AC vs. EC Chemotherapy

TomOr

Does anyone know the difference between AC and EC Chemotherapy? My wife is freaking out about something she read and now wants to start looking for a new oncologist instead of starting treatment this week because they only use AC instead of EC.

Mamiya

I assume that by EC you mean elliance/epirubicin and cytoxin/cyclophosphamide? I am not familiar with just the two but I am familiar with FEC, which is those two plus flourouricil/5FU.

Did your wife's medical oncologist discuss with you the reason they recommend AC?

I can tell you that I know that there was a study published in December 2014 that showed that there is no difference in outcome between FECx6 and ACx4.

FEC is every third week where AC is every other week. So, doctors (and patients) like AC because it is over sooner.

In my case my MO wanted to use AC but upon consultation with one of the leading IBC specialists in the country we decided to go with FEC BECAUSE is takes longer and he felt that I would benefit from the longer amount of time, despite what that study said because the study was not about IBC.

I don't know if any of this helps. I understand AC to be a very good combo that has worked well for a lot of people. FEC is a very old set of drugs, and is still more often used in Europe and Canada.

I think that a second opinion is always a good idea but also sitting down with the current MO to talk about why he or she thinks AC is the best for your wife would be helpful.

sylviaexmouthuk

Hello TomOr,

I have just read your post and wanted to say that I had EC in 2005. It stands for epirubicin (brand name Ellence) and cyclophosphamide (brand name Cytoxan).

AC is doxorubicin (but the brand name is Adriamycin, thus the A).

I think doxorubicin and epirubicin are the same class of drugs and are known familiarly as the Red Devil because they are red in colour.

I would think there is not much difference in them. When I was being treated I asked my oncologist if there was any reason I was having epirubicin and she said it was less harmful on the heart.

I hope this helps. You might want to join Calling all TNs which has a lot of Americans on it and is a large informed and helpful thread. If you want, you can also post on my small er thread Calling all triple negative breast cancer patients in the UK. Anyone can post.

I hope all goes well with your wife.

Best wishes.

Sylvia

zayb

I had AC + T 6.5 years ago and it seems to have worked. I am being treated now for a hormone positive cancer related to DCIS, but all the doctors I have seen recently concur (although they cannot have absolute certainty) that my triple negative was successly treated. I also had a mastectomy and radiation, was node negative.