triple positives and Taxotere/carboplatin/hercepton treatment

Christean

I am hoping to get some input and feedback out there from Triple positive gals who have gone the Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin route.  I started this chemo yesterday, and so far things are going well with only minor side effects.  Would like some advice on what I can expect, from people who have already gone through it, but would also would love to hear the experiences from those just starting out.

 I am also finding that the abbreviation TCH is used many times by people who are taking the Taxotere/Cytoxan/Herceptin route.  And there are others who refer to TCH as the taxotere/carboplatin/herceptin route.   It makes it difficult to folllow, and I get confused.   Is it appropriate to abbreviate Taxotere/carboplatin/herception as TCbH?   I've seen it on the discussion board a few times, but just not sure. 

And can anyone tell me anything about cytoxan vs. carboplatin?  How are they diffferent?  Why would one Dr. recommend carboplatin and another cytoxan?  Is it staging or node status?

Can't wait to hear back from you.  Thanks so much....Happy Thoughts:)

REKoz

Hi Christean-

If you go to the search box and type in TCH (try spelling the whole thing out), you will find an information packed, extremely long thread all about it. There is also a thread for triple positive gals like yourself. This is the most common protocol for early stage HER2+. Our stats are very similar. Wishing you the very best as you muddle through this unwanted journey. You have found a wonderful site filled with great, knowledgeable women. Many are research fanatics so you can learn anything you need to know here.

bluedasher

Christean, Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin is the more common amd more standard combo and is often referred to as TCH. It is the one that was tested in the main trial, BCIRG 006 for TCH versus the earlier AC-TH treatment (in that treatement, C is Cytoxan).

Carboplatin and Cytoxan serve a similar purpose in chemo. The researchers testing treatment with Taxotere and Herceptin chose Carboplatin for the TCH treatment because platins such as carboplatin have a synergistic effect with Taxotere and Herceptin in in vitro tests (i.e. putting the drugs on cancer cells in petri dishes). 

Some oncologists choose to vary the treatment by using Cytoxan instead sometimes. Sometimes that is because cases feel a patient will tolerate it easier. Carboplatin tends to have a bit worse side effects. 

TCH is a very good treatment that has worked well even with women with a lot more advanced breast cancer than us. Hormone positive versus hormone negative doesn't make much difference to the choice of treatment when you are HER2+.

The thread titled taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin in the Chemotherapy section can be very helpful. It has been going for years so you might want to just go to the end of it and introduce yourself. That thread will have women also going through TCH -you can read a few pagesback and get an idea of how it usually goes.

I usually felt fine for a couple of days after TCH. The side effects tend to hit around day 3 or 4 and would mostly make me feel very tired and out of energy for some days. Then I would start feeling better.

kathleen1966

I tolerated this chemo regimen well.  I felt tired for a bout four days, but never got sick.  Never had nausea. I took the neulesta (sp?) shot to help with my white blood count.  This caused some minor aches and pains but nothing serious.  Towards the end of my treatment I became anemic.  They gave me one procrit (sp?) shot but I declined it after this as I had read it could increase my chance of having a recurrence (it said it was not recommended for women who may be cured of their cancer, I was a bit mad that I had received the shot not knowing this).  I also did not take the steroids towards the end as I had heard this can also affect how well the chemo works.  I have no idea if its true, I read it on the internet. The nurses had no idea what I was talking about...so please don't take this as fact.  My nails got a bit funny but did not fall out, the hair of course came out....I am still on Herceptin, I believe I have about four treatments left.  I am feeling really good at the moment. For me, this was a very tolerable treatment. However, everyone is really different. I hope you do well! 

talbrig13

I did well on this treatment and worked full time the whole time.   I had 10 TCH then a year of Herceptin.  This has been 4 years ago.    My hair never fell completely out, although I did shave my head after I had bald spots and it was dry and terribly thin and brittle.   You will be tired and maybe nauseous, but they have great meds for that....hang in there and good luck!

Anonymous

I had this exact same treatment regimine and tolerated it well.  I blogged about my journey with breast cancer (and other things) on my blog http://ericaexercisesneats.blogspot.com  If you go to the "My Breast Cancer Journey" on the top left side you will find all my bc posts including the treatments and all that.  Hang in there, sister.  Praying for you!