Chemo choices for Triple Negative

Susan05

Has anyone with Triple Negative who had stage II with no lymph node involvement gone for the "hard Stuff" when it comes to chemo just to be sure? Medical Oncologist said that cancer that has traveled to other parts of the body cannot even be seen on scans until it's about dime size. Nodes show clear on scans but no way to know if there are any cells in them without biopsy and nodes that are not swollen are too small to biopsy. I am having chemo before surgery.

I had my first meeting with my medical oncologist yesterday. I most likely will start chemo next week. I had all my scans this last Friday and they were all clear yay! I didn't realize that I would have a decision on what chemo regimen to do ugh! My stage is II but he said due to size of my tumor and that the lymph nodes show clear I am right on the line of Stage I and Stage II.

My Options are:

1. Adriamycin plus + Cytoxan given every 2 weeks for 4 cycles (given 4 times). After 2-3 weeks, Taxol is given every week for 12 weeks.

2. Taxotere + Cytoxan given every 3 weeks for 4-6 cycles

3. This one is a co-clinical trial. Neoadjuvant docetaxel + Carboplatin every 3 weeks X 6 cycles.

#1 is the most dose-dense hardest one. That is the one I'm leaning towards because I feel like I have one shot at this but darn it it's hard for me to say yeah hit me with that. I guess it's only 6 months not forever so I can do this. Yep I can do this. At least that's what I keep telling myself!

Trishyla

I'm surprised they're giving you a choice. Option 1 is the standard for triple negative, even early stage. It's what I had, and what other women I know had as well.

The regimen is tough, but doable. You will lose your hair, but hair grows back. You may have nausea, fatigue, mouth issues. Make sure you tell your chemo nurses when you have a problem. They have meds to help with just about anything.

It's daunting to think about doing the heavy duty chemo. But I think, at least for me, it was totally worth it. You'll be amazed at just how quickly the time goes by. Before you know it, you'll be done, and getting ready for surgery.

Be kind to yourself, accept any help that's offered and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Best wishes.

Trish

rdeesides

I was given a choice betweeen your #1 and #2 above. I had a similar diagnosis. I chose #1, followed by Mastectomy, then radiation, then 6 rounds of Xeloda (more chemo). I did not want to mess around with "what ifs".

My doctor says I may be overtreated, but the key word to me is "may". It doesn't seem to me like anyone knows what is definitively going to work, so I would rather just give it all I got.

Good luck,

Rebekah

JennieKeaton

I'm stage 1, triple negative, clear nodes. My oncologist was going to do #1 when he suspected my nodes were involved. He now is going to do #2. He told me that he wants to hold the big guns (#1) in case we need it later. There is only so much adriamycin that the heart can have, and he doesn't want to tax it unnecessarily.

In terms of "rogue" cells, he told me there may be one or two that broke free and got out, and that we wouldn't know it until that one or two was close to one million (the size to see). So, chemo, here I come!

Faithmatters1

I'm stage 2 as well triple negative. I was diagnosed back in April. I am also BRCA1 positive.I really wasn't given a choice my MO recommended I be entered into a clinical trial. I was given #1 along with immunotherapy every 3 weeks for 6 months. My tumor was completely gone by week 12. They could not find it on US or MRI. Yay!! Ask if this is an option for you. I had complete response and minimal side effects. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, rest, and listen to your body. Ice hands and feet to prevent neuropathy along with taking vitamin B6. Look at the other forums for combating chemo side effects. I am now recovering from a nipple sparing bilateral mastectomy with DIEP. I'm 2 weeks out and just feeling like I am turning the corner. Do your research and do whats right for you. I am very pleased with the surgery, but the recovery is a BEAR. Be kind to yourself!! My prayers are with you!!

HopeBry

I am TN, stage II, grade 3 with no nodes involved. Doctor suggest chemo before surgery. I will be getting option1 which was the only thing offered to me. No radiation was discussed. I would get Taxol in the 12 weeks. I read Taxotere causes permanent hair loss so I wouldnt do that one if I were you.

Question, If your nodes are negative after biopsy the doctors dont perform sentinal dissection during surgery anyway do they? or depends on situation? I've seen the risk involved with lymph node removals and I want no part of it if my biopsy was negative. any thoughts?

Flynn

I was stage 2 but had a large, fast growing tumor so pretty much everything has been thrown at me. (I had a clear mammogram 6 months earlier) The only thing that I really wanted to throw out is that when I started 02/2017 there was some research looking into Taxol before AC. There were some studies that showed a benefit from changing the sequence. You might want to ask about your situation, if you go with those drugs.

