Informal Poll - Where were you treated and what was your chemo?

I'm in Brisbane, Australia. I had stage 2 ILC with isolated tumour cells in 2 nodes. I saw 2 oncs in the same practice and was given these options:



1. AC x 4 + T x 4 (can't remember which T) every 3 weeks

2. TAC x 6 every 3 weeks



I chose TAC because it was quicker and I preferred the onc who recommended it.



The referral from my BS to onc stated 'third generation' chemo and I understand the TAC is 3G so that was another reason I was 'keen' to have it.



I have seen a lot of TAC long term survivors here.

Rocky Mountains. IDC 4.5 grade 3 with 7+ nodes, ER/PR+, BRCA2+

Lumpectomy first. Then I had 4 A/C dd, 4 taxotere dd. Then 37 rads. I've also had bilateral mastectomy and hysterectomy.

My local onc recommended this protocol and my 2nd opinion at a University hospital in Denver recommended the same.  If they had disagreed, I would have gone "home" to Boston and Dana Farber.

Rachel 

I was treated at Swedish Hospital in Seattle and I had 4 rounds of DD A/C every two weeks and then 4 rounds of DD Taxol every two weeks followed up with 6 weeks of radiation.

Hi,

How interesting.  I am not stage 3 but was treated at Beth Isreal in Boston so in your region.  I was stage 1c ER/PR - HER 2 + Grade 3, I am 39 years old.  I got neoadjuvant chemo, 4 dose dense A/C every 2 weeks, 12 Taxol/Herceptin and now on a year of herceptin.  Also had DCIS.  I has a BMX with DIEP reconstruction, ONC pushed for that, BS said lumpectomy could of been OK.  I do not need any radiation or other drugs alfter I finish the Herceptin because I have no more  breast tissue and tamoxifen is to reduce reoccurence.  They didn't even want to know the pathology of the DCIS since I had the BMX.  The reason they did neoadjuvant is to see how well the chemo worked.  It melted the tumor (estimated to be 2cm) and I had no IDC left in my breast after the BMX pathology report came back.  Complete response ONC said.  When I asked about why the A/C I was told it is the one that works best (it is also the most cardiotoxic so if you have heart problems they would not give it to you).  I was told 12 Taxols instead of 4 because the smaller dose they give each week reduces the side effects.  I was told my odds of getting another breast cancer was about 50% from the ONC's experience but she couldn't prove that.  She sees a lot of patients so...I believed her.  That number is much higher than the 7-10% that is the standard quote from BS.

If you are interested in getting an opinion from her PM me.

I believe I got the most aggressive treatment possible for my cancer.  Sometimes I think a little too aggressive, but for me, better safe than sorry.  

I did 4 DD (every 2 weeks) AC followed by 12 weekly taxol, followed by 35 rads, which inluded the boost. Surgery & treatment at New York Columbia Presbyterian Hosp....

Following md anderson standard protocol for now. T+FAC after my mx. But they would have done it bf my mx except i had already had it done locally. Good luck. Btw the taxol was weekly and for me it was easy.

Hello from Kelso, Washington - I had 6 treatments of TAC (3 weeks apart) at Legacy Good Samaratin Hospital in Portland, Oregon. My signature tells my story...

Julie

I had surgery first, then chemo, 6 TCH, then 33 rads and finished the year of Herceptin.

I had mastectomy, TAC X 6 every three weeks, 25 days of rads and 5 boosts, ooph, and have been on femara 4 1/2 years. Treated in suburban Phila.. 

I was diagnosed in February 2008, had a bmx, TAC chemo from late May 2008 to mid-September 2008 every three weeks, followed by 6 wks of rads, 4 rounds of zometa, tamoxifen 2 yrs, now on arimidex, and an oophorectomy in March 2009. I'm in San Diego, CA, and was treated by Kaiser HMO.

My oncologist went to med school on the East Coast but has practiced on the West Coast for 15+ years. During my initial visit, she mentioned something to the effect that there's an East Coast and a West Coast philosophy to chemo and cancer treatment, but my head was spining pretty badly at the time and I can't remember what she mean't or which philosophy she subscribed to!

I was treated in England, East Anglia region, Suffolk County.  BMX first.  Then I had FEC-T which was 3 courses of FEC and 3 of Docetaxol (each 3 weeks apart).  I was treated at a local NHS hospital.  The other BC women I spoke to had the same regimen.

I'm so pleased to see other Stage 3 survivors here.  Some diagnosed quite awhile ago.  It gives me so much more hope. 

Treated in northern VA outside DC.  Lived there for over 40 years, moved over 1.5 hrs away.  I'd read that there are (maybe more now) but 8 Cancer Centers of Excellence and nothern VA was within an hour of two of them so that sealed the deal.  Stage IIIc, many many nodes involved.  Had lumpectomy, not clear enough margins so mastectomy. 

Had DD 4 A/C, followed by 4 taxotere every other week,  Onto 35 rads, last 6 were boost and beginning Feb put on Arimidex. 

I spoke with 3 oncologists before selecting one and was told there is a standard protocol; all 3 gave me the above treatment plan so there must be something to that.  But I have also read that where one lives has a lot to do with treatment despite standard protocol.  I now live out in the middle of nowhere and b/c of that I went back "home" if you will for treatment.

I was dx in Hawaii at a military hospital.  I was scheduled to do TAC.  I did ACx4 there, moved to NC and did Taxoterex4.  I am now at another hospital in NC and I asked if they would have done the same tx and they said yes, it's the standard.

I'm still learning about all of this and agree, posy1, it's confusing.  In one of my initial onc visits, she told me I would either need ACx4/Tx4 or TACx6, depending on the results of my SNB (surgeon wanted neoadjuvant due to the extent of the tumor).  When my PET scan and SNB both confirmed lymph node involvement, she went with TACx6.  In my mind, things like "dose dense" and more treatments closer together make it seem like the ACx4/Tx4 would more agressive...it makes my brain hurt trying to figure it all out!

That being said, I'm getting TACx6 here in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, GA.  My onc (graduated from & practiced at Johns Hopkins) is associated with Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, and my surgeon is at Nortside Hosptial in Atlanta.

Hi there Posy,

As some have already mentioned depending on the "makeup" of your cancer (ER/PR, HER2 status) that would set the stage for  most tx's.  I had bilateral mx, 4 DD A/C then 4 DD Taxol, 6 weeks rads, reconstruction, revisions.  I was treated at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore with my chemo in Bethesda, MD.

Sharon