Starting Chemo in December 2013

Atlbraves: Just curious why your Onco recommended AC Tx? My Onco (1st appointment) told me that is the most toxic and has the most serious side effects. My Oncotype was also 25. My Grade is also 3; however, I was given choices between AC, TC, and CMT. I have one week to make a decision. CMT has the fewest side effects to include much less chance of hair loss (thinning) is possible but not guaranteed to happen. It is the treatment that is the least toxic.

Chaille: Thank you and SAME TO YOU! I hear you. I would like to know how the Oncologists/Researchers determine where this 16% reduction in reoccurrence rate goes down to 10%. It doesn't seem like a hugh reduction for what we will go through..still how do they determine only 6%?

Robin: It's interesting how Oncologists differ in the recommendations for Tx. Perhaps the more aggressive tx for you due to so positive nodes? My Oncologist told me that my reduction rate would drop to 10% with any of the three choices.

You are so brave! Keep us posted! Stay Strong Robin and KICK CANCER'S ASS!!!!

Absolutely Robin! We are all here!!! And, yes, pay it forward. All the best. Keep smiling girlfriend.

I am stage 1, already had BMX and am already scheduled to start chemo in less than 2 weeks.

I NEVER had the Onchotype DX testing..... Seems so many of you with early stagediagnosis did base decision on treatments on this test.... Did any of you NOT get this test?

Stephanie

Hello there!

So far I have had 3 treatments of AC and this past week was the two shots, one I did with my clinic nurse to make sure I did it right and I did the other one at home by myself! not hard unless you don't like needles! Next week is rest week and then it all starts again!

OTD, I think the oncotest was designed for post-menopausal women, if that is pertinent.

Visit: www.oncotypeDX.com for info on the test. There is another test for recurrence rate called the mammaprint, but it does not test for chemo effectiveness or benefit. I decided to forego it bc I didn't want to wait another 2-3 wks for results and decisions.

My onco was in the gray area at 21.  Decided I need to give TC a shot. My MO told me the chemo would reduce my 13% recurrence risk by about 50%... to 6-7%. Are you all hearing something different? I'm not sure where that data comes from.

((HUGS))

Hello ladies,

Hope it's ok if i join the group for support during chemo. I met with the onco yesterday and I'm starting chemo on the 27 th I'm so nervous. Wen I was with the onco I told him I didn't want to hear numbers I never had an oncotype but I think it's because my nodes were positive wen I asked about ATC chemo they said no and that I would receive FEC-D I'm in Canada. They said its very similar. They also gave me a shot of zoladex and ill have to take tamoxifen for 5 years. I'm 35 and my husband and I were trying for a baby before all this appended I had 2 miscariged now they are telling me that because of my positive status of er/pr 67to 100% response I'm to at risk for a pregnancy or egg preservation, I'm so sad is anybody in the same situation? I'm glad to have found this group, together we can win this battle one step a the time.

Brioche78 - you are more than welcome to join us here! Sorry you have to be here....

There is a great forum on this site where you may find others in a similar situation to yours. It is possible there are some on this thread that may jump in, but wanted to give you other options too

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/27

onetexas - Oncotype is not usually done for Her2+ people. The assumption is that you will get chemo and Herceptin.

joan - Herceptin is only given to Her2+, by your sig line you appear to be Her2- so you would not be receiving this drug.

keep - there are a couple of risk models that you can use, I will link them. Many docs use Adjuvent Online, but you have to be a physician to access it. Cancermath and PREDICT you can use yourself, but PREDICT is better for Her2+ because it factors in the use of Herceptin. On the cancermath site use the pictogram rather than the graph, it is easier to understand.

http://www.lifemath.net/cancer/breastcancer/therapy/index.php

http://www.predict.nhs.uk/predict.shtml

brioche - you are correct, Oncotype Dx is usually ordered for node negative.

There is a new study out doing Herceptin on Hers2- folks. A new clinical trial.

sloyd - the port is surgically implanted under your skin, and is usually located on the chest or upper arm. Once your incision is healed you can shower. Some forego the port if they are only having four rounds of chemo, but if you are receiving Adriamycin some oncologists will insist on a port due to the caustic nature of the drug if it leaks from a standard IV to your skin.

joan - I am aware of the use of Herceptin for low level expressors of Her2, I linked the trial below - is this the one you are in? I don't think this is a new trial though as it is in Phase III, so the potential benefit of Herceptin for low expressors has been known for a while. I am actually in a vaccine trial that has one arm available for low expressors of Her2 as long as they are histologically compatible for that vaccine arm, enrollment in this trial takes place after treatment is complete.

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/view?cdrid=692574&version=healthprofessional

brioche - I would personally get the port - that is a lot of chemo, including Epirubicin, which is caustic like Adriamycin. You can only use your left arm and hand due to your surgery on the right side, so you are limited in the number of available veins.