Starting Chemo in April 2014

Mompv: I know these decisions are hard to make...there's no right or wrong choice...just trust your gut after you have all the facts you can find.

I was in a similar situation to you. My MO told me that my 2 choices of treatment were TC (Taxotere and Cytoxan) every 3 wks for 4-6 treatments or dose-dense AC (Adriamycin and Cytoxan) every 2 wks for 4 treatments followed by 4 treatments of Taxol every 2 wks.  I was also given the option of participating in the NSABP B-47 Herceptin study for HER2- patients. 

My MO recommended the TC because like linda505 said, the Adriamycin is hard on your heart. My MO said if I were older, she might recommend the dose-dense AC+Taxol, but since I'm only 43, and will need my heart to be in good shape for many many more years to come, she recommended the TC. I also confirmed this recommendation via a 2nd opinion from another doctor, who told me that these 2 treatments are very similar in results with AC+Taxol being maybe 2-3% more effective (essentially the 3% improvement your MO quoted also) but with more heart risks.  Now that I've had 2 TC infusions, with my resting heart rate at 95-120 bpm for the full week after infusion, I'm personally glad I didn't choose the AC+Taxol to tax my heart even more. That's just my experience. Everyone is different.

As far as the Herceptin study, I chose not to participate, due to my own selfishness in wanting to be just done with chemo after the 6 TC infusions. Participating in the study would have required me to come in every 3 weeks for the Herceptin until a whole year after my first infusion, AND I would have to come back regularly for years afterwards to submit blood samples for the study. It was hard enough dealing with having to do chemo for 4 months, after having a BMX, and knowing I had radiation, an implant exchange surgery, and 10 years of hormone therapy to follow. Just too much for me.

ct scan results:  NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE!

Timbuktu that's awesome news!!!

thanks guys

hope this is an omen for everyone on here!

that's so awesome Timbuktu!!!!!

Happy Happy Dance to you, Timbuktu!

Hello Cammychris,

I am nor familiar enough with stats on BRCA+ and no lymph node involvement to comment intelligently.  

However, as you read through this thread of amazing women you should feel some comfort in knowing that if you do need chemo you will get through it.  It is no walk in the park, but, manageable.  It is always scarier before you get started.  Good luck tomorrow.

Congrats, Timbuktu!

Long Island, I need that shirt!

Mompv, I was given the choice of TCx4 or CMF over 6-8 months.  I went with TC and landed in the hospital because of the Taxotere.  Was switched to AC for 3 rounds and will have low dose taxol for 12 weeks.  So I will be 6+ months on chemo anyway.  There are no perfect answers.  Just don't look back once you make a decision.  Will be thinking of you.

A few days or maybe a week ago several were discussing chemo pause or the lack thereof.  I have experienced 3 periods and spotting on off weeks since starting chemo.  Interesting that so many of us are experiencing heavier and more frequent periods.  My mo thinks my body may be going through its final adjustment before pausing.  I am 51.  I figured I would be paused for good by now! It irritates me every time I am asked to take a pregnancy test and have to pay for it.  Really?  I am 51! 

Weird question, everything I read indicated that my skin would get dry and I should moisturize my skin extra well during chemo.  However, my skin has gotten much smoother.  Like baby soft skin.  Not dry at all. Maybe it's the hair loss?  My skin also feels slightly numb when I touch it.  Face, arms, everywhere. Not a bad feeling , just strange.

Wishing everyone a SE free weekend!

mmtagirl - the skin on my face is very smooth, and actually looks better after 2 TC cycles than it did before - I apply moisturizer, but it really isn't dry at all.  Skin on my arms does get very dry - and I'm seeing more spots / blotches.  Legs are normal, not too dry at all.  My dermatologist said this is all normal, and she scolded me to moisturize even if I didn't think I needed to.

Mompv and Cammychris - I know making the decision on which chemo, or whether to do chemo, is hard, but like others have said, you can only get as much info as possible and make your decision - then move forward without second guessing.  I think we are all learning there are no absolutes in this game.

Cammychris - I'm no expert, but as I understand, the higher the grade the more likely you will need chemo.  Do you know the makeup of the grade 2?  Using the Nottingham histologic grading, there are 3 things they look at. My biopsy at diagnosis came back with a grade 3 tumor.  After the mastectomy, the grading came back at 2.  When I looked at the 3 subsets for grading, my grade 2 was on the higher side (3+2+2) if that makes any sense.  My ki67 score was also high at 55% so I suspected I would need chemo all along.  My Oncotype ended up at 34 so was definitive for chemo.  My MO told me that even if it came back at the low end of intermediate (18-31) that she would have recommended chemo due to my age (38).  All this said, you are also lucky in that your tumor is less than 1 cm so may sway to no chemo.

Fingers crossed your Oncotype comes back very low, but in case you need chemo, its very doable.  I am 1 week out from 2 of 4 treatments and have worked full time, taking off only 3 days, 2 of which were for infusion.  My first round was rough, but this time around everything has been manageable with OTC pain meds. 

Timbuktu - Congratulations this is wonderful news!

Cammychris - I was not going to have chemo until my Oncotype test came back. Chemo brain forbids me to remember my score but my chemo was elective to reduce recurrence. Whatever you are faced with I believe we all now instinctively what we will do. Also, I think the worst part in the beginning of all of this was the waiting. Now it is getting through the  rough days and celebrating the good ones. Whatever you go through just remember there is a whole world of ladies out here to help you through every part of this journey.

Happy Friday everyone!

LADIES! My new wig came today, and I just HAVE to share it with you. It's pink and looks WAAAAY better on me than on my husband (as per a Facebook poll). 

Isn't it AMAZING what you can get for $8 on amazon? 

I just saw this article that was released today.  Thought I would link it in case anyone missed it.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-05/uotm-wwm053014.php 

Cold, you look HOT!

Hmmm...don't know why my random sounding post came up here when the discussion was about chemo and NOT stubble on a bald head!! Lol...

We endure the chemo....we are strong....we are fighters!  Yes, chemo sucks...but if it sucks the cancer out of you then YEY chemo!!!  (That was in a card I got)...peace and good health to you all!! Rosie

you are gorgeous.  can't get that on amazon for $8.