If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here

Tomboy

Like Chrissy said, "To be Certain, I would check with your doc and ask what that would mean for you in regards to ongoing treatments,etc"..... She is saying, "ASK YOUR DOC".

ShetlandPony

Just to clarify: The albumin-bound paclitaxel is Abraxane, and the paclitaxel with the solvents is Taxol. Taxotere is another kind of taxane that also has solvents.

Artist, have you asked whether a PET-CT would help with staging? The PET shows metabolic activity, whereas a CT only shows shapes.

(Edited to add the last bit about Taxotere having solvents as well.)

Artista928

I do plan on asking my onc. She is very highly rated and she is involved in research as well. The thing is I've been delayed for 6 weeks for when I was supposed to start chemo, and nothing to do with what was found on my CT scan done last month. I had a non-relenting infection of a month and still kind of counting and before that, 5 weeks of drains while my cohorts got theirs out after maybe 1 or 2. And before that, finding out about this onc around the corner from me is much better and knowleged than the one I started out with on 8/4, 2 days before my sx. So it took time to see her as a new patient as well.

The most effective time frame for chemo after sx is 6-8 weeks with 10 weeks max according to my MO's research, no matter how strong the chemo is. The 6 mm nodule in my lung is too small for a PET scan to really capture what it is, which is why she's chosen the path of let's do chemo and see what happens to be safe. I asked her wouldn't doing a stage IV tx be better since it is possible it's a met. She said and if it isn't, precious time would be gone and I was already just outside the ideal time frame for chemo to be most effective. So who knows which path but I have to trust my MO and I do. She's very highly rated not just by her peers but by pts.

ShetlandPony

It sounds like you and your onc have thought this out well. Best wishes for an uneventful chemo ride. A hug for you and also one for the piggy-wig.

Tomboy

To clarify further: they are all paclitaxel. It even says so on bco, if you look them up. They are all taxanes, and it was first discovered in the pacific yew tree. They would have to kill all trees, so they formulate it in the lab.

Artista928

Thanks Shetlandpony and Tomboy. I still wonder why the first onc said Taxol and this one is Taxotere if it's basically the same thing. I don't have allergies to anything.

I think in my case that perhaps my current onc was weighing the best course of tx since I was handed to her so far out from sx. Most people meet their oncs before sx, long before the 2 days I had before mine. Maybe if I had met her around the time of my diagnosis in June and this nodule was there it may have been steered differently. But then the nodule would may not have even been there since it was 6mm last month at CT. It would be so nice if it was more clear cut but unfortunately cancer doesn't seem to be, even with people who seem to have the exact same dx.

ShetlandPony

Taxotere is docetaxel; and Abraxane and Taxol are paclitaxel. All are taxanes. Anyway, the important thing is that all these drugs can be really effective at clobbering cancer! I like to think of it as my natural treatment: Extract of Pacific Yew. (Even though I know it is now synthesized in the lab.)

Tomboy

Links. Read the additional information part and you will see they are all paclitaxel. The carrier agent is what's different. I am pretty sure the general thing is the side effects and everything are very similar. linky. Sorry, Shetland Pony! Didn't mean to cause any trouble! I was only trying to show exactly how similar they are. Yes, they have different chemical names, but they are all taxanes, like you said, derived from that wonderful tree.

Artista928

On Mon I see the MO fill in for mine who is away that day. I'll ask him how you decide between Taxol and Taxotere. My first MO was Taxol. This one is Taxotere. So there has to be something other than the carrier that leads to choosing one over the other when allergies are not involved off the bat. Then when I see my MO next I'll ask her.

The only other thing I can think of is the center having the chemical on hand. I was going to use another center with the Taxol tx but then again, she was on the border with Taxotere. So maybe they carry both and this one carries the one. Other than that, I have no clue if they are the same minus the carrier.

Tomboy

Will you let me know? I am very curious, too!

Artista928

Sure will! I get to ask 2 MOs! I'll post it here when I find out.

MinusTwo

Thanks for the discussion. I too will be waiting to see what Artista's docs say. I believe that taxotere is more potent and is only given every in 3 week cycles. Taxol is often given weekly for 12 weeks and that appears to be the preferred way to use it. There's also a difference in how the dose amount can be reduced if neuropathy becomes an issue. It also depends on what other chemo drugs are prescribed. I don't believe they ever use a taxane drug at the same time as Adriamycin, although my taxotere was combined with carboplatin. I wish my MO hadn't retired, or I'd email him.

Artista928

Actually, one option for me was the ACT(taxotere) all at that same time! MO said this would be really really hard and being I live alone and am on my own in this with taking care of everything in my life myself, she really didn't have to do much to steer me away from that doozy. But she presented just so I knew there was that option as well. Taxol never came up with her and at the time I was too busy processing what she with time ticking down the clock for me to get on chemo for max effectiveness that I wasn't thinking of many questions at the time.

I'm thinking you are right Minus2. I think I heard somewhere taxotere is more potent. Onc did say the book is being thrown at it so that would make sense. Interesting.

