Anyone having this combination? This is what I’ve been recommended for my 1.7cm grade 3, triple negative cancer (with no lymph nodes affected). Does anyone know the reasoning behind choosing this combo - and the most likely side effects? Also they mentioned ‘tiny’ amounts of steroids will be used - but don’t these cause massive weight gain?
Phew GB from what little i have read this is pretty tough…I think you get booster injections to get better (blood wise) faster too.there was a lady on here posting who had the same…cant remember her name tho!
Small amts of steroids are used with taxol and all chemo.
Ive not suited steroids and the nurses assured me the small amts dont cause weight gain BUT they increase you appetite SOOOOO i guess theres the problem! I would eat fruit if i could face it but whent the urge strikes its carb city for me. Im on FEC, Ive been fine overall. No real nasties at all…i just hate tasting chemo for five days after being given it.
Your regime must be the best for your BC and i am sure theres someone else onn here who can advice you further.
S
Steroids help you to cope with the side effects of chemo. They are a standard treatment, you would feel much worse without them. I had eight cycles of chemo in 2007, steroids everytime, and never put on any weight.
Hmm, I’m curious how oncologists decide which drugs to use - as you seem to have the same diagnosis as me Evie! Is yours ‘triple negative’ or oestrogen related?
Thanks for the reassurance RoadRunner. I’m a bit confused as when I asked the BC nurse about steroids she said (a bit snootily) “We don’t use steroids” like it was a dirty word! But then the oncologist said I was to have them (in small quantities).
GB
I had this 4 years ago. I asked for the dose dense after finding out about how it improved the odds on the internet. I had the first cyle over 3 weeks and then changed to 2 weeks. I had felt so miserable in the 3rd week I had no problem with 2 weekly. I only had it because I had private insurance as it wasn’t approved my my PCT
A year or so later i saw stats which said it didn’t improve the odds for people who were Er+, which I am.
Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with secondaries 3 months ago but don’t regret having it. I believe I was given the best treatment available.
Kelley
Yes, I was on Taxol and Avastin for months. Had 32 successful treatments. I have Breast Cancer Stage iV. I did relatively well until recently and now I will be taking Xeloda. I coped quite well with Taxol and
Avastin. I did lose my hair, minor mouth sores. some nose bleeds and my nails were effected. I did put on about 5 lbs. All of these side effects are small, I am still here enjoying my life and my family.
I do hope you do well. Keep up the fight! Norma
Hi GB,
I’m triple neg with no lymph nodes affected too,dx Jan 30th,2.7 mm grade 3.
4 xEC ( every 3wks) then 4x Paclitaxel(every 2 weeks),then WLE & I’ve just started rads.
I’ve lost over a stone,had hard time on EC,not nearly as bad on Tax.
All the best,
Little H
hiya im a grade triple negative no nodes 1.9cm tumour on epi-cmf
epi x 4 cmf x 4 (all 3 weekly) due epi no 4 on thur
had WLE and SNB before chemo… lost half stone before chemo… weight has been static since… taken steroids with each chemo and they tend just to cause some insomnia but no weight gain.
taxol or a 3rd generation chemo and i would have preferred to been offered this as its stronger but my request was declined so just had to stick with the 2nd generation chemo recommended by my onc and his team.
i know the SEs of taxol are tougher but id rather have the strongest chemo and throw everything at it to help prevent a recurrence even if it had bad SEs… but thats just my choice… some people are glad just not to have chemo.
Thanks for all the replies!
Did/does anyone suffer from ‘peripheral neuropathy’ - have read that the taxol/taxotere drugs can do this as a SE, can be temporary or permanent, but I remember my dad being in agony with this when he had lung cancer, so it’s a worry. Not sure what drugs he was on though.
I have peripheral neuropathy. It started during Taxol and got quite bad. When treatment ended it improved dramatically but I still have it mildly. I don’t expect it to get any better. It’s not too much of a problem. I am less dexterous and tend to drop things more often.
Kelley
Im ER+ GB. I was told i needed 8 cycles because of my age.
Steroids havent suited me as i said and my ONC said dontr take them as they are only given for anti sickness and if i started to feel sick i could alwasy take them sharpish!!
S
When you have taxotare the steroids are also to stop an allergic reaction… they double check you have taken them for a couple of days before giving you the chemo… so please no one avoid taking them with taxotare / docetaxol etc…
I had peripheral neuropathy luckily it just affected my fingers… i had it from my first dose of ac (4 x ac, 4 x taxotare) and it went away again about a month after my final chemo…
Theresa
Had 4xfec,4x taxol in '04 for a trip neg with node involvement. I’ve still got peripheral neuropathy in my toes, but only notice it these days when I’m cutting my toenails.
I threw caution to the wind and stopped taking the steriods I was given to take at home. The only difference I noticed was not feeling hungery all the time.
Josie x
Hi gardenbeetle! You say on your initial post that your tumour is 1.7mm, I presume you mean 1.7CM. 1mm is hardly even visable. Every onc has his/her own very particular views on chemo/which drugs/how often etc etc. A different onc might have very different views on whether you even need chemo or not. You can ask for a 2nd opinion if you wish. You don’t say how old you are, chemo is often given to younger women with your dx when it might not be given to an older person. Although I met a lady last week who is 69 and who has been given VERY intense chemo even though her prognosis is very good. As I say they are all a “law unto themselves” and there seems very little consensus of opinion.
Hi Redders - eek, yes I do mean 1.7 cm! I will have to go through and change all my posts!
Good idea about the second opinion. It does seem that different oncologists have different agendas. I am in the process of trying to get a second opinion about treatment. It is a life changing decision - and so little time to understand it. I think being ‘triple negative’ is a big factor in chemo/or not - as they can’t treat it with anything else.
Kelley, sorry to hear about the peripheral neuropathy. Can you take anything for this? Do you work and does it affect this? I’m a designer and am hoping it won’t affect my ability to draw.
I am ER/PR negative but Her2 positive. However I can’t have Herceptin because I haven’t had chemo, & at the moment they will only give Herceptin to patients who have already had chemo. So I can’t take Tamoxifen/Arimidex or have Herceptin. My onc was happy for me not to have chemo, but I was 64 on dx and the tumour was only 8mm and no nodes involved. I am 15months on from dx and have had 1st year checkups and mammos and so far all is well. (I had lumpectomy and 5 weeks of rads.)
Best wishes.
I am tn and had 4xfec and 4xtaxotere ın 2006-2007.I developed pn on taxotere and stıll have it mıldly ın fıngertips whıch I only notice when doıng up small buttons and ın toes whıch ıs more notıceable but not dısablıng-ıts like the feeling you get just before pins and needles.My bc was Grade 2 and 2cm and I was 62 at dx. I had the chemo 3 weekly.Good Luck.Valxx