Dense Dosing Chemo?!

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Sherri_V
Sherri_V Member Posts: 159
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

I'm getting dense dosing (every 2 weeks).  What's the point of that vs. the regular 3 week schedule?

Thanks ~ Sherri

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  • nene2059
    nene2059 Member Posts: 270
    edited November 2009

    Hi Sherri I had dose dense chemo as well.  If you are relatively healthy except for the BC it is a great way to get your chemo because it gives the cancer cells less time to rebound before they are bombed again.  Chemo works on all of your fast growing cells and the point of the rest in between is to give the ones that you need a chance to rebound.  Unfortunately this also gives the cancer cells a chance to regrow or mutate to become resistant to the chemo.  Dosing closer together attempts to control that.  The docs will give you shots and other meds to help give the good cells a boost to regrow while you blast away at the cancer cells. As long as your counts stay within the normal range and you can stay on schedule it also gets the chemo over quicker.  Keep in mind that you are not getting more of the chemo meds just getting them closer together.  I had a great response to chemo this way and we had similar staging except yours is a grade 1 cancer and mine was a grade 2.  Take care of yourself and get lots of rest and water during treatment.  You will be sooooo happy after the last infusion.  Best of luck.

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  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited November 2009

    Our dx is similiar - except I had a 4 CM tumor, Grade 1 but was Stage IIA like you.

    I did chemo prior to surgery dense dose of Adriamycin/Cytoxin followed by dose dense of Taxol.  Very strong chemo regiment - kicked my butt but also my tumor shrank down to NOTHING and I do mean nothing, you couldn't even feel it 4 weeks after my last chemo treatment so I had to get a guided wire thing done the day of surgery so my surgeon would know what area to remove from my breast.

    At first I was horrified that I would have to do chemo for 4 months but I counted down the treatments and that seemed to help it go faster.

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  • Sherri_V
    Sherri_V Member Posts: 159
    edited November 2009

    AWESOME to hear!  But, since the tumor was gone, what kind of surgery did you end up having?!  My surgeon and my oncologist are both VERY optomistic about my 3cm x 5 cm tumor disappearing with the chemo.  I am getting the little metal chip inserted soon....I should find out when sometime this week.  I'm hoping that lumpectomy will do it (especially since my tumor is colloid) but I want to remain realistic :)

    Thanks for posting!

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  • Sunflower64
    Sunflower64 Member Posts: 166
    edited November 2009

    hi sherri,

    i also got dose dense adriamycin 4 cycles, but did taxotere every 3 weeks.  we also have a close diagnosis.  i'm hear for your when ever you need to chat.  i finished my chemo oct 22nd. just finished my re-excision and hoping to get clear margins.  started radiation in a few weeks.

    hand in there.

    diane

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