Did anyone out there forego the last of the 4 AC treatments

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Numb
Numb Member Posts: 432
edited May 2016 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I have done 3 AC treatments and my Onc has decided to cancel the 4th one and while the thoughts of doing the 4th one is wiping me out I am still wondering if this is a common thing.  I really didn't have an easy time on the 3rd round and was not able to function for a week.  Am in hospital now and feeling much better and now wondering if foregoing the last round is a good idea.  I could probably get through it if I was hospitalized for the week after but my Onc seems to think I have done enough of the ACs now.  I still have 12 Taxols to do but have been reassured that these are a lot easier.  I am 66 in two weeks time, so I guess age comes into this too, not as fit as the younger women who seem to get through this a lot better than I am.  I am not trying to shrink a tumour, as I have already had this removed, so my chemo is just to deal with any miniscule particles that may have escaped. 

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited May 2016

    For me, my neoadjuvant 4 DD A/C were 'easy' - did not slow me down at all! Adjuvant 12 weekly Taxol were not nice at all - was utterly and completely EXHAUSTED the entire time. When I saw my Chemo Dr before my 10th Taxol, he told me it was up to me to finish the last 3 as the first 9 had done 85% of what could be done so it was up to me to decide what I wanted to do but he was putting in an order stating that it was up to me to do the rest or not was up to me. I did them all as, to me, how could I tell my Hubby and Son that I had decided to quit?

    'Age' has nothing to do with "being fit"! I was 63 when DXd in 2009 and was in better shape than many much younger. Next month I turn 70 (still NED) and can outdo many 1/2 my age (of course not all as when we was 1/2 my current age there were some who could 'outdo' me then some 'things'l.

    We all enter DX/TXX as the unique individual we are. Pre-existing health issues have a lot to do with how our bodies get through TX. The only times I have been hospitalized were for my 2 C-sections in 1977 and 1978, until the overnight for my UMX.

    'Age' only matters if you make it matter to you.

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  • Numb
    Numb Member Posts: 432
    edited May 2016

    Good for you KICKS, I had a long discussion with my Oncologist yesterday before leaving the hospital and she says that AC is similar to FEC and FEC only requires 3 rounds and so she feels that my 3 ACs are enough.  She does a lot of cancer research and is on a lot of committees for cancer research so I trust her implicitly and am fully confident now that not continuing with the 4th AC is the best decision for me.   She never said that it was up to me but reassured me that not doing the 4th AC would not disadvantage me in any way.  She said that 4 x AC was the standard offered to everyone but that oftentimes 3 were enough.  I do agree with you that you can be very fit as you age, but I am not fit, my fault entirely.  Lots of people find Taxol easier than the ACs, so that's disappointing that you didn't.  I feel that it has to be easier than what I experienced for the 3rd AC.  Delighted to hear you are NED.  Long may that last.

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  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited May 2016

    Numb, - I had difficulty with AC, too. I received the full first infusion, but after that the doses given to me were not both meds at once. I rec'd 3 more cytoxin and then 3 more adryamicin. It was easier for me to tolerate that way. Maybe that is an option for you, too?

    ( The dd taxol that followed was ok.)

    Good luck!


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  • Numb
    Numb Member Posts: 432
    edited May 2016

    ANOTHERNYCGIRL - thank you so much for that feedback and that is a great idea, but I have discussed all of this with my Onc and she reassures me that foregoing the last AC treatment is fine.  Pleased to hear that you tolerated the Taxol better. 

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