Taxol - Dose Dense question

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Frenchie
Frenchie Member Posts: 37
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hello everyone.

My wife is nearing the end of her AC treatment.  Then she moves onto 4 rounds of Taxol.

We all know that dose densing reduces the risk of recurrence with Triple Negative.  And so I was really happy when Andrea's Oncologist said she'd be taking the Taxol over 2 week spells - as opposed to the standard 3.

My question/concern is this...........

How come we're reading about so many Triple Negs who have their Taxol WEEKLY - not 2 WEEKLY?

Do the weekly patients take a lesser dosage, but have more than 4 rounds?

Would be so grateful for your opinions/experiences.

James

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  • carolynf
    carolynf Member Posts: 262
    edited February 2009

    James.

    I would discuss this with your wife's onc. I for one had weekly treatments and it was fine.  I would assume it is a lower dose done more frequently to keep things on an even keel.  Remember, this is about what and how your wife wants her treatments.

    Carolyn

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  • teharring
    teharring Member Posts: 46
    edited February 2009

    Hi James, 

    I finished dose dense AC & Taxol two years ago this past October.  My doctor offered me weekly Taxol, as he explained that some people can have very strong side effects at the dose dense level.  He said that the weekly Taxol tends to be more tolerable.  When I asked him if there was a difference in efficacy between dose dense or weekly, he said they were equally effective.  I'm not sure if that thought has changed over the last two years.  I believe that those that have the weekly treatments have 12 weekly treatments at a lower dose instead of 4 treatments every 2 weeks.  

    Theresa 

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  • Lesley_Ann
    Lesley_Ann Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2009

    Does that mean that those of us receiving treatments every 3 weeks do not do as well?

    That's scary, as I have been receiving TAC every 3 weeks...

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  • tibet
    tibet Member Posts: 545
    edited February 2009

    My onc told me dose dense mean the time space between the treatment is shorter. High dose mean dosage is higher. Theresa, did you have bi-weekly AC?

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  • teharring
    teharring Member Posts: 46
    edited February 2009

    Hi Alex, 

    Yes, my 4 AC treatments were also given every 2 weeks.   I think that the total amount of Taxol given probably works out to be the same whether you do it weekly or bi-weekly.  So during each weekly treatment, you might have a smaller amount of Taxol infused, but since you have 12 treatments, it works out to be the same as 4 dose-dense treatments.  "Lower dose" was probably the wrong term to use.   Same amount of chemo, just spread out differently. 

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  • teharring
    teharring Member Posts: 46
    edited February 2009

    Lesley_Ann, 

    Many of the women here also had TAC every 3 weeks.  That course of treatment is not uncommon at all, so please don't let that scare you!  

    Theresa 

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  • MicheleS
    MicheleS Member Posts: 937
    edited February 2009

    Lesley_Ann,

    I was given a choice between TAC X6 evey 3 weeks or dose dense AC X 4 + T X4.  I had 2 oncs tell me that it is a matter of preference depending on the onc.

    Michele

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