What type of chemo?

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LizM
LizM Member Posts: 963

I am a five year survivor of hormone positive node positive breat cancer and am supporting a close friend who was just diagnosed with triple negative bc.  She just got back her path and her tumor was 1.8 cm with negative nodes, grade 3 and triple negative.  She has her appt set up with medical oncologist to begin chemo.  I had DD AC followed by DD Taxol 5 years ago and I believe 5 years ago she would have had the same type chemo since she is triple negative.  However, I know there have been changes in chemo treatments.  Do you think she will have the above treatment or the new treatment of just TC X 4 since her nodes were negative?

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  • sukie10
    sukie10 Member Posts: 96
    edited March 2011

    I have TN grade 3 no nodes and I am getting ACx4 Tx4 single dose every three weeks. My tumour was 3cm when diagnosed but 7 cm 5 weeks later when I started treatment so I don't know if that changed anything. 

    Hugs to your friend. She'll be lucky to have you. 

  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited March 2011

    Let me begin by congratulating you on 5 years, how wonderful that is and may it continue for at least another 90 years!  I am so sorry to hear about your friend's recent diagnose.  I am two years out from my diagnose, very similar to your friend's with the exception of my tumor was 1.2 cms.  I too had 4 A/C and 4 DD Taxol ( had to switch to taxotere after first taxol due to instant neuropathy) and my oncologist, who is also very proficient in treating many triple negs, is still doing that same chemo.  At the time of my first visit with her she gave me three choices as the best for triple neg - with the statement that the most agressive is the best way to go as this is your only chance at fully fighting this beast. 

    TAC was her most agressive choice,

    A/C & T was her second most agressive choice; and

    T&C was her third choice.

    I chose the middle of the road and went with A/C& T which she felt was a very wise choice.  I was 62 at diagnose, widowed, raising my teenage grand-daughter and worked full time, and she felt the TAC might have put me on my butt a bit longer than the A/C.  While some docs are adding a few of the platinum drugs, etc., I think you will find that most oncs are still giving the above schedule.  I was HER neg with no nodes and that did not influence her choice of the above three protocols at all.  There is an abstract recently posted in which some oncs are now giving the Taxol/Taxotere PRIOR to the A/C and that this is supposed to be a better approach - according to their findings.  However, when I discussed that with my onc at my last "3 month" just weeks ago, she stated that she is aware of that research testing, but does not feel it is substantial enough for her to change the way in which she gives the chemo. 

    No real conclusive help for you here, I realize, but I hope it helps a bit.  I wish you continued cancer free decades and an uneventful and successful journey for your friend.  Please have her join us on the Calling all TN's thread.  We have newcomers all the time and would love to welcome her aboard and hold her hand along the way.  

    Linda

  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited March 2011

    I would think they'd lean to AC-T given the size of tumour and trip negative pathology, so long as she can tolerate the A.  AC is often given in a dose-dense regime now - every two weeks instead of 3, which has been shown to be more effective. And the T is also given dd or every week X 12. 

  • tracie23
    tracie23 Member Posts: 598
    edited March 2011

    I had negative nodes and I had 4 AC 4 Taxotere...every 3 weeks

  • APRILNJ
    APRILNJ Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2011

    I am to start Dose Dense A/C Taxol This week...(8) Treatments Total, startin with A/C (4) every other week then on to Taxol (4) every other week.....Anyone else do the same treatment wondering how you faired..and looking for some long term TN survivors..

    Although I am Stage 1 - this is still very scary...would love some inspiration from my fellow TN, Thank you

    I did bi-lat masc on 2/21 w/ sentinal node biospy 5 nodes all clear...Tumor was 1.5 cm-Grade 2..Nottingham score 6 - Triple Neg..Doc mentioned, Most TN are Grade 3? mine is not....

  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited March 2011

    April -

    I did the same chemo as you and 33 rads to finish it all off.  I too am always on the lookout for long term TN survivors as well and still remain almost as frightened by this ugly beast we all were "gifted" with.  I hate this disease and the fact it just doesn't follow any rules - it does whatever the heck it wants.  I wish you a very successful journey.  As nasty as our disease can be - there are many survivors.

  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited March 2011

    My chemo was almost 6 years ago, but my onc followed MD Anderson's protocol. I have a copy of their current protocol and it has not changed. They list 12 weekly Taxol followed by FAC x 4 - and also list other chemo regimens in place of FAC such as FEC or AC. I had my chemo neoadjuvantly and had the 12 weekly Taxol followed by 4 dose dense AC. Their algorithm is simply a guideline though - with the patient's MD to determine the actual care. 

    Good luck to your friend... she is lucky to have you to help her out!

  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited March 2011

    Oh, yeah, I also had rads - 25 treatments plus 5 boost treatments... but I was node positive.

  • mamaof3bugs
    mamaof3bugs Member Posts: 198
    edited March 2011

    I finished my chemo in Aug for a 3cm TN tumor, node negative.  I had 4 DD AC, 12 weekly Taxol and 36 rounds of rads.  Her treatment will most likely be similar but each case is different.  One of my friends mom's was going through treatment for TN BC at the same time I was, I was 37, she was 68...I had the aggressive ACT and she had FEC which is not as aggressive due to her age and health status.  Good luck to your friend and congratulations to you on your five year's cancer free!! xoxo, Angi

  • LizM
    LizM Member Posts: 963
    edited March 2011

    Thank you all for your replies.  Just got off the phone with my friend.  She had her meeting with oncologist yesterday.  He recommended DD AC X 4 followed by 12 weekly Taxol, which sounds like a good regimen based on reading the above replies.  She is being treated at Johns Hopkins.  She also said her her2 test came back at 1.8, which is negative but on the high side.  her oncologist is not recommending herceptin. 

  • Sandy447
    Sandy447 Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2011

    I am newly diagnosed.  Due to start chemo tomorrow.  The current plan is for TC times 6 rounds 3 weeks apart.  Not sure if I'm a true TN, conflicting information.  I'm estrogen weakly positive 5.1% per oncodx, my oncodx score was the highest I've seen 62.  What do my sisters think?

  • epgnyc
    epgnyc Member Posts: 101
    edited May 2011

    I think the current chemo reginment for that sized TN tumor with 0 nodes is most commonly AC + T (4x for each) given once every 3 weeks.  If the tumor is larger or there are other complicating factors, they'll do dose dense.  That's what I just started on 2 weeks ago.

  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited May 2011

    My tumor was 1.8 cm..zero nodes...I got dose dense ac/taxol...

    Chemo for  Tn doesn't seem to be standard...does it...from a purely freaking out point of view I say the more agressive chemo the better...

  • Fighter_34
    Fighter_34 Member Posts: 834
    edited May 2011

    6 cycles of TC, besides hair loss I worked the entire time and felt generally okay....

  • christina1961
    christina1961 Member Posts: 736
    edited May 2011

    I am in the process of doing neoadjuvant chemo. MRI and ultrasound showed no positive nodes, but clinical exam "felt" one node 1 cm that was enlarged and hard (following biopsy) and pre treatment. Node has shrunk down to normal now. So I don't really know my node status - but I am having TAC x 6 every 3 weeks. Another oncologist I saw was going to do TC x 6.

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