Stage III Neoadjuvant chemo

lilylady

 I just got my diagnosis today and am looking for people like me. I am IDC TN >6cm. Most of my tumour, which is almost 10cm, is embedded in my chest wall. Only 2.5cm in the breast. I have not seen the onco yet-that is next week. Anyone else have more in their chest than their breast?

I am doing that bad thing and trying to think ahead. What did you get for chemo? Also how long before they saw your tumour shrinking?

geogal

• I am nearing the end of my neoadjuvant chemo. I didn't have any chest wall involvement, but I can tell you after 4 x AC my tumor shrunk ALOT, I am  almost done with the 12 x taxol, Herceptin every week and had my mammogram and us the other day ago and they said the tumor is 1cm now. I am being treated at MD ANderson in Orlando.

paulatkc

Hi Lilylady,

My tumor was 6.5 centimeters, all located in the 12 o clock position on the right breast. My chest wall was actually clear.  My onc doc left the tumor to test the effectiveness of the chemo.  I had 4 rounds of FEC, Fluoracil, Ellence, and Cytotoxan, and 4 rounds of Taxol after that.  My tumor shrunk down to about 2 cm , within the first four rounds of FEC, I was scheduled for 6 but my response was good so they thankfully cut the rounds of chemo down. It was removed with a lumpectomy, and 20 lymph nodes as well. They weren't sure about the margins so I had a mastectomy later.  Radiation 35X.  I am in the last stages of reconstruction.  I was also a stage IIIb or c, and grade 3.  ER+/PR-, Her 2-   There is also a board for triple negatives--I have learned a lot on these boards, it's the real deal with these amazingly courageous ladies.   Good luck dear, you have joined many dear sisters, dealing the best we can with what has been dealt--

allisontom911

I am not TN but I did 6 TCH. 4AC is another route some gals take. I like the option of chemo first so we could see if the chemo was working. I had surgery after chemo then 30 rads.

Good luck to you!!

jennyboog

Sorry you had to join us here but we're here for you if you ever need us.  I didn't have chest wall involvement either. I did AC X 4 and saw my tumor shrink along with my IBC disappear, then taxotere X 4 and saw tumor get softer.  They were able to get clean margins also at my BMX.  Hang in there, it does get better.  Best of luck.

TammyLou

YUP.

12 cm in chest wall.   2.6 cm in breast.

tl

ruffy

I have multifocul tumors with one found too close to chest wall for the surgeon to get clear margins. Onc put me on dose dense AC x4 followed by DD TAC x4. I've had 2 treatments of the AC and saw my onc today who says the main tumor has shrunk already. At first it scared me to do chemo first but now I'm okay with it and glad I'm gettIng it over with first. Best of luck with everything

GrandmaBubba

lilylady, so sad you had to join us, but glad you're here. I didn't have chest wall involvement either. I did have a tumor that took over almost all of my breast tissue, >10cm, don't really know how big it actually was. I did neoadjuvant chemo, ac x4 then taxol x4. By the time of surgery there was no palpable mass. At surgery they found 3cm residual and 5/8 positive nodes. It really worked well for me and it will for you too. Good luck and stay in touch.

Tundra

hi there,

I didn't have chest wall involvement... but I have inflammatory bc, so I've been going through neoadjuvant chemo as well.

I'm just finishing up 10 x Taxol (well, I technically switched over to Abraxene), and then I'll be heading into 4 x tx of AC (every 3 weeks). The Abraxene has been okay to deal with, nothing too dramatic.

All the best to you!

BlueCowgirl

So happy to find you all! I have two large tumors and am getting neoadjuvent AC to be followed by Taxol. A question: how often are your breasts monitored for tumor shrinkage and what diagnostics are used? I am at the very beginning of this process and still trying to absorb all the info...

ruffy

I was just told by my surgeon that once I'm all finished chemo I will Have an MRI done. My lump I can feel so my onc says he's confident that it is shrinking just by feeling it. I've had three ac's so far. Hope that helps

lilylady

This past week i have been moved to stage IV with mets to lung and liver. Ins co balking now at paying for chemo-this is before I have had the first dose. The origunal plan was TCH X 6 with H every weeek in between. All along Onc has said should be a "Marked" change after the second big treatment and all likelihood of change at 3 weeks. Ins co agreed to pay for 6 weeks of treatment with a Pet scan at 7 weeks. Onc hoping for change in all tumours not just the huge bomb in my breast.

So while there will be exams at every chemo visit the Pet is already on the schedule for 7 weeks from now. I am48hrs past first chemo and still no SEs

Mom2Tots

Hi Everyone,

Lilylady, I dont understand. How can the insurance company decide not to pay for chemo?

With regards to the other question about chemo...

I dont have chest involvement but the tumor was 5cm and I am doing 8 cycles of neoadjuvant chemo: 4 cycles of dose dense AC followed by 4 cycles of dose dense Taxol.  My oncologist has only done physical clinical examinations.  Based upon her examination, the tumor shrunk to about 3 cm after the first chemo cycle. And I think there was no discernable palpable lump after 4 or 5 cycles.  I will have cycle 7 next week.  The plan for me is to have a MRI after I complete chemo.  FYI - Based upon my mammo and US, my breast surgeon, originally thought that I had two lumps with each one a littlee less that 2 cm.  It was the MRI that revealed that it was really only one big mass.

Side Effects on AC: intense nausea, intense fatigue, muscle aches/pain, skin turned color dark, skin on fingers wrinkled/shriveled up (this is improving after AC was discontinued); in general felt lousy. 

Side Effects on T: some nausea, fatigue, moderate aching muscles and joints (much mmore tolerable than AC)