Node involvement,tumor size & TCH vs. ACTH

tomatojuice

Node involvement,tumor size & TCH vs. ACTH

tomatojuice

Went to the site cth vs. acth and noticed that the majority of women who choose Tch over Acth have 0 node involvement. Will be starting chemo, on April 23, 08. My oncologist strongly reccomended ACTH since I have 3 nodes involved, also tumor 2.7cm. He did leave the option of having TCH. I am leaning towards doing the ACTH, since my sister passed from this desease in 2003. I guess I am more afraid of what I know can happen if it spreads. Yet of course, at the same time very afraid of the possible heart problems. Since at the other site I have not found others with a similar diagnosis, would love to hear from someone. Do most women with larger tumors and more node involvment choose ACTH vs TCH?

jerseymaria

first, i'm so sorry you had to join this group, amazing as it is.

i don't know what most do...i can only tell you my treatment. 3.4cm mass, 9+ nodes.  i wasn't given a choice of treatments...maybe it's the area i'm in.  i was told  i needed ac followed by taxotere followed by radiation followed by herceptin.

good luck, maria

bjn850

tomatojuice,

My tumor was 2.5 cm (was estimated to be .5cm one month earlier) and I had a sentinal node and an axillary node involved.

My medical oncologist basically told me that the appropriate treatment was Taxotere and carboplatin with Herceptin given my dx. She mentioned AC but said the risk to my heart was a concern and that the current medical thoughts steered us toward TCH.  The reading I did on those options supported that decision. So I had 6 tx of TCH and now am finishing the Herceptin only infusions. There was a second surgery and Mammosite radiation stuck in the middle of chemo and a 6 week break in Herceptin because of low MUGA results. So the year of treatment has taken 1.5 years. But it is coming to a close.  Hurray!

Hope you are able to be at ease with the decision you make with your doctor. 

bjn

suemed8749

tomatojuice: I don't know about your deduction, but it fits my case. My tumor was 2.2 cm (with an additional .6 cm found later) and no nodes were involved. I started Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin last week.

Sue