Anyone doing neoadj TCH then AC

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sapphireB
sapphireB Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Hi,

I've a Q. Just started chemo. was told will do TCH, then surgery, then finish with 1 yr Herceptin.

Hv another opinion from another oncologist to do TCH, surgery, then AC, then Herc for 1yr. Anyone gone through this regimen?

Thanks

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  • cmharris59
    cmharris59 Member Posts: 496
    edited August 2009

    HI Sapphire,

    I have not had that regimen. I had neoadjuvant AC, surgery, then Taxol and Herceptin.  I am so sorry that you have had to join our sisterhood. Good luck to you and I am sure that someone will be along that has had this regimen.  Please keep us posted how you are doing adn come to vent if necessary anytime.

    C

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  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited August 2009

    Its unusual to have neoadjuvant chemo for such a small tumor.  Did either of your oncs tell you why they suggested the regimens they recommended?

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited August 2009

    You sure its 1cm?...they will do neo adjuvant because of tumor size OR the breast is very small so they want to be able to get clear margins.

    Ive seen other woman on another board doing things this way as well.....is it a trial?

    I did neo but I did the whole bit first, ACx4 & Tx4..then surgery.

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  • sapphireB
    sapphireB Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2009

    few reasons for neo (according to onc) 

    - we're waiting for brca genetic results, so he doesn't want to not do anything for next 4 weeks

    -  based on recent tests, neo w/ Herceptin has had real good results (apparently 50% cases had complete recovery before surgery)

    - it doesn't really when you start your chemo (ie before, after or split between surgery)

    So that's what were doing...

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited August 2009

    The heart risk of Adriamycin isn't justified when the tumor is so small so I don't think your should do AC as part of your treatment. The heart risk of Adriamycin is even greater when one will also have Herceptin. TCH has lower risks.

    Did you have a sentinal node biopsy before chemo? One problem with doing neoadjuvant is that you will not know your stage so it is more difficult to decide how aggressive your treatment needs to be. For example, if you don't have an SNB before chemo, when they do operate after chemo, you won't know whether your nodes were clear or had cancer that was eliminated by the chemo. You also will never know the size of your tumor, but the upside of that is you will know how effective the chemo was which is reassuring.

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  • sapphireB
    sapphireB Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2009

    Thanks.

    One more point s that we already know that the lymph node(s) is affected (size is ~4cm in MRI). The size of tumor in breast is 1cm.

    The neo treatment isn't an official trial (as far as I know) but from result from several studies ....

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited August 2009

    I think your onc is bang on with the neo adjuvant chemo, especially with a lymph node being 4cm. You will see your chemo working and that in itself is a motivation to keep strong and beat this thing. Any questions just ask!

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited August 2009

    If your lymph node is that large, neoadjuvant does sound like a good idea.

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  • Annaanne
    Annaanne Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2009
    Hi Sapphire:
    I had a/c then taxotere/herceptin, all neo adjuvent.  Then surgery, rads and 9 more months of herceptin.  I did not have a good chemo response (lots of tumor left at the time of surgery, stage 3a) but still have done really well.   I'm 4 1/2 years out and totally healthy.   Being triple positive, you have lots of treatments available.  Just one has to work to keep you NED.  
    Good luck.  I was also told that the results neo adjuvant or not were equal.  It might be good for them to moniter the node while they treat you and see which drugs work best (I responded to a/c but not taxotere -- everyone is different.)  
    Annaanne 
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