TC Appropriate For Triple Negative?

Allydp · February 2014

Hi, I'm 33 years old and was just diagnosed with triple negative IDC, stage IIa, grade 3, node negative. I've gotten two opinions and both say TC every 3 weeks for 4 rounds - that ACT is not worth the risk. I suppose I should be grateful for the lesser of two evils, but I'm worried this isn't aggressive enough for the triple negative status. I start chemo next week and will go along with the current plan, but I'm curious. Any other triple negatives out there? What was your chemo regimen? Thanks!

elindy · February 2014

Hi, I was diagnosed in June, 2013..stage 1, grade 2 and node negative..at the time I didn't think ahead to get a 2nd opinion. I had DD TC for 6 rounds. I do wish I had gotten a 2nd opinion, as I think my chemo was 'light'. So many get the ACT, that I think you might want to push for that and ask about dose dense, every 2 weeks. Have your doctors had a lot of TNBC patients? I'm sure others will reply. Best wishes to you.

Allydp · February 2014

Thanks, elindy. That's how I'm feeling right now, that this is the "lighter" option and maybe I want to be more aggressive just to be on the safe side. My oncologist said to me that if it was HER, she would do the TC. My second opinion came from a large, well-known university hospital, which is reassuring, but I'm still second guessing. I'm actually not sure if my team has seen a lot of TNBC patients. I will ask. Thanks again and best wishes to you.

Nettie1964 · February 2014

Hi, I know my status says I'm ER+ but it was only 2%, so originally my diagnosis was triple negative and that is what I was treated as! I had DD AC followed by weekly taxol for 12 weeks, followed by 33 rads because I only had the lumpectomy! This was the protocol for me through MD Anderson in Houston, TX! I am Stage IIB because my tumor was 5 cm but it was contained and they got clear margins and no node involvement!

Hope this helps!

StayingFocus · February 2014

Hi,

I was diagnosed with TNC, Stage IV, in August 2012, and was told that my cancer had to be treated aggressively and I would be on a weekly treatment plan. My chemo regimen started in September 2012 and ended June 2013. I received weekly infusion of Taxotere for 3 weeks and the 4th week was my rest week. I also received 3 or 4 doses of Adriamycin instead of Taxotere. I think I may have missed about 3 treatments because I had a fever and my oncologist said she couldn't administer the drug during my illness.

Last PET Scan showed NED! Recent mammo and ultrasound showed everything is OK!

TifJ · February 2014

Allydp- I was diagnosed at 44 with Stage 1b, grade 3, node negative TNBC. I had 4 rounds of TC every three weeks. I am still here over 3 years out from last chemo!

KSteve · February 2014

I did DD AC followed by DD T as well. I did have some heart tests before and after chemo to make sure the adriamycin was tolerated. Good luck!

ziggypop · February 2014

Hi ally - I am so sorry that you have been diagnosed with this - it's hard at any age, but I always feel the worst for you younger women. From what I understand, each element of a chemo targets a certain thing and each has it's own side effects. If the docs are telling you that the risk of 'A' outweighs the benefits, then they are probably right (especially as you have gotten two opinions). When I had TAC, my WBC count when so low that I had to be hospitalized in a private room - essentially my immune system was so compromised that the bacteria that my own body produces was so dangerous that it could trigger an infection that would kill me if they could not get my counts up. Chemo has it's own risks & the idea is to find a balance - the docs (who have studied this intensely) are probably best positioned to make that call.

Allydp · February 2014

Thank you all so very much for your replies. In the last 24 hours, I've been very, very lucky to have gotten invaluable opinions from numerous oncs at Sloan Kettering. My dear friend is in breast medicine there. She was able to present my case and pathology to 3 of the top breast oncs there. All 3 said, hands down, ACT. That a "grade 3 triple negative is no joke." I agree. (They also said I should do surgery first, but I'm already in the mode with neoadjuvant chemo, so I've decided not to switch that up - too stressful.) I am leaning towards switching to ACT and have an echo scheduled today to make sure my heart is up for the challenge. I also had a lengthy, in depth convo with my own onc who coincidentally trained at Sloan Kettering. She is also now in contact with her formal colleagues and discussing adding Carboplatin to my regimen, a drug being used in early clinical trials that looks promising. I feel incredibly blessed to have such amazing friends and doctors working for me. I could just cry every time I think about it.

Thanks again for your input. I greatly appreciate it. This feels like an impossible decision.

lgoldie · March 2014

Id be interested to see how you went. I got two opinions, one at the Mayo in Scottsdale and one here at my local cancer center. They talked in between themselves. I said I want to go aggressive but who knows if they listened. I also had a good friend (same TN only BRCA positive) who had a lot of opinions due to her financial status. I am doing TC dose dense x4 every two weeks and Taxol dose dense x4. I am by no means saying I don't second guess everything, cause I do...but I prayed with my husband before every opinion and this is where I am. It is ALL kind of a crap shoot otherwise. PS I had a lumpectomy because my Mayo doc said 20 year survival rates would be THE SAME lump and mast (very small tumor) and if you don't think THAT opinion has been second guessed to death. Geez. Leah

lgoldie · March 2014

I am a lot like you! How many times has someone said "Why didn't you get a mastectomy??????? BECAUSE MY HIGH PRICED ONC TEAM ADVISED NO.

argh Leah

maryna8 · March 2014

Ziggypop, I noticed your post because I just had the same thing happen...last week I was hospitalized with WBC .03 That was on Tuesday, and after getting Neupogen shots Wed., Thurs, and Friday it was up to 7. But yes, everyone that came in the room had to wear a mask while there. Scary! My oncologist is on vacation so the other docs are having a meeting about me today to decide what to do. They think my dose will be cut, fine with me. Haven't heard the final verdict. Can't handle another go-round like that one!

What did you do afterwards? Did you go forward with a different regimen? How did things go after that?

Best wishes!

Mary

TC Appropriate For Triple Negative?

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