how agressive can chemo be and still be effective

lyladettmer

hello i am 52 my history is 12 years ago i survived stage 3b Inflammatory breast cancer with triple negatives. full mastectomy, radiation, chemo both before and after Oncologist and surgeon retired.

Last week a 1.5 cm lump was felt in my other breast. mammogram and ultra sound. biopsies pathology says ILC and its in my armpit. additional lumps felt above my collarbone. Awaiting the results of hormone but estrogen positive progesterone negative and hert unknown. pet scan on Monday and chemo starts on tues.

question because previously they used chemo drugs very aggressively and i responded and actually I do well on chemo continue to work etc. why do i feel like the chemo suggested is not agressive and worse being dictated by hospital and insurance finance policies. what would be the treatment if stage 3 is all it is?

bluepearl

It isn't the same cancer but it is regionally advanced...ie....in collarbone nodes. ILC doesn't often require really aggressive chemo.

HersheyKiss

I received very aggressive chemo and radiation because I was node-positive ILC.

bluepearl

True...HersheyKiss. I suspect she will require a different chemo regime and radiation due to the nodes...I don't think they can use the same regime she had before.

Sissy43

Hi,

Sorry to hear you are dealing with it again, I know how tough it can be to go through it twice. I had ILC in 2014 on the right side and was diagnosed on the left side in 2017. I had the same chemo regimes both times, EC followed by Docetaxol. The first time no nodes were involved, the second time 2 were affected.The first time I had 3 rounds of each 3 weeks apart and the second time I had 3x EC 2 weeks apart and 4x Docetaxol. What chemo are they suggesting for you this time round? If you responded well last time it sounds like you may do again. x

lyladettmer

chemo before any surgery. They wouldn't even remove the collar bone nodes for biopsies Too much risk for damage then no chemo until it heals. They are saying carbo and docetaxol. Depends on results of PET scan. What is the ec you had?

Sissy43

The EC I had is a combination of 2 drugs epirubicin and cyclophosphamide. I had my chemo before surgery both times I had breast cancer.When is your PET scan?

lyladettmer

it was supposed to be today but the machine is broken next appointment May 14, 2018 unless i change facilities. Closest one is 2 hours at the Huntsman in salt lake city. Which chemo is the one called red devil or red koolaid? Can you have more than 6 doses over your life?. I had this in 2007.

HersheyKiss

Lyla, that would be Adriamycin, and there is a lifetime cumulative dose.

Anonymous

I had ACT but I had dose-dense AC. You can ask your MO for it and see what they say (mine agreed with no hesitation, and that's what I got); there seems to be some benefit from doing DD rather than every 3 weeks, if you want aggressive.

Here's a link to a previous article posted on bc.org website.

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/dose-dense-chemo-improves-survival