AC-TH regimen anyone?

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Scrabblelady
Scrabblelady Member Posts: 261
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Because of my HER+ marker, I am starting this chemo regimen in late August. I am scared of the SE of Adriamycin, but my onc says it has the best results. I know that everyone reacts differently to these drugs, but I'd love to talk with someone wh has been through this regimen.

Thanks,

Margaret 

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  • amlg1
    amlg1 Member Posts: 596
    edited August 2010

    Just finished my herceptin Tuesday.I did A/C DD every 2 weeks x4 Then TH DD every 2 weeks x4.You will be getting Muga Scans every 3 months.Honestly I have to say,chemo was so scary,but for me in actuality it was so doable.I really did't have much nausea at all,they give you so many meds to prevent it.Emend was so helpful.you will be doing herceptin for a year.I had no side effect at all with hercptin.Stay strong,and chemo is doable.

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  • sheila888
    sheila888 Member Posts: 25,634
    edited August 2010

    Hi Margaret...I was on the same chemo regimen

    With A/C I had more SE than Taxol. Like nausea and mouth sores.

    Everybody reacts differently.

    Taxol was much easier.

    Herceptin didnt give me any SE at all. I used to walk home after the treatment since the hospital is only half a mile away.

    I had 2 Muga Scans one before A/C and a second one in mid Herceptin like 6 months later. Both tests were normal. Are you getting a port? 

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited August 2010

    I would strongly suggest getting a second opinion especially since you are Stage I. TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin) has been shown to be about as effective as AC-TH in the BCIRG 006 trial. In the third interim analysis results, there was no statistical difference between the effectiveness of the two therapies (i.e. there were slightly more recurrences with TCH but that might be due to random variations). 

    The long term risks are lower with TCH - expecially the risk of heart damage.  In the AC-TH arm, there were 2% CHF vs 0.4% in the TCH arm. Sustained LVEF loss of greater than 10% occurred in 20% of the AC-TH patients vs 10% of the TCH arm. AC-TH also has a slight risk of leukhemia (0.8%),

    I don't think that the extra risks of AC-TH are worth a possible small difference in effectiveness. And this is particularly true for stage I where the risk of recurrence after either treatment should be quite low.

    Side effects during chemo were also slightly less with TCH. Neither treatment is easy - I had TCH and there were times during chemo when I felt pretty uncomfortable or tired,  But it is doable. 

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  • my2boys
    my2boys Member Posts: 339
    edited August 2010

    Dear Margaret,

    This is tough decision.  I was diagnosed as HER2+ and against my doctor's advice, I elected to do the TCH.  I found this regimen to be difficult to tolerate at times.  There was a lot of fatigue and I just didn't feel well.

    After completing my year of herceptin, the cancer came right back....local recurrence only....thank God for this. 

    Only then, did I agree with my doctor and begin the AC/TH.  The AC is MUCH easier to tolerate than the other regimen.  I exercised my way right through it and other than the day of chemo, I felt pretty good.  A little nausea, but not too bad.....really.  I am under the care of a cardiologist who does regular echocardiograms and she is confident that my heart is doing just fine.  I began taxol (weekly X12) 7 weeks ago and I have 5 more to go.  No symptoms to mention with this, it is very easy to tolerate.  I have continued with my summer vacation plans and look forward to my next vacation at the end of the summer.  A little bit of dry mouth and some heartburn are my worst complaints.  If you can get your doctor to do weekly taxol as opposed to every other week, I would say this is a good thingl.

    One more thing, my hair has started growing back on the Taxol...hooray!  Just fuzz, but glad to see it at all.

    Whenever I get a little scared, my oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering reminds me that "Her2+ cancer hates Taxol" and this makes me smile again.  If you find a doctor that you really trust, I guess the important thing to do is follow their advice. 

    One more thing, if you think you can do it, get a port.  It will save the veins in your arm from any discomfort or damage.  I used my port for the TCH and I hung onto it for a few months.  To this day, I say that holding onto that port was the best thing I ever did.  I was re-diagnosed just a few short months after completion of therapy and started chemo again....still using that same port.   

    Good luck to you.  If you want you can PM me and I will be happy to answer any questions about the side effects I experienced with the different regimens. 

    Hugs,  Anne.

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  • TriciaK
    TriciaK Member Posts: 362
    edited August 2010

    I'm five and  a half years out  and had the same regime, a/c was tough but do able, taxol soo much easier to tolerate.   I can on;ly say it's worth it to be rid of this disease, I hope it works as well for you as it did for me so far:)

    (((((hugs)))

    Tricia xx

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited August 2010

    See my post under your thread started under "chemotherapy". I agree with Blue Dasher I sought 3 opinions of top Nationally renown ONC's and they all suggested TCH as they have seen some issues with CHF. A very close friend of mine had ACTH and she is on Heart Meds for the rest of her life.

    I have read the studies and they are posted on this thread further back and I believe the difference in effectiveness was not statistically significant maybe 1-2 percent. The CHF does happen and if you keep reading you will see gals that it happened to a couple of years after treatment.

    TCH was not a picnic for me but I got through it and you can too. I was tired, weak, and in bed usually for the 2 days after chemo. It now seems like a distant memory and I pray it stays that way.

    Good Luck 

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  • BlessedOne2
    BlessedOne2 Member Posts: 106
    edited August 2010

    Hi  Margaret,  my regimen was A/C for 4 cycles followed by taxol for 12 weeksb/c my diagnosis was triple positive.  I also took Herceptin for 11 weeks. I was very, very fortunate, no blessed to only have some slight fatigue, a few aches in my legs and some neuropathy throughout ALL of my chemo.  I'm 54.  Someone was bold enought to tell me that I made having cancer look easy.     The herceptin had to be discontinued due to lowered ejection fraction but it is now almost back to where it needs to be.  Be sure to ask for anti-anxiety meds to go along with the anti-nausea meds and steroids that you may be given along with the chemo.    Hugs, Wanda

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