Anyone else only get 4 a/c?

Lizardbeth68

It seems everyone else is getting more treatment than me. I have my last tomorrow and kind of freaking out to be "done".

marial

I had 4 dose dense AC every other week, followed by 12 weekly taxol infusions

Babs37

I had 4 DD AC and 12 weekly taxol too.

Luah

While taxanes have been commonly used in node positive BC, they have also been shown to be (more) effective in TN than in estrogen-positive BCs. Since chemo is our only systemic shot at this, you might want to ask your onc about taxol.

christina1961

I had taxotere, adriamycin, and cytoxan all together - TAC x 6. It was neoadjuvant chemo; the MRI did not show anything in the nodes to begin with but before I got started, one node was palpable (but they were still going to do TAC even with node negative.) I went to another oncologist at the beginning for a second opinion - he was going to do either taxotere and carboplatin or taxotere and cytoxan together- I think for six treatments.

Lizardbeth68

Thanks guys. So no one with only four. Hmmmmm. I'm having chemo now, so I'll ask.

Luah

Lizard: Just to add, I think 4 AC was very common and you will find women on these boards who had that only. But lately (past 2-3 years maybe?) it seems most oncs add a taxane to TN treatment. So 4 AC plus 4T or 4AC plus 12 weekly T.

Meggy

Dont let them stop you at just AC.  Now's the time top get cured.  If they dont cure you with chemo now and it comes back....there is no cure.   Sorry to be so blunt....not every tumor responds to AC....so they give another type like Taxol.  My own chemo was over 3 years ago so I can't say what is the standard of care now...but I attribute my continuing life to chemo. 

We have had members on here who left the tumor in to see if the chemo worked and Taxol was the one that wiped out the tumor.  By the way, I found Taxol to be the easiest of many chemos.  It is nothing like AC....it doesnt make you nausious (sp?)...just some aches.  

Also just because someone is node negative doesn't mean that the cancer hasn't slipped into the body...it can go from the breast to body through other means.  

Because you are tripple negative...there will be no targeted therapy to keep it from coming back.  Please get more chemo sister.

TifJ

I had only 4 tx of TC (Taxotere and Cytoxan). Sometimes I too wonder if it was enough!

MaryNY

Lizardbeth: when I started chemo I thought I was just going to be getting 4 x AC, but as treatment progressed onc talked about adding some taxane treatments. However, because of prior medical history she decided against giving me a taxane and I had follow-up treatments of CMF instead. So I had 4 x AC, then 4 x  CMF. I now wonder if that was aggressive enough. AC following by a taxane (Taxol or Taxotere) seems to be more typical standard of care though and would seem to be advisable when you are triple negative and so don't have the option of taking tamoxifen or an AI.

Luah

TifJ: TC is a pretty common regimen too, for node negative, small tumours, stage 1. You don't get the toxicity of adrimyacin but you get the taxane (taxotere).

TifJ

Luah-That is basically what my oncologist said. He thought the AC would be overkill. I guess we all can't help but wonder if our treatment was "correct".

RJ70

I was only going to get 4 AC. I am also stage 2 grade 3 2.4 cm. I did a clinical trail. I thought I needed to more I am so glad I did. I went to a breakfast this week for breast cancer survivors.  If you have to chance to go to something like that( go.)  It really help me but the women at my table were all talking about what they are taken now. and They looked at me and asked me what I was taken and when I said nothing the  look are there faces said it all. I am really glad to be done with my treatments, but the same time I worry about is there anything else I can do. I am really greatful for the ladies that get on here and post. Because I now I am not along.

Lizardbeth68

Thank you guys so much for weighing in. 12 weeks more it is. I'm so disappointed as I had 24 hours to think it was done, but it is what it is. (((hugs)))

christina1961

Here is a link to the MD Anderson algorithym that shows how they treat various stages of breast cancer:

 http://utm-ext01a.mdacc.tmc.edu/mda/cm/cwtguide.nsf/luhtml/sidebar1

marial

Lizardbeth - just wanted to say the 12 weeks of txol actually went faster for me thsn the 4 DD AC treatments..I guess being able to go each week,and not needing a week of shots after helped it go by faster..I couldn't imagine having to go every 3 weeks as every 2 felt like it took forever to get the next one done..nest wishes to you!

