How much Chemo?

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Birdsong61
Birdsong61 Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
How much Chemo?
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  • Birdsong61
    Birdsong61 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2014

    I have stage III A breast cancer, double mastectomy, 4 lymph nodes of 13 positive. My chemo/radiation plan is as follows :  1 treatment every other week for 2 months, then 1 weekly treatment for 12 weeks, followed with daily radiation treatments for 5 weeks. Total of 16 chemo treatments with 25 radiation treatments. My PET scan was clear after surgery. I'm being treated at the James Brown Cancer Center in Louisville. Is 16 rounds the normal? From what I've read, seems very high to me?

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2014

    It is sometimes slow on these boards on the weekend, particularly a holiday weekend, and I see that this is your first post. I didn't want you to have to wait for an answer. I am not TN, but rather triple positive. I have a good friend who is TN and currently in chemo. I will throw out an educated guess that you will be given 4 DD Adriamycin/Cytoxan, then 12 weekly Taxol. Is that correct? The 4 DD AC is what most get, but some do the Taxol DD (dose dense) as well, which would be larger doses, but shorter time. The reason some oncs like the smaller weekly doses of Taxol is for side effect mitigation. This is a standard approach and ultimately the same chemo as others you may see with a dose dense regimen, just smaller doses over a longer period. It is not more chemo, just a longer administration time.

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  • marley2
    marley2 Member Posts: 58
    edited May 2014

    I am not Triple negative, but my sister-in-law was and that is the exact treatment she had.  Hope this helps.

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  • Birdsong61
    Birdsong61 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2014

    I'll try to spell out what my dr wrote. lol  adriamycin cytoxan  1 every 2 weeks for 2 months, then Paclitaxal? 1 a week for 12 weeks, then 25 radiation treatments given 1 a day for 5 weeks.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2014

    I'm not 3N, but if I were, I'd get my information where all my friends have, Triple Negative Foundation.  My oncologist is on their Board, and I really believe this TNBC has the best compilation of information on 3N bc.  Best wishes

    http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited May 2014

    birdsong - yes paclitaxel is Taxol, so dose dense (every two weeks) Adriamycin/Cytoxan four times, then 12 weekly Taxol is a standard chemotherapeutic approach for triple negative.

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited May 2014

    bird: Very standard treatment, it's what I had. There is some recent research that doing the taxol first may be beneficial for TN, you may want to ask your onc about that. 

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  • Birdsong61
    Birdsong61 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2014

    ok thank you so much.

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited May 2014

    I had BMX and i am TN and had one dose of TC and then was taken off due to complications. I am going to consider myself cured. BUT i do kind of envy those getting the full arsenal.  Best of luck to you.

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  • MrFu54
    MrFu54 Member Posts: 13
    edited May 2014

    Songbird:  Yes, 16 treatments is normal.  I am currently on treatment for TNBC.  I have completed 4 AC treatments and 6 out of 12 taxol treatments.  Then follow by surgery and radiation as I have cancer in my axillary lymph node too.  Millie

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  • CanuckMom
    CanuckMom Member Posts: 173
    edited June 2014

    I tested with a slight positive for estrogen receptors.  My treatment is very similar. How is it going for you? I'm just about to start and very scared...

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