Anyone heard of this? Taxol plus other drugs?

Options
Pure
Pure Member Posts: 1,796
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I currently get 12 weeks of taxol and every 3 weeks I am doing Zometa.

I heard of others getting additional drugs with the Taxol such as a C drug and Xeloda.

Anyone heard of or get this?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • everyminute
    everyminute Member Posts: 1,805
    edited February 2010

    Usually people either get TAC (taxol adrimaycin cytoxin all together) every 3 weeks

    OR

    AC (Adryimycin and Cytoxin together) every 2 weeks followed by Taxol every 2 weeks or reduced dose weekly.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited February 2010

    Hi Pure

    Those of us with lymph node involvement usually get some version of AC + T.  Right now, they are trying to ascertain whether weekly vs bi-weekly is the better way to go.  Both have been proven to be more effective than dose dense once every 3 weeks.  That is the intent of the study I am participating in (SWOG 0221).  I am in the once every two weeks group for both, and getting dose dense vs the weekly crowd who are getting a less than half of the dose I am getting.

    They are also trying to find out which protocol is easier to tolerate.  So weekly Taxol is one of the options I would expect you to be getting.  Bisphosphonate therapy is also being tested as suspected to prevent bone mets in early stage BC.

    I am still on the fence on whether to do that one as I would have the option immediately following chemo.  I would in your case, though.

    Hope this helps. - Claire

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2010

    I think T is usually given alone, unless you are getting TAC.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited February 2010

    For Her2+ ladies.....Taxol and Herceptin are given together.

    My case - AC x4 , TH x4.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pupfoster1
    pupfoster1 Member Posts: 1,484
    edited February 2010

    Hi again Pure,

    I'm supposed to start Taxol on Monday.  That is if I can get there.  We got about 30 inches of snow yesterday and our street has not been plowed yet.  Anywhoo, I am getting the dose dense version too, but they haven't mentioned any other med yet, not even the Zometa.  What is that one for????

    Sharon

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2010

    Sharon - Zometa is a Bone building Drug, that is in trials at the moment to see if it helps prevents mets. There has been some very encouraging preliminary evidence that it could reduce the chance of recurrence by up to 30%. Although it is not standard of care yet, a lot of us have "encouraged" our Oncs to give it to us! Some people are also getting it as part of the Trial.

    There is a thread on it if you want more info. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited February 2010

    Carboplatin is sometimes given with Taxol.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited February 2010

    Thanks Elizabeth-thats the drug I was wondering about. Why do some people get it and some don't?

    Sharon-you need to ask your doc about Zometa and read the studies. I would insist on getting it!!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited February 2010

    When I was on Taxol I was getting impatient for results so my onc added it to "tweak" the effects of Taxol.  I know it's not a scientific explanation, but it did work.  Maybe she just added it to make me feel better, I don't know. But I assume it helped and didn't make my SEs any worse than they were already.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2010

    Actually, a lot of people are getting TC now I think instead of TAC. I think there is new evidence that if you are HER2+, you don't get any added benefit from the A, but risk heart damage.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited February 2010

    The C in TAC is Cyclophosphamide (a.k.a. Cytoxan), not Carbo -- just in case there's a mix up on all the chemo's that begin with "C".  It is usual to get Cytoxan, not Carbo though with taxol.

    Edit: Correct a big spelling mistake on the "C" chemo. Duh!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pure
    Pure Member Posts: 1,796
    edited February 2010

    I had 5fu, andormicyn, and  some c drug.  Now I am having Taxol and Zometa.  I am wondering if I missed out on other chemo drugs as I heard of people taking cyclosporine and xeloda.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KerryMac
    KerryMac Member Posts: 3,529
    edited February 2010

    I had a C drug too with my FEC. I don't think it is standard to get a different C drug with the T, but i could be wrong.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited February 2010

    Pure -- I did a major spelling error with "C" drug -- I meant to write Cyclophosphamide (a.k.a. Cytoxan), not cyclosporine.  Sorry about that!!! 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kodapants
    Kodapants Member Posts: 139
    edited February 2010

    I had AC+T,  However, had little effect on cancer,  and even had progression.  Then I had Xeloda, Navibine and Methotrexate through a clinical trial out of Seattle.  If I was already doing chemo,  try as much and any combination, I live in a small rural area and have limited expertise.  Stage 3, grade 3 is very aggressive.  I think the antihormone will probably do the best at keeping cancer at bay.

    Best wishes,

    Kodapants

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • YATCOMW
    YATCOMW Member Posts: 664
    edited February 2010

    Your C drug was the cyclophosphamide aka Cytoxan....

    Carboplatin or Cisplatin is highly effective on Her2+ gals.....

    Jacqueline 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • geewhiz
    geewhiz Member Posts: 1,439
    edited February 2010

    I am Her2+, with 8 positive nodes. The studies my onc showed me compared ACT-H and TCH regimens with no statistical difference. So I am getting dose dense Taxotere, carboplatin and Herceptin every 3 weeks since it seems there was no cause to subject myself to the damages of adriamycin. I also will always have the adriamycin as another line of defense IF I ever have recurrence. The first treatment would not have given me that option.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories