AC/TH vs CT/H in pre-menopausal women

Cncrgrl

I posted this on another forum and I'm gonna try here as well:

I am brand spanking new to this board and decided to try it out.  I was recently diagnosed with Breast Ca about a month ago.  I underwent surgery on March 9th with fantastic results.  My margins were clear, and all 3 SN dissections were negative for cancer cells.  My Md's even did a PET and a Bone Scan which showed normal results.  The issue now is Chemotherapy.  I am told that even though my lymph nodes were not involved, because of my age (I'm 33), they will overtreat me.  At this point I need to choose which chemo tx. is to be done.  My MD and Sloan Kettering would want me to do ACTH.  However, I am not to comfortable with this for two reasons.  The first is the potential for heart problems and the second is that it is 50% more damaging than TCH to my ovaries.  I am single and have not had children yet.  The possibility of damaging my fertility really concerns me.  I am also told that the survival rates between the two is a 1% difference.  I'm just wondering if there is anyone else in a similar situation that can share what their choice for chemo was and why.

Ever Grateful,

daisylego

I'm making the same decision & I'm 26. I'm leaning toward CTH for myself. I didn't know about the fertility issue! That makes me lean even more towards CTH. My Onc said that the heart problems that can be caused by the AC can be worse/more likely to show up in younger patients. Something about more time for it to pop up with a longer expected life span? It's almost funny how simmilar our DXs are Except you're obviously not as far along as me.

BTW my mom lives in NYC & I've visited there pretty frequently in the past, maybe if I'm up there again we can get together? I've been trying very hard to connect in person with others like me.

LouLou40

I was dx last Feb aged 39 and did ACTH - the only option I was offered.

The Chemo wasn't that bad I had minimal side effects and the Herceptin a breeze (only 2 infusions to go). My Echo's have been great throughout treatment, but if I was given the option now between ACTH ot TCH I think I would do TCH due to the risk of long term cardiac damage.

I'm also in Permenant Menopause, period stopped after 2nd AC and my estrogen levels are very low,  great for BC but not kind on the body, my bone density is already low from the early menopause and I'm taking Arimidex as I'm considered post menopausal. I've already have 2 children so not too worried about my ovaries, but both of you are so young it needs to be a consideration.

Good luck with your treatment