Taxotere/Cytoxan -- 4 vs 6 treatments?

Hi C-Babe - I had the same question because my onco signed me up for 6 treatments, and it seems like most people get 4.  I asked him the other day, what's up with that?  And I'm not sure he convinced me of the reason, but this is my second bout with bc (I had it on the other side 13 years ago) and some of my factors were a bit high, so he said he wanted to be more aggressive.  He also said he could not tell me conclusively that I would get any more benefit out of the 2 extra treatments.  But they have a tumor board here where they discuss these things with the whole team of doctors, so I'm pretty confident that he did not just pull the number out of a hat.

I know that doesn't necessarily answer your question, it's just my experience.  It would be interesting to hear if anyone else has heard anything different.

CHJ 

C-Babe,

I had 4 txs of Taxotere & Cytoxan, and I think what Lynn said is correct.  My bc was .8cm, and I think that anyone with 1 cm or larger may be getting 6 txs, just to give you the extra protection.  I see your grade was 3, so these are more agressive tumors.

Remember, since your bc was also ER+, you will most likely be getting some type of hormone therapy as well. 

I would recommend getting a port put in for the chemo, though.  I didn't get one, and on my #3rd tx, the nurse told me that if I had to get 6, I wouldn't be able to do it without a port.  My veins just got VERY used up... I think they used EVERY vein on and around my wrist and hand!  The last tx...#4, was very hard to get the IV in... 

I just want to tell you that TC is very DOABLE...  Not that I would want to do chemo again, mind you.  But it really is doable...

Please post as often as you like, and someone here who has already been through TC will probably have some advice to give you... everyone here is great!!  I feel that since others have helped me, it is time for me to pass along anything that I have learned to others.

One piece of advice:  If you get Neulasta shots the day after your tx, make sure you take a Claritin each day after your tx, for 3 days.  This will help with any se's you may experience.   I didn't have much se's from the Neulasta shot.  Not all oncs tell their patients this. 

Good Luck!  We are here for you.  You are strong...You can do it!!

Hugs,

Harley

C-Babe,

Yes, the port will help you so much!  The worst part for me was having the IV put in, and getting the bloodwork... the nurse kept trying to take blood from the same vein and when she did, she went into the scar tissue from that spot...Did it ever hurt!  The last tx, she had to take blood from my foot!  That is not fun!

Well, I am not sure what the rationale is for the Claritin, I just know that it worked for me.  I also took Motrin for any other pains that I had.  I feel that I can help with this small thing since I had no Neulasta shot after my 1st tx.  A week or 10 days later, I went for bloodwork, and my white blood count was VERY LOW!  They gave me antibiotics to prevent an infection, and then started me on Neupogen shots.  I had to get ONE neupogen shot every day for FOUR days!  Those shots were horrible!  Not that they hurt too much... I got them in my stomach, and there wasn't much pain, I think because the shot went into fatty tissue, not muscle...but, for DAYS after these shots, I had such terrible low back pain, it was just awful!  I even took Motrin, and still had terrible pain.  So that is why I try to tell everyone about the Claritin, because it worked for me.  I was told to take regular Claritin, and not Claritin D... 

I found that Neupogen shots caused so much pain and the Neulasta shots didn't... I guess the one difference was that I took the Claritin.

It REALLY IS DOABLE!!  My Oncotype score was 28, BTW.  I had a very hard time deciding to get chemo, but I am glad that I did.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined it would be...  and I am the biggest chicken!! 

Post here as often as you like, because there is almost always someone here who can give you advice or support.  I had so much help through the tx, I am glad I found this group.  We will all help you get through it!  When do you get your port put in?  What day do you start?  Good Luck, girl, and remember, I'll be thinking about you!  YOU CAN DO IT!!

Hugs

Harley

C-Babe, I hope you are as happy with your port as I am.  The last time I went through this, they totally fried my veins.  The port is my Easy Button!  Make sure you get the numbing cream.  I'm so afraid I'll forget it, I write myself reminders all over the place.

You'll do fine!  Keep positive, make sure you drink lots and lots of fluids before, during, and after treatment, even if you don't feel like it.

CHJ 

CHJ and C-Babe,

I too had a port for my 6 TC treatments.  I was so adamant about the numbing cream for my first 3 treatments.  Then I forgot to put on the cream (should do it 1 hour before tx) for my 4th and freaked out.  The nurse says 'oh, no problem'..talks to me to distract me and voila, the needle was in and I hardly felt a thing.  It wasn't bad at all. I didn't even bother putting on the numbing cream for my final 2 treatments.

Best of luck!

Karenm50 - I wondered about that myself so for a while randomly compared number of tx's to diagnosis info in people's signature line.  Highly unscientific study.  I concluded there's a matrix of stage and grade and size that informs tx recommendations, and saw why my onc said 6 for me. 

I've also completed 3 (taxotere & cytoxan) so here's a gentle {hug} my sister! 

My wife, age 49, was diagnosed with a breast cancer recurrence in March 2010.  Details of both this case and her 2003 case are online at: http://ann.lucchesi.org/bc/news/2010/403.shtml

Her chemotherapy is cytoxan and taxotere (CT).  Apparently, the standard regime is 4 rounds but her medical oncologist is willing to go 6 rounds if she prefers.

Can anyone give me a clue on how to decide between 4 vs. 6 rounds of CT?  Her oncologist says there are no trials that have tested this exactly.  But, apparently, there are other trials that have tested similar chemotherapies for different numbers of rounds.  Can you give me any citations or suggestions on how to find information relevant to deciding between 4 and 6 rounds?

Thank you.

  - nello