worried

tibet · October 2008

I had mastectomy 3 weeks ago and till today no chemo yet. I am afraid the doctors will keep me waiting another one or two weeks before getting me the chemo, as they need to organize the medicine, capacity. I don't even have an apppointment for putting the port in yet. I am so afraid if delaying in getting chemo more than 3 weeks after the operation will make chemo less effective?

Pls help. What is the best time to get chemo after operation?

FloridaLady · October 2008

newalex,

First question is why didn't they put your port in during your surgery? They normal do it all at one time unless there was a big doubt you would ever need chemo. Usually chemo does not start from three to six weeks after surgery. It depends on what chemos they are giving you. Many chemos will keep you from healing or cause bleeding so they want you to heal a little before starting.

Hang in there...Call and ask your surgeon about the port. They should be the one who will do the procedure. Have you saw your oncologist yet?

flalady

tibet · October 2008

I will get the port but they said I can get the chemo at first without the port then insert the port.

They want to give me TAC 6 times every 3 weeks. Is it good chemo comparing to ACT every 3 week for AC then every week for T for 12 weeks?

VickiG · October 2008

I had my first tx before getting my port as well. I had surgery after chemo ~ actually, when I had my mast they removed my port because I had a lot of trouble w/ it... so when I had a recurrence I got a new port ~ no trouble w/ this one, and that's a good thing since I've used it so much already!!! I also had 6 cycles of TAC every 3 wks.

FloridaLady · October 2008

newalex,

We were all treated with TAC together four to six times up until the last two years or so they decide not to make other so toxic and do the longer treatment schedule. Doing them all at once is hard but, you do get it over with faster. You can do this we are all proof that we have something deep inside us that wants to get past this horrible time and move on with our lives. You can do get through treatments too. You are now a cancer survivor!

Flalady

tibet · October 2008

My doctor told me TAC is newer than AC - T which spans longer time. I get conflicting information. Which one is more effective to treat TN? I need to decide tomorrow and I am so worried to make a wrong decision with the treatment.

Pls help.

VickiG · October 2008

When I was dx'd last summer I was given the choice of these options; my only concern was "which is more effective?" since that's all that really matters. We were told that the efficacy was the same, so we went w/ TAC since it was 6 txs vs. 8 w/ AC/T. If I had it to do over again I would pbly go AC/T instead only because the SEs would be less ~ TAC really kicks cancer's butt, but it kicks YOUR butt, too. I believe they still say efficacy is the same ~ if you can find that one is better than the other, though, that's what my vote would be. I hope this helps.

Msklapkin · October 2008

I had my mastectomy on Oct 11 and started Chemo Nov 7.

Since you had a mastectomy, the main cancer is out- chemo is to get any remaining cells in your body, so the wait is OK. Cancer can be in your body for years before the lump is found, so again a few weeks is not terrible.

I had AC + T 3 years ago- 8 treatments- never had a port! and could only use 1 hand. My onc said let's try not to use a port- one less area for infection when your WBC is low.

I am 3 years out and NED!

Good luck to you

tibet · October 2008

Hi Msklapkin

You are 3 yrs out, congrates. How did you manage the 3 yrs? What kind of periodical tests you did to ensure there was no recurrence?

I need to hear successful survivor stories to be confident! This helps me to deal with the difficult uncertainty.

Are there really lots of TN survivors around? Or most of the survivors don't come to this board? I

KPolasek · October 2008

Okay call me whatever ..... but I have never asked and have wondered what do:

TAC -- Is This Taxotere/Cytoxan?

and

AC -- Is This Adrimycin/Cytoxan?

Just curious ....

FloridaLady · October 2008

KPolasek your right the "T" can be Taxol or Taxotere.

joannnc · October 2008

To - newalex -

I sent you a private message -

Click on my home

click on private message

tibet · October 2008

joannnc

I finally saw the private message button on your home. I will email you soon.

Frenchie · December 2008

Is Taxol AND Cytoxan used in combination as a more effective treatment of Triple Negative?

tibet · December 2008

Frenchie

I don't really know but it looks like most people get AC and then toxol weekly. I hope other sisters can add more here.

HollyHopes · December 2008

try not to worry too much. i had a PICC line rather than a port and it worked just fine up until the last chemo tx when it had come out of place - but that's just becasue my stupid boyrfriend )who is a doctor) suggested i help fold the bedsheets which pulled the line out of place. he is/was an a-hole and ended up dumping me halfway through radiation treatment...needed to rant a bit i guess...

worried

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