Choosing A Chemo Regimen - And Do They Over Treat

DebRox

Went to my first visit to first MO.  Two more to go next week for additional opinions.  Looks like I chemo will be recommended.  I'm only just out of surgery one week ago.

At that appointment I felt like the MO was trying to throw everything at my cancer as in over treating the cancer while discussing 2nd and 3rd generation chemo treatments only (didn't discuss 1st gen), in addition to hormone therapy for my case.  Is it normal to feel that way as though the doctors are overtreating?  I do not have any lymph node involvment but do have lymph vasular invasion and my grade was upped to a 3 from a 2 by 1 point.  I left somewhat confused by the menu of options.  He did decide to request an oncotype dx test, but given a high ki-67 score of 50, I'm sure my oncotype score will be at least intermediate to high.

The shocking thing he said was the chemo is to treat distant recurrence at which I have a 2/3 chance at recurrence according to his knowledge.  I don't understand how they come up with those figures.  I really seems like a mathmatical equation combined with historical data.

Anyways just wondering how those of you who are on chemo chose the chemo cocktail most beneficial for you? 

It appeared to me, he was leaning to TC.  I am very afraid of taxotere, well for that matter, I'm afraid of it all!  It is just that if I go the TC route he recommends 4 cycles every three weeks so I could get it over with in 12 weeks.

Anyways how did you make your decision and do you feel over treated?

stef58

DebRox, I did taxotere after A/C. I found it to be very easy compared to the A/c. Cytoxan is bearable also. I did not have a onocotype. They just ofund 1 lymph npde during surgrey. If your head Hit this stuff with all of your guts and you will get through. Go to the May thread for chemo or Start one of your own. That was a great sense of support. The reoccence is possible for all and I do not worry about it. Good Luck. Dianne

Shirlann

Well, your first shot at this thing is the best one.  After you metastesize, you are a goner.  So, yes, they do over treat in many cases, but only a crystal ball can tell them who will and who won't NEED that over treatment.

The principal of chemo is to kill all the remaining cancer cells in your body.  The cancer cells are slightly more apt to be killed by chemo than your normal cells.  So they bring you as far as they dare, without hurting your normal cells.  This sounds severe, but so far, it is all we have.

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

Kathy044

DebRox, as I understand it the 2nd and 3rd generation chemos are better, not just at fighting cancer but because more is known, they can be safer. Adding in taxotere to the chemo mix permits the amount of heart toxic drugs given to be lower for example.

Myself I hope that I am among the group of women who are overtreated and didn't need chemo, but had it anyway. It was only a few months out of my life. My HD was dx with another cancer just before I was dx with BC. He wasn't even offered adjuvant therapy like we are. His cancer has progressed to stage IV and now he is doing chemo.

One thing I notice that is different about stage IV chemo,  they do pick the gentler chemo versions if available, because if you are stage IV, present quality of life when you have a limited time of life left is so much more important than quantity.