Tomboy

Interesting, Kayb! Sorry to say, it wouldn't be the first time I found a teensy (I know, I know, - unprofessional word %P ) mistake on BCO ! In my clinic notes, sometimes it says that I got taxotere, in other clinic notes it says I got taxol! And I really need to find out which one I actually got. There's a lot of mistakes in all of my doctors notes, even more mistakes than I make myself. Hoping I haven't offended anyone, I can be an assinine perfectionist. Which is really weird, cause I can be very sloppy myself.

ShetlandPony

No worries, Tomboy. I was also concerned and hoping you were ok with our technical discussion. Here is an amusing mistake I found in some doctor's notes: It was supposed to say I had a "partial mastectomy" (i.e. lumpectomy), but it said I had a "partial vasectomy" instead!

Artist, thank you for your patience!

Tomboy

Yikes, Shetland, and thanks for the laugh! Am wondering why they would bother with a partial vasectomy! Ha!

Artista928

Wow. And I thought when I read that I'm post menopausal in my hospital report was funny. Not yet my friends, as I told you on my intake form! I realize everyone makes mistakes but when it's someone's official record, double check what you wrote before you hit enter..

Tomboy

Yes, my first BS, actually wrote down she asked me to discontinue hormone replacement therapy, after I told her I was never remotely interested in it, and had had an easy time of menopause.

MagicThinking

Hello ladies! I was first diagnosed January 2012, had bil mastectomy, chemo, reconstruction, and have been on Tamox two years until Oct 2014. I am now on Arimidex for one year Since I am now menopaused.

I had postmenopause bleeding many times for a year and this week I had an hysteroscopy with anesthesia at the hospital. Went well and I should get results in six weeks... Tired of waiting.

Gyn told me there was nothing significant to see so was not very concerned. In my head I am still worried though. What do you think, is it usually visible to the eys or sometimes not visible at all... Your thoughts and experience would be greatly appreciated. PS EXCUSE MY ENGLISH, I AM FRENCH CANADIAN...

chrissyb

Hi Magic, your Englush is just fine. As to your bleeding, I have had the same thing and had it checked out with an all clear result so if your doc said nothing significant I'd go with that. They can usually see if there is any sort of anomoly but take samples just to confirm their thoughts.

Hang in there and try not to worry too much.

Love n hugs. Chrissy

Artista928

ChrissyB- I see you started this thread for us non-stage IV folks. Thanks so much and best wishes on continuing to be NED!

mccathyg

Hi everyone. Hope someone can help me with some info. I am just in the middle of dx for what is a recurrence in the chest wall. The tumour is 19mm and is on top of one of my ribs just above my mastectomy scar. As this is my 4th dx I like to try and research as much as possible. Has anyone had surgery to remove a lump in the chest wall? I am worried because when they did the biopsy the chest wall was punctured and I ended up in hospital for a week.

Thank

Tomboy

Jeeez, mccathyg, I am so sorry that that happened during the biopsy, and also that it's back. I don't know, maybe some one else can answer that for you, but I just wanted to let you know, I am so sorry... Hug..

dlb823

mccathyg, I'm so sorry about your most recent recurrence. If you haven't already, you might want to start an entirely new thread with your question. I'm suggesting that because due to it's very general headline, this particular thread doesn't get as many views as a specific new one might. Maybe put it in the Stage IV forum, which is where those who have had chest wall recurrences would be most likely to see it. Be sure to put something like "Question About Chest Wall Recurrence" in the title, so that those who have had similar experiences will spot it and hopefully share their experiences.

I hope you've recovered from the problem you had with the biopsy and subsequent need for hospitalization. And I'm glad you've found BCO! (((Hugs))) Deanna

Artista928

So I'm confused on words. What's the diff between saying SENTINEL NODE #1 WITH 2 FOCI OF MICROMETASTASES and cancer cells found in sentinel node? Just different verbage for the same thing? Some folks say cancer was found in x # nodes and my path uses micromets. But yet I'm stage III. So ?

Tomboy

Artista, and hello to a fellow artist, it's because your cancer was larger than 5 cm's. Im going to see if I can paste a link about staging here for you, and also you could google 'NCCN guidelines on treatment of breast cancer', it's a fascinating document about how and why they do what they do.this link. That's BCO's page on staging.

dlb823

Artista, in addition to the excellent information Tomboy gave you, I just wanted to add that in some situations, micromets are thought of a bit differently than a node with full blown infiltration of cancer cells. In some situations, a micromet is considered node negative for the purpose of tx recommendations. However, in your case, it probably isn't as much a factor as a 6cm+ primary lesion.

Artista928

Thanks ladies. The verbage is confusing. You see the word 'mets' and think spread which is did at least to the SN but you know. I think MO is treating me as stage IIIC. I really don't find anyone else currently who is getting AC + Taxotere. I'll have to ask her if she thinks Taxotere is stronger than Taxol. I know they are basically the same but curious why one MO was going to do Taxol and she wants Taxotere when both drugs are available at my center.

april485

OMG mccathyG! I just had to chime in on this thread and just say that I think it truly stinks that you have been diagnosed yet again with BC for a FOURTH time! So freeking unfair if you ask me. Hugs and prayers dear lady for an outcome that leaves you BC free for the rest of your long life. If you keep beating it, you will do it yet again as you are a very very strong person! God bless you.

tangandchris

Artisa, I was given the same cocktail. I was given 6 rounds, once every 3 weeks.