Your Experiences with Paclitaxe and Anthrocycline.

NATSGSG

Hello Everyone:

I shall be starting chemo sometime next week (after I have my MUGA (Radionuclide Ventriculography) and Full Blood Count Test that includes screening the Renal Panel, Liver Panel, and Hepatitis B Screen Test.

So, I would greatly, greatly appreciate if  members who have gone through these drugs could share your experiences here with me as my Medical Oncologist (MO) said these will be used. I am super, super nervous about chemotherapy and would forgo it and just go with radiation if I can help it. He said between the two, he'd rather I forgo radiation, not chemo.

He has given me 3 Options to choose from based on my condition and our discussion today. My Diagnosis thus far: Stage 2, Grade 3 IDC with 25% DCIS. 2.5 cm, ER/PR -, HER2+, Lumpectomy, Clear Margins & Negative Sentinel Node 0/1, no medical history, no family history.

1) Anthrocycline  (4 treatments, once/3 weeks, 2.0 hours)  followed by Paclitaxel (12 times, once/week of 1-1.5 hrs) concurrent with Herceptin. TOTAL = 6 months treatment

2) Paclitaxel (12 times, once/week) concurrent with Herceptin (once/3 weeks) . TOTAL = 3 months total

3)  Paclitaxel (12 times, once/week) followed by Herceptin. TOTAL = 12 months

Although MO recommends (1) , I intend to choose the shortest duration (2) based on my reading of the FinHER report (see below link on Pharmac) for early HER2+ breast cancer patient. I like it that my Dr. respects my wishes. I realize that I will bear the consequence of my choice (good or bad). I cannot stand the thought of too much of these high cardiotoixcity drugs in me. My decision is also based on my own research of at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

http://www.pharmac.health.nz/search?search_q=9+week+concurrent&search_path=%2Fsearch

Still, I would truly, greatly appreciate it if all brave, wonderful ladies out here be willing to share your personal experiences with ANTHROCYCLINE AND PACLITAXEL, and advise me what I should prepare for or be aware of where they are concerned.  

Thank you for your time, and my the Recovery Force Be With Us All Wherever We Are...