Taxol failed response , AC still possible to shrink tumor?

Tfosher: Sorry, I can't be much help... I had surgey first so I have no idea whether or not AC and/or taxol worked or neither for me. However, I do know there are some women on these boards for whom the taxol worked, and others for whom the AC worked. Hopefully one of them will chime in shortly.  I understand your concerns, but it is very good her docs are staying on top of her response and adjusting treatment accordingly.  

Tfosher, I had ACx4 first and then Tx12. AC kicked my butt but shrunk my tumor a lot.

I've read an article that says >20% of TN tumors respond to AC while only about 8% of TN tumors repond to T. TN also responds well to carboplatin.

I've also heard a lot of good things about the ISPY2 trial. Doctors will monitor your friend's progress closely and change chemo drugs if necessary.

I almost did the I spy trial, but would have been forced to leave it anyway since I ended up being allergic to taxol. I had a much better response to AC (not complete, but almost) than I did with taxol. I am not triple negative, but triple positive, but still did respond to AC not so much to taxol/taxotere.

Tfosher, I am sorry your sister's tumor didn't respond to the Taxol. 

I received A/C chemo within two weeks of my diagnosis.  My doctor was in a hurry because I was TN and the PET scan hadn't showed any mets yet but did show some node involvement, both axillary and internal mammary.

By the third A/C infusion, you could barely feel the lumps in my breast (one had been 2.3cm and the other 2.7cm), nor the swollen node in my armpit.  By the 4th infusion, nothing could be felt at all.  A follow-up mammo and US the next month showed nothing; which either meant that the cancer was gone, or it was too small to be seen anymore.

I  insisted on a lumpectomy/biopsy to find out which.  The smaller lump was completely gone, but the larger one had shrunk to 3mm, about half the size of a greenpea, and was removed.  The margins were all clear and a sentinel node biopsy was also clear (there is no way to biopsy the internal mammary nodes under the sternum).  True, it wasn't a complete response, but everyone seemed happy with it.  I went on to get radiation and am finished now with just a future of scans and checkups.  I just consider myself lucky -- so far. I am BRCA-negative, so my treatment may be different from what is planned for your sister.

Sending prayers and best wishes to you, your sister and the family.  I hope she does very well in her future treatments.

AC is some strong shit.

its nickname is between the devil and deep blue sea. I think adriamycin is red and cytoxin is blue.

Chemo weakens the immune system (hopefully she is not teaching very young children who spread a lot of germs) and most people find AC very tough days 3-6. Is her chemo schedule synced to take advantage of weekends for down days? and maybe call on a substitute in addition as needed? Frankly, I think it would be very hard to teach while undergoing chemo, the SEs can be acute if you don't give yourself adequate rest. But I'm also a big believer in doing what gives you pleasure and emotional rewards -- so much as possible.  (For me, it was skiing, and my onc thought I was half crazy.)   

Tfosher, don't assume your sister will have any immediate side effects from the A/C chemo.  I went until the 3rd infusion (out of four) without any problems at all -- except for the hair loss.  After the 3rd, I found I had a normal energy level in the mornings to run errands, do some cleaning, etc.  But once the afternoon came, my legs began to wobble and the fatigue set in.  When I first noticed it, I headed over to the public library and took out a couple dozen books to entertain me during my resting.  Also, my wbc finally went down to low-normal range and I had a Neulasta shot (no side effects).  But I missed Thanksgiving dinner because of all the little kids who were going to be there from my SO's family.  I did have a bout with indigestion sometime around the 4th cycle, and took an over-the-counter med the dr recommended and it went away.  That was all.  My hair was even beginning to grow back during the 4th infusion.

So this is what it can be, and your sister may be able to work around some of it.  Psychologically, I think work that she enjoys would be wonderful for her if she is feeling well and takes precautions.

Carol

Tfosher: Have your sister insist with her onc that she needs stronger anti nausea meds... and be sure to take them as prescribed, don't wait until nausea appears. My onc and several other opinions I have heard have said that, with rare exception, there is really no excuse for women to be suffering with nausea in this day and age.  Glad her work environment is so supportive, makes all the difference.

That is the great thing about getting chemo first... The doctors can make sure to find the right drugs. I started off with A/c but my heart had a bad reaction so I was quickly switched to taxotere/cytoxin ended up having a PCR but because of me testing positive for the BRCA1 I had 3 additional chemo treatments Carboplatin/Gemzar... I'm only sharing this because I saw your sister is BRCA1+... Brca1 patients respond well to the carboplatin drugs... Many prayers and hugs

I fought for it! Advocated for myself from the beginning... Do your research and take it to her team... I never stopped asking for more chemo When it was looking like I was having a PCR I still harassed my team. Sent pictures of me with my kids...telling them to fight for me... I got the call from my oncologists 1 day before surgery to tell my surgeon not to take my port out...I would be getting more chemo! I had a PCR and 3 weeks after my BMX I started 3 rounds of carboplatin/Gemzar then did 6 weeks of rads. If she wants more start talking to her team now. Her Being brca1+ should be enough.