Anyone else doing TAC neoadjuvant chemotherapy

I had FEC before surgery and taxotere after. At first I found it difficult, because I just wanted the thing OUT, but as the tumor shrunk it got easier. The chemo after surgery was harder in a way, because I didn't have the encouragement of a shrinking tumor.

Hang in there, just one more. 

I had 4 DD AC then was supposed to get 4 DD taxol neoadjuvantly. Due to an allergy, I had to switch to taxotere. There were several in my March chemo group though who had the TAC all together. I am not sure if that's based on your age and other health or just the onc's preference. I was 48 and in good health other than BC. It did seem to me that the women getting TAC all together were younger than me. But that's just a general feeling, I didn't look it up or ask my onc about it. Good luck with your treatments. At least it will be over twice as quickly for you.

It is strange and sometimes unnerving that we don't all do the same thing.  I am assuming since you're getting 6 txs, you're not getting the dose dense treatments?  I had 4 txs of each, but they were dose dense, so I think the equivalent of 6 regular txs.  But I think there are women who did the TAC all together at once as dose dense txs.  I guess a lot depends on your onc and cancer center's usual practices.  I was told it's cumulative and every tx will get a little harder on you.  To tell you the truth, to me they all seemed about the same, although taxol was much easier than AC for me.  I also didn't have the neulasta with the taxol, just the AC. 

Hi there - I just finished T/C X 6, neo-adjuvant.  I think the "adriamycin" is what really kicks ya in the butt, from what I've read heard, although T/C was not a walk in the park.  I honestly feel that in the future, most women in the states will be having neoadjuvant chemotherapy.  Seems to be that if you have a large tumor, you are going to have neo too, or if your cancer is more on the aggresive side.   Its not a bad thing.  My surgeon said in Europe this is the standard protocol now for most women who need chemo.  There are quite a few threads on this forum you can find information regarding neoadjuvant so take some time and read up on it.  Don't worry.  It is tough.  I'm so sorry.  There are things that your oncologist can do for you to help ease your symptoms.  It's not easy, but you don't have to suffer.......hand in there.  Be sure to ask more questions if you have them. 

Lisa224, I did TAC x 6 every 3 weeks starting around the 1st part of July thru mid Oct. I also had a node disection surgery before chemo; 4 nodes excised and none were positive.  Rounds 1-3 were pretty easy; round 4 kicked my butt with crushing fatigue but 5 & 6 were not quite as hard. I drank coffee for the brain fog. Some side effects from the Neulasta shots but my MO let me use a long acting NSAID with the Claritin & that helped with the bone aches. White counts on the last round were ugly & I ended up w/ prophylactic antibiotics for a week and I stayed home. I was never "sick" or ran a fever. I had a  almost complete response with only .1mm left of an almost 7CM lump & cyst. lumpectomy 2nd week of Nov w/ a re-excision 1st week of december for better margins for some DCIS they found during the 1st lumpectomy. Now in the 2nd week of IMRT radiation. I was able to maintain my weight & lose 6 lbs during my chemo w/ the MOs blessing. I started an exercise plan Nov 1 & have been able to continue it except for surgery days. I tried to walk every day during chemo but it was hard. Most days I just had to rest. I worked 32 hrs a week until chemo 3 and had to go out on disability. Working on call now. My surgeries were EASY compared to chemo but again, I was exercising & eating again & felt SO much better. Being stronger is also making the radiation go easier, at least so far since I am only on week 2 of 6.5 weeks (28 IMRT w/ 5 boosts. 33 total) Its a personal choice but I'd do it the same again even knowing what I know now. You will bounce right back after the last chemo. 6 weeks later you will start seeing hair again!

Hi Lisa, I also had neoadjuvant chemo.  I was told that the reason was two-fold.  1) I was considered inoperable because of the size of the tumor area & because I had chest wall invasion and 2) because of extensive lymph node involvement.  

I did dose-dense AC and then Taxol before I had my BMX (followed by more Taxol, rads, herceptin, tamoxifen after surgery).  I had a great response to the chemo, but I can definitely relate to your feelings of how rough it is.  I know not everyone has the same side effects, but I thought the chemo itself was going to kill me.  The fatigue was overwhelming, I had to do daily Neupogen injections because my counts were so poor, and I was very nauseous and vomiting so much that after a few emergency trips I ended up requiring home IV hydration for the length of the treatment.  I know you asked about shortness of breath--this was a big one for me.  The shortness of breath coupled with a great deal of leg and abdominal swelling actually gave us a congestive heart failure scare--my MOs were almost convinced that I had developed CHF and that we'd have to stop treatment.  Thankfully, we learned this wasn't the case, just that this was how my body reacted to the A & C especially, but it was a scary time.  

To be perfectly honest, there were days when I didn't think I'd survive the chemo.  I only tell you this because I did make it through...  And it was a really effective protocol for me & prepared me well for the surgery (I'm hoping it is just as effective for you!).  It did take a long time to recuperate (I still struggle with fatigue and chemo brain), but I started to notice a big improvement in side effects even weeks after finishing.  

Hang in there...  You are almost there...  I know it's tough, but we are all here for you... 

Big hugs!  

P.S. You asked if anyone else had hot flashes--yes!  And lots of night sweats, too.  This also improved for me within a couple of months of finishing chemo.  

Good luck today Lisa! I know a bit how you feel - I'm 6 days out from my 3rd treatment with TAC. I'm also doing my chemo before surgery. I was a bit frustrated after my first TXs that my tumor didn't seem to be having a huge response, but after this treatment, I swear it shrunk significantly overnight. I needed that response too because this last treatment really wore me out - I'm huffing and puffing after taking a basket of laundry upstairs. 

 Hang in there - only 1 more after this! 

Georgia, I too had slight "pain" sensations in the tumor during chemo. After lumpectomy the path report showed 65 per cent of the cancer cells were dead. The MO considered this a good response. Of the 4 sentinel nodes removed 3 had evidence of dead fibrous cells. I m glad I went with the chemo first as it got the show on the road quickly.

Lisa - By now you are definetely on the home stretch.  I was diagnosed in November 2006 and had surgery first, six rounds of TAC, followed by radiation.  I waited almost four years for reconstruction.  But, the chemo was by far the worst of the whole process.  So - you will be done soon with the hardest part of it!  It gets much easier after this.  Good luck to you!

Georgia - I'm between treatments 3 & 4 right now, but I definitely felt pain in my tumor - an aching feeling - especially after my first 2 treatments. I've only had that feeling once after #3, but it seems that my tumor has shrunk the most after this one. It does make chemo a bit easier to take when I can actually feel it working.

Jenlee, Thanks so much for sharing that study. I'm going to bring it up to my MO when I see her next week - although I would have mixed feelings also about having to do 2 more treatments.

Lisa, True, it IS a long road. It took me more than a year to complete the treatment altogether. But I remember my surgery was the best part, knowing that they took the beast out of my body. I woke up from it with a smile. What a relief it was!!!! In fact, the recovery from mastectomy and hysterectomy at the same surgery was a lot easier for me than chemo. It normally took me about 10-15 days after each round to feel normal and strong. So give yourself some more time. Shrinking tumor and no lymph nodes is great. Will you be having adjuvant as well? 

Here is to wish you all the best. You will get there. Just hang on please.