FEC treatments did you have. Did you have a party when you were done?

and Betty.
Are you taking any meds for the nausea. I read on another chat room that kytril can cause migraines and an overall yucky feeling in some people. Maybe your doctor needs to look at meds to make you feel better. Hopefully you feel better soon
take care everyone
kim

bonnie_vanisland

Hi Kim
I did 6 rounds of FEC and took all the anti nausea pills they gave me which cost about 20 dollars per pill but worth it! Luckily my extended health care plan paid for 80% of the cost. Another important tip that you may have heard is DRINK TONS OF WATER on FEC ...before and after your treatment. I drank at least 1 -1/2 litres every day. The Epirubicen (the "E" in FEC) can irritate your bladder. Also, if you can, walk as much as you can...keep the blood circulation going.

I was so tired after the last treatment that I didn't have a party right away but I did have one later on in the summer. All my friends came and everyone tried on my many wigs!! it was so great to be done!!!
cheers
Bonnie

bonnie_vanisland

I forgot to mention that the anti nausea drug was Zofran which was GREAT for the nausea.

trumpkin46

Excellent suggestions, Bonnie,
I also took a drug (available in Canada, but I'm not sure about the States) called Nabalone. It's a synthetic marijuana derivative. 2 x day for 2 days. Helped a lot....Would take the first dose just before leaving for my treatment, felt very stoned until chemo was onboard, then pretty normal.
I hung a "camel back" water reservoir (for hiking, bought it at REI/MEC) beside my bed and took a few swigs every time I thought of it.
Took an acupunture treatment as soon as possible after each treatment, too, and felt less head congestion (which is a side effect of FEC for some people).
Alice

bonnie_vanisland

Yes another woman I know tried Nabolene but she had very bad side effects (nightmares) so quit taking it. I took one or two ativans before each treatment to help calm anxiety and also help with the nausea.

Dragonfli

Hi Ladies,

I have been off the boards for a while, but am doing well.
I did FEC100 and I started November 2003, finished up March 2,2004. I took Kytril to prevent the nausea...and it totally worked. I had Blue Cross Extended, so it helped considerably when this drug was around $60.00 - $80.00 per pill. Memory is finally fading on all the info I knew off the top of my head, I guess that's a good thing..:).

My neutrophils started to drop quite drastically after each of the first 2 chemos, so I started Neupogen shots after my 3rd chemo.I had home helath care come to my house to give methe shots, I figured why not access this resource. I had nurses that came each day for the 7 days after my chemo infusions, and they were a great resource to touch base with. Aside from the "red face" and being tired, my only other bad side effect was severe constipation. That was attributed to the Kytril, and not my chemo.

Hugs to all, I really feel that FEC100 kicked all the cancer out of me.

Barb