Any dose-dense grads?

Hey MOTC,

I had dose-dense tx in 05. I had herceptin thrown into the mix the last three taxol txs. I get achey every so often, but don't know if that is from the chemo or herceptin. Could be cause I am 40 now! I do worry about heart damage from the a/c herceptin combo. I get a little out of breath now and then, but overall feel okay.  I am happy to read that your stomach issues have gotten better and you continue to do well. Good news!!

Lexi

I also had DD AC followed by DD Taxol from October of 2005 through February of 2006. I'm feeling great. No s/e's - other than chemo brain...my memory is horrible. My life is one big post it note!

I didn't know they're not doing this anymore, why aren't they? What are they doing instead?

I just finished dose-dense ACT plus Avastin in December. No major side effects during or since. I thought dose-dense was now standard of care, proven to be more effective. Am I missing something?

MOTC

Interesting thread, I'm also a '05 DD AC/Taxol grad. I do have some lingering neuropathy, and apparently a heart murmur now (but the no problem kind of heart murmur, don't even need to take antibiotics for the dentist), but besides the occ aches in my shins, I'm pretty darn good to go.

My onc told me that they THOUGHT DD was more effective, so switched to that as their standard of care, but later found that it wasn't any more or less effective than standard TAC - basically a wash. That conversation was at least a year ago though...

And yes, a big woo hoo to all!

Edited to add DD AC/T was (and I believe still is) the standard of care at Dana Farber in Boston.

Actually when I read a similar article on the same study it indicated the AC/T was every 3 weeks not dose dense and it still was as effective as TAC so I am thinking that dose dense might end up with even better results.  I know they prefer dose dense at Johns Hopkins and Sloan Memorial and Kettering.

I had DD in '06.  Was told it was the standard of care.  I have no lasting side effects that I can blame on DD.  I mean...Tamoxifan, no estrogen, DD chemo...I have alot I can blame for any ache and pain.

Bugs

I also had DD A/C and Taxol in 2006. No physical side effects (knock on wood), but like Laura, I do have some memory problems.

In 2006 I had 4 DD A/C followed by 4 DD Taxol.  Memory loss is my biggest complaint as a direct result of the chemo.  The neuropathy in my toes from the Taxol is a lot better, but I still cannot wear socks.  Had an appointment with my onc on Monday and my blood pressure is way too high.  He and I are both guessing that is from the extra weight I'm still carrying since chemo.  Arimidex has made losing it very difficult.  But still dancing with NED, and hopefully the dance will continue.

I had 4 DD A/C times 4, every 2 weeks.  Then 2 weeks off and 12 Taxol and Herceptin, every week.  June thru Oct 2008.   The tumor kept shrinking until it could no longer be felt before I finished the T & H.   Mri, CT, mammo, and ultrasound pre surgery (abt 3 weeks after chemo was done) showed NOTHING.   Surgery in Dec 2008 was a lump, with clear margins and NO evidence of carcinoma.  Also, NO lymph involvement.   

My onco calls me her star patient with the best results of any of her patients.  I just turned 63, so was 62 at the time of chemo tx.    SE:  some stomach upset - controlled with neulasta and OTC meds, no taste, hair fell out, tired, fatigued, achy bones, toe nails lifted and starting to grow back more normal now.  Finger nails were half dead, sensitive to the touch, but also growing more normal now.  Since beginning Herceptin only, the nose runs like a faucet sometimes.

The worst is neuropathy in my left (dominant) ring and little fingers.  But I have had extensive reconstructive surgeries on this wrist/hand going back almost 30 years to the point I have 30% of normal useage of this hand and very poor fine motor control.  

To summarize,  DD worked for me.  Zapped my tumor and I had clear margins and NEC.  I am HER2+++, and way past menopause, which could skew the results somewhat.    

I had DD AC, then DD Taxol, four rounds each.  I dont seem to have any side effects left.  I do have some stiffness, but I had that before chemo, from lupus and firbromyalgia, so I never know if it's from the chemo, or not.  Mine ran from June 2007 to September 2007, and I'll be two years with NED as of April.

March through June 2006. Chemo brain, chemo brain, chemo brain. I don't know, I just say, "4 head injuries, chemo and menopause. You expect me to remember anything????" Although I did start and stop a PhD program, in part because I just don't think or organize in the way I used to. Lots of other reasons so it's not really so bad.

My worst is that I gained back the weight I lost during chemo and it's much fattier than it used to be. I work out 4-6 days a week but this menopause version of weight just isn't the same. It's hard, I got used to being really thin (I actually shouldn't complain because I'm really of good weight) even tho I know it was because I was so sick....

I didn't experience any of the big Taxol side effects like bone pain or neuropathy so that's not something I'm recovering from.

Anything else I blame on tamoxifen - joint pain, constipation. I'll be switching to an AI if my onc ever gets it together (I better send her another letter). That'll be interesting.

The emotional? That's still working it's way out as life goes on. 

DD was standard of care when I was treated. Anything newer/better wasn't there at the time and I'm fine about that. I figure we got to reap the rewards that occurred in the 3 years after the 2003 people and it'll always get better. Thank the goddess. I just met a researcher in the turning on and off of genes for BC last night. It's all changing....

Asked my Onc...he is not totally convinced about TAC... feels the research isn't comprehensive enough...yet...so, he lets the patient choose. He said only one girl (there was a total of 18) in the last year went with TAC (as opposed to DD).

I,too, had D.D. A/C+ T in Early '05...I will be 4 yrs out on Sunday..and still NED. I tolerated it well and I was 55 at dx...I was in the clinical trial. Had rads. Currently on Aromasin w/o problems ...prior meds Tamoxifen and Arimidex.

I did DD AC and taxol in 2006.  I do have neuropathy from the taxol in both my hands and feet.  It doesn't make a big difference to my life, but like gsg I have trouble with socks.  The snow is a foot deep around here so I have to wear them, but I'm constantly searching for ones that are thin, warm and seamless.  I now have a sock fetish.

mke, I think Walmart has socks for diabetics, less elastic and non binding.  not very pretty, but very comfy.   Most other socks have lumpy toes and seams, which bother me.  P.S. I am NOT diabetic...