Dose Dense Chemotherapy - Work full-time?

Options
Sherylann987
Sherylann987 Member Posts: 19
edited June 2018 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

When I met with the MO, he said he wanted to be aggressive with my treatment since it had already spread to a lymph node. He recommended dose dense therapy but didn't explain what that meant, and I honestly at that time thought it meant two types of chemo meds given at the same time. He said I could do the AC every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks. I told him I wanted it every 3 weeks so I would have time between to recover and work. I'm recently divorced and on my own, and I need to work! Anyway, the next week the office calls me to schedule every other week infusions. I said it should be every 3 weeks. They said doc says every 2 weeks. I had just met with my manager that day and went over what I thought was my treatment plan based on 3 weeks. Figured out my PTO and everything. I am a planner! So I get all upset now and tell the woman that I'm not scheduling until I talk to MO. He calls me and seems a little annoyed and says that the choice is mine. He says the efficacy is the same either way.

Now I'm doing research on what DDC means and I'm not sure what to do! I am 55 years old and postmenopausal. I am planning to have double mastectomies once chemo is done. I want to do everything possible to not go through this again. So my question is -- if you did (or are doing) every 2 week AC, how are you managing with your work?

Thanks, Sheryl

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited June 2018

    Hi!

    I did dose dense AC while I worked full time. I got my infusions on Wednesdays, got my Neulasta shot on Thursday, and then the side effects would hit Friday. By Monday, I was feeling pretty good.

    My boss gave me the opportunity to work more from home, which was helpful. He also allowed me to reduce some of my work responsibilities (boring committee work -- a colleague stepped up to take that on).

    So, I think it can be done. But, I'm startled by your MO's attitude. He said that you had a choice, but then acted as if you didn't have one! Are you sure you want to stay with your MO? You will be with your MO a long time (at least five years if you do hormonal therapy). Are you sure you want this guy as your doctor?

    ((Hugs)) It sounds frustrating.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • balance
    balance Member Posts: 49
    edited June 2018

    I also did dose dense while working full time. I had the same schedule as Elaine. I left work early on the Wednesdays that I was receiving chemo. I felt OK on Thursdays and Friday mornings. By Friday afternoon, I started slowing down, but usually made it through the day and then recovered on the weekend returning to work on Monday. I preferred dose dense because it enabled me to complete chemo in a shorter span of time.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sherylann987
    Sherylann987 Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2018

    Elaine and Balance .... thank you both for your replies! You have both been so very helpful. I love my surgeon and my PCP, and both recommended a MO who I researched and felt would be perfect for me; unfortunately he is out on unexpected personal leave so I had no choice but to choose someone else. I went in to my first appointment with my current MO with an attitude that I would not like him, but he surprised me that he had done his homework, knew me and my disease, and I was confident in him. I think there was just some communication problems between us, even though my daughter was with me and she even recalls me saying I wanted 3 weeks. I also think the MO's in this group are under a lot of stress because there are too many patients and not enough doctors. The good thing is that they will allow me to transfer to my first choice MO once he is back.

    I am so glad to hear that you were both able to keep up with your work schedules. As much as I would like to get this over with sooner than later, I have some other challenges to deal with other than work. I just spent the afternoon today with my father who is dying of stage 4 lung cancer. He is in hospice and now cannot even get out of bed. I know that a funeral is imminent, and I fear that having chemo every 2 weeks will make it difficult for me to get through that. I also have a brother who lives about 6 hours away who also has stage 4 lung cancer that has metastasized to his bones and I need to try to get my mom up to see him as much as I can. That was another reason I was thinking the 3-week regimen would work better for me, for work schedule and to get mom up north to see my brother. I am dealing with so much family stress that it is making it so very hard to make any decisions about myself. I feel guilty that I only have stage 2 breast cancer and not stage 4 lung cancer ... crazy, right?

    I meet with the nurse practitioner this Tuesday to go over chemo teaching. I am hoping I can talk to her about some of this and get some advice. If every 2 weeks reduces the chance of recurrence, then that's what I want to do. I feel so alone in all of this, but have found so much information and advice on this site. Thank you again for your responses!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hybrids
    Hybrids Member Posts: 42
    edited June 2018

    Sherylann987, I have no advice, but I just want to say I’m so sorry you’ve been hit with so much at once. My heart goes out to you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited June 2018

    If your tumor was 1cm and only one lymph node positive and both er and pr positive, did your mo order an oncodx test?

    Was there alot of cancer in the node, not understanding why mo is rushing to chemo? Even if you are certain you want to do chemo getting a tailorRx or oncodx score might give you additional information such as recurrence risk as well as info on chemo effectiveness.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sherylann987
    Sherylann987 Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2018

    Thank you so much Hybrids! I also lost my younger brother unexpectedly in February. This year has been hell! I appreciate your support :)

    Meow13 - MO said since my tumor has grown and spread so quickly (supposedly my mammogram in September was clear), he didn't think the oncodx would be useful (breast surgeon agreed) and that's also why he wants to be aggressive with treatment. My anxiety level with all of this is over-the-top!

    Do you know where on the pathology report that it would tell me how much cancer was in the node biopsy?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited June 2018

    I did AC dose dense, every two weeks, with Neulasta shots (which are a must with dose dense) and worked throughout (I was a teacher). I'd take Friday off for the infusions, lie low over the weekend, and be back to work on Monday. I actually WANTED dose dense for several reasons; one was that I wanted to get it all over with as quickly as possible, two because of the Neulasta shots which kick start the white blood cell production so I didn't really have to worry about germs etc., three is that some studies have shown the results are better doing dose dense if you have a fast growing tumor (which I had also).

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ClareCo
    ClareCo Member Posts: 66
    edited June 2018

    Hi SherylAnn,

    I was originally on TC every 3 weeks, but had such a bad reaction to the Taxotere that my MO switched me to dose dense AC. It's AC x 4 every 2 weeks. I had my first infusion with AC last week and I can say that the side effects for me were not too bad. DEFINITELY felt run down and on day 3 and 4 had achy muscles and joints. I did my treatment on Thursday so my worst days were actually Saturday and Sunday so they didn't interfere with work. I guess everybody responds differently but in my experience, I'm glad it's going to be every 2 weeks instead of every 3 weeks so I get through it faster. Just remember - either way it's going to be ok. Sending you a hug - I know how stressful it is when the plans get messed with! Hang in there.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited June 2018

    SherylAnn,

    I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. When it rains, it sometimes pours..... I'm with Meow -- surprised that MO didn't order Oncotype test. Plus, you're Grade 2, not Grade 3 (most aggressive). Best of luck with your Dad and figuring out your treatment!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories