I know the answers will be variable for this but wanted to hear what happened to your tumours If you had chemo pre surgery.
My mum has had her third chemo (FEC-T) just under two weeks ago. Her first session seemed to reduce her tumour quite a lot. She had 100% FEC but then had to have reduced 80%FEC from then on due to infection. Her second session seemed to reduce it some more but maybe not as much. This was all her own opinion. The tumour was then crudely measured and registrar agreed it had shrunk since inital measurement. However it is not know whether this is due to first and second session or just the first alone. I’m concerned that the reduced chemo isn’t work effectively. Since her third session almost two weeks ago, my mum ‘thinks’ it may be a little smaller. She goes onto T next.
I wondered what any of you had experienced. Did the tumour shrink more dramatically at first then not so much for following sessions or was it steady throughout?
Sorry you haven’t had any replies to your question as yet, but hopefully someone will now see your post and reply.
If you would like to give our helpline team a ring they will be only too happy to talk to you about tumor reductions and chemotherapy - and anything else that you are concerned about. Calls are free 0808 800 6000 lines open at 9am today through to 5pm (weekdays) and 10-2 Saturdays.
I have just saw your post and thought I would share my experience, I also had fect-T this time last year prior to surgery.
My tumour was 2.8cm at dx and checked after 2nd fec it ws reduced to 1.7cm although the oncologist said this was a good result he thought it would have been more effective so he moved me on to tax after 2nd fec as he said tax was a more aggresive regime. I was not checked for shrinkage again during chemo, however on ultrasound after chemo finished it had reduced significantly. It was only after lumpectomy results I was told it had shrunk to 8mm ( not quite complete response but very very good), it meant less invasive surgery.
My chemo finished at end of march 2014 and surgery 4-5 weeks later, the timescale is to allow for recovery after chemo ends.
I also found side effects of tax mouch tougher than fec but it was dooable and seems a distant memory now.
Many ladies on the forums had reduced chemo for various reasons it doesn’t mean it’s not working it’s probably adjusted to each individual.
Wishing your mum the very best in her remaining treatment and recovery.