Choosing between AC-T and CT

I think being HER+...... they wanted to give me the strongest chemo

I also had a lumpectomy and was 8 months post menopausel when i was diagnosed so I was treated as PRE Menopause patient because it wasn't a full 1 year

Good night  

Just to clarify - the AC-T regimen is Adriamycin/Cytoxan/Taxol, but when you say CT, is your MO offering Cytoxan and Taxol without the Adriamycin, or Taxotere/Cytoxan or Taxotere/Carboplatin?  This is an important distinction to make as they are very different drugs.  I have seen MOs offer AC-T, or Taxotere with one of the C drugs, or 12 Taxol, but not 4 Cytoxan and Taxol.

I don't know if you have seen this study, so I am linking it for you:

http://news.cancerconnect.com/adjuvant-therapy-with-taxotere-and-cytoxan-improves-breast-cancer-outcomes/

I had 6 cycles of Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin, then an additional 11 cycles of Herceptin alone.  My oncologist will only prescribe Taxotere for those of us with Her2+ BC because of the cardiotoxicity associated with Herceptin, he feels that giving Adriamycin and Herceptin combines too much cardio risk.  I know he does prescribe AC-T for his Her2- patients.

Your description of the timing of AC-T is the standard dose dense timing, but unless you are triple negative this drug regimen is not necessarily the "gold standard" for all types of BC.  Have you looked at the Taxotere/Cytoxan threads here on BCO?  It might be worth looking at some of those who have posted there to see if their stage/grade/receptors/Her2 status is similar to yours, as well as looking at the AC-T threads for the same.

I was dx 2006 also at age 49 and had pathology as you describe for stage 2, 1.8cm DCIS/IDC (like a bull's eye), ER+100%, PR+100%, HERneg, 1/18 node.  I was NOT given a choice back then as you stated it was the "gold" standard.  I have a heart murmur and family hx of heart disease but I passed the MUGA scan.  So I was given DD treatment for 4 DD A/C followed by 4 DD Taxol.  I inquired about Taxotere and was told if I didn't tolerate Taxol he would switch me.  I had lumpectomy followed by radation and hormone treatments.  Rough journey but what matters is I'm still here. 

The next year 2007, a friend was also dx with large tumor, negative nodes, hormone receptors positive and she recieved 4 DD CT.

sam2u - you are right DD is every two weeks, not 3

macintx - would your AC be every 3 weeks or every two?  DD is usually how AC-T is done.  I have seen the TC combo every three weeks for either 4 or 6 cycles depending on the situation, and that is how my  6 TC-H was given.

TC has been compared to AC in clinical trials and had slightly better results, but it has not been compared to AC+T.  There is a clinical trial underway currently comparing the 2.  Perhaps enrolling in that trial is cometyhing you might consider asking about.  I was goign to, but my tumor was too small sicne I had no lymph node involvement.  I did 4 rounds of TC because I have a heart murmur and did not want the added possibility of heart damage from the A.

I had neuropathy in my feet for several years and taking daily walks has really helped.  Now only minimal pins/needles sensation and tolerable.  They said this residual sideffect is due to a gene for those of us who have this long term side effect.  If I recall 20-25% patients have it.