Pessa

I had AC x 4.  Also had a bilat MX.  MO didn't want to give me a taxane because of neuropathy.

panamajayne

I got 4 beginning the end of March 2011,  I started A+C 4 times 21 days apart,  then was supposed to have Taxol once a week for 12 weeks but because of the cost of the filters my med onc decided to give me what took 3.5 hours of  Taxol 4 times once a month.  Have finished and taking a 3 month break before Herceptin once a month for 12 times. 

Meggy

Lizardbeth...so glad you decided on more.  What are they going to give you?

Meg

hydeskate

I had Abraxane then A/C, Radiation and the doctor decided to throw Abraxane at it again even though my scans where clean for the Hell of it becasue I had no side effects.

Lizardbeth68

12 weeks of taxol . need to decide between weekly and dd every three weeks. I think I'll be able to work more on dd, taking a week off afterward like I did with a/c. Any thoughts?

Lizardbeth68

Meggy, thanks for being so straight with me!!

Lizardbeth68

So no hair growth on taxol?

marial

I was told that the weekly taxol has less side effects normally associated with it, due to the smaller dosage, but not sure if that is true..but yes, if you are planning on working all through it then it would may be easier on your schedule to go less often.,good luck

mammalou

I had 4 DD AC.  There are a few studies that say that Taxol is ineffective on ER+ cancer and that is why.  It isn't worth the risk of side effects if the chemo is ineffective with your tumor.  More is not always better.  Maybe, you should get a second opinion.

LRM216

I was stage 1, grade 3, no nodes, and my Onc told me to go as agressive as possible, as you only have one shot at hoping to kill this beast.  I had 4 DD A/C, one DD Taxol (instant neuropathy) and was switched to remaining 3 doses of DD Taxotere.  I would definitely speak to your onc and request either Taxol, Taxotere or abraxane, which seems to be customary in todays treatments.  I know some women over on the TNBCfoundation.org board had only 4 A/C's but that was about 5 yrs. ago.  It doesn't hurt to inquire as to why you are not getting the same, it is your life, not the onc's. 

I wish you all the best,

Linda

petelzmom

Hi Lizardbeth68,

First of all so sorry you are going through this. I had 4 AC followed by 4 Taxol, this visibly shrunk my tumors and I followed up with bilateral mast. which I had clear margins.I had IDC Stage one Left breast and ILC Stage 3 right breast so the BL mast was a no brainer to me. I finished up with radiation and am currently taking tamoxifen. My philosophy was to be as aggressive as I could so that I would have no regrets later. Good luck and keep the faith.

Lizardbeth68

Thanks everyone for sharing your treatments. I feel like I just got diagnosed all over again for some reason. I'm leaking tears and just can't stop. Guess I just have to cry it out.

MaryNY

Lizardbeth: it's hard emotionally to grapple with changing your treatment plan. I know I found it very hard. I had my calendar marked up with four AC treatments and could see that I would be finished before Christmas. Then the onc suggested an additional four treatments (of CMF). I remember feeling a sense of peace when I first decided what treatment to have and when it would begin -- it was a sense of knowing where I stood. Then there was uncertainty thrown at me again with the additional treatments.

Maybe like my onc yours was waiting to see how you would do on AC before deciding what to do next. I feel bad for you that they left it up to you to request the additional treatments. 

One positive thing out of this is that you will be seeing the doctor and nurses now every week and they will be closely monitoring you. Finishing treatment seems like a double-edged sword -- you have  sense of relief but also what you said in your original post the "freaking out" because you're done and feeling abandoned. Now you have time to plan ahead. You should be finished in mid- to late-December, so you can celebrate with your family over the holidays. 

Lizardbeth68

Thanks Mary. It's so nice to be able to talk to people who understand.



My next question, has anyone worked, say Monday through Thursday, perhaps 5 hour days or eight while doing weekly taxol? Or do I need to look into long term disability? I worked two weeks on, one week off with the a/c on reduced hours.

pennylane

Hi Lizard...Just saw this and thought I would tell you that I only had the 4 dose dense AC...I am six-years out now and back in 2005 the 4AC was pretty common for earlier stage node negative bc...even triple negative.  I was treated at MSK and have a feeling they were a little conservative about their treatment protocal...THere are a few other women on board who are triple negative who are doing well years later with only the 4 AC...It is such a difficult decision..but I have to think if I were in your shoes I would give one of those taxanes a shot...it seems to be the way to go the past few years.....I send my best wishes to you...P