Hope, my nodes appeared clear all along but my BS always planned to remove sentinel node. My MIL suffers from painful lymphedema so we discussed it several times during treatment. I did end up going with sentinel node dissection b/c my bs made a compellingargument.

HopeBry

Faithmatters- did you ice during Ac or Taxol or both? Also can you take B6 with a multivit orbis that too much?

Anonymous

I've had a lumpectomy, am finished radiation and am on Anastrozole. Thankfully, doing okay.

But I'm heartbroken. My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer about three months after me. She had a lumpectomy about a week and a half ago. After the pathology report, they told her she needs more surgery.

Her cancer is triple-negative; Invasive ductal breast cancer - grade 3; Margins: Positive; Nodes: Negative; Tubule formation: Little

I believe they are going to recommend radiation as well as chemo. I live 3000 miles away from my sister and it's not easy for me to travel by plane. I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions about the best time to visit and help her. I'm assuming it's when she has chemo.

Thanking you in advance!

Parrynd1

I would say the best time to visit would be towards the end of chemo when the SE’s are at their worst and the body is the most tired. Then she will also know how she reacts after chemo. Some people the first few days are hardest while others it’s 5-7 days out. It might also be nice, if you can, to be there for the first once since it’s her first time going through the whole process. sorry you both are going through this, but on the plus side you both can relate to each other and be a strong support

Anonymous

Parrynd1, you wrote that best time to visit my sister would be towards the end of chemo when the SE's are at their worst and the body is the most tired.

Do the side effects last a long time after chemo ends?

SierraPineapple

After treatment is done a lot of the side effects go away. There are some that can last for a long time or permanently. Some women become menopausal, develop neuropathy (ranging from slight numbness and pain to sever...could go away, get not as bad, or be permanent), chemo brain (this usually goes away after treatment although I feel more forgetful and not as sharp as I used to be and being only 30 I don’t think it’s the normal aging process).

I felt better every day once chemo was done. It just takes time. Like land healing after a war...that’s how I thought of my body anyways.

santabarbarian

Funnily enough I am TNBC and my doc recommended one not on your list.... Taxotere & Carboplatin, x 6, every 21 days.

Parrynd1

I’ve also had that combo

Dleon24

I just got diagnosed with triple negative a month ago . Catscan clean , Mri Clean , tumor was contained . They did lumpectomy first . 1.4 cm tumor , margins clear. 1 sentinel node was positive but no extra nodal extension . They just did the ck 25-29 blood work and It's showing no cancer antingens I'm at 16. They still said aggressive chemo is still mandatory . I'm scared . I'm also scared about what I read about TN. Can someone tell me this is not hopeless ? That this doesn't always reoccur? I'm 48 and I'm trying to be positive but keep crying .

VL22

Dleon24 - I’m sorry you feel so bad. This is a hard diagnosis, but you’ll get through this.

First, many cancer centers don’t use thecancer markers because they find it unreliable.

Chemo is highly recommended in your case. I did AC and T. No, it isn’t a great time, but if I didn’t do it I think I’d really spend all of my time worrying. This TN is no joke - throw all you can at it.

For your own mental health, try not to google TN. We are all guilty, but the internet is not your friend. Your prognosis is very good! Remember, TN has a “poorer “ prognosis - this does not mean an overall poor one!

I am 22 months out from diagnosis. Yes, I still think about it every day, but I live a happy life. I remember that crushing fear and sadness you are now experiencing, especially with children. My advice is to love them hard and remember you are strong. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Cry and rage as necessary. You don’t deserve this. Life goes on and you’ll be happy again

You will get through this and we are here to help!

mb1024

I was diagnosed with triple negative stage 2B almost 7 years ago. I was given #1, except I had 4 dose dense taxol - 1 every two weeks. I had a lumpectomy first, and ended treatment with about 6 weeks of radiation.

VLH

Dleon24, I'm sorry to read of your scary diagnosis, but it is definitely NOT hopeless! VL22 has an excellent point when it comes to the term, "poor" prognosis; that is, poor is mostly referring to a comparison to early stage estrogen positive cancers that have an extremely high survival rate. Surprisingly, there is a little good news about being triple negative. We don't have to endure 5 to 10 years of hormone altering drugs that often produce body aches and other side effects. A huge study some years ago show that while our cancer is more dangerous in the short term, we rarely have a recurrence after 8 years. I think it may be under the "You CAN Survive Triple Negative" topic that many ladies, like mb1024, check in noting that they are many years past diagnosis and treatment with no recurrence.

Lyn