4 x 3 weekly AC & 12 x weekly Paclitaxel + Herceptin - Anyone else had or having the same?

[Elizabeth.p]

Thanks for the info Dawn(?).  

I had the herceptin via infusion.  I have got a port and everything goes through that.  I did flag a bit this weekend, my legs were a bit achy and I had a funny taste in my mouth but feel back to normal today.  I couldn't tell you whether there are any SE from the herceptin.  I will see if there's any difference this week with just the taxol. 

E xx

[riversidedawn]

Hi, I finished my treatment on 10th April last year (can't believe how quickly that year has gone!).

I had 3x3 weekly fec then 12x weekly paclitaxol and I cold capped the whole way through. My hair thinned dramatically after first fec but then started to grow back. I lost probably 50% pretty evenly throughout and when I finished chemo I had an inch or 2 of new growth giving me some nice natural layers.

It's tough, but worth persevering. I found taxol much easier than fec, there was cumulative fatigue but no nausea or nail problems that some ladies report. You do feel like you're never off the chemo treadmill with weekly blood tests and treatment, but you can tick the dates off on your calendar pretty quickly.

All the best to all of you ladies x

[Sunflower66]

Well done Elizabeth for sticking with the cold cap.

How was the Herceptin? Did you have it as an infusion or as an injection? Let me know what side effects you experience. Presumably you won't know if it's the Herceptin or the Taxol causing them though!

[Elizabeth.p]

I had met first weekly taxol and herceptin on Wednesday.  Two days on and I'm still feeling fine.  I stuck with the cold cap I am going to keep going with it as long as I can.  

E xx

[Sunflower66]

Thank you for all your replies. It is really good to hear that others have had the same chemo treatment and managed ok.

I take my hat off to those of you cold capping through 12 weekly paclitaxols! Amazing! Not an easy thing to do at all.

I cold capped through AC and have a large bald patch on top and thinning old lady hair around the sides. I've probably lost over 50% of my hair and can't go anywhere without a hat, scarf or wig. I was at the point of thinking I might as well just shave it all off, as it looks awful, but went to a specialist hairdresser to cut my wig to shape around my face. She advised me to persevere with the cold cap as she said it would take months to get back the hair covering that I have still got. She said it would be easier for the new hair to fill in the gaps than start from scratch and that  I would have more normal looking hair quicker if I stuck with the cold cap.

I'm glad I got some advise and am persevering with the cold cap, despite having to wear wigs etc. anyway.

Hope that might be useful to others debating or wavering on whether to continue cold capping.

[1852]

I had 3x3 e/c followed by what should have bee 3x3 tax I had 2sessins tax which made me very ill ended up in hospital so last dose given as weekly paxel x4 which I tolerated well it's a lot easier on body Den x

[Mmey]

Hi

i have had 3 FEC but will probably have 9 paclitaxel instead of 3 docetaxal.  I had febrile neutropenia on my first FEC and the risk of this is much lower with pax.  I'm also having herceptin assuming my echo is ok.

[Elizabeth.p]

Hi. Thanks for starting this post,  I am on this treatment there doesn't seem to be many people on this.  I am triple positive and have just finished 4 x 3 weekly AC.  On Wednesday I am starting 12 x weekly taxol plus 18 x 3 weekly herceptin. I have coped really well on the AC although I have had th side effects I have felt really well for over half of the cycle and been going to work.  I have also cold capped and although my hair has thinned it doesn't look much different to how it used to.  

I am am really anxious about going weekly and asked my onc whether I could stick with 3 weekly. He said I could but he wouldn't recommend it.  I don't know whether I will be able to face having the cold cap weekly but I will take it a week at a time.

having read what others say about the FEC I am glad that I have the 4 x AC as opposed to the 3 FEC.  I asked my onc why I wasn't on the FEC-T and he said that 3 x AC 12 x taxol has the same outcome but easier side effects.  However 12 weekly sessions feel very arduous there will be no getting away from cancer treatment.

i will let you know how it goes.  Xx

[JenJen]

Hi Sunflower

Im HER2+ and er/pr- so have 18 herceptins plus

3 EC and have had to now 10 of my 12 paclitaxel

just to give you a bit of hope my aches on my first paclitaxel were horrible but they eased off and were nowhere near as bad on the 2nd one and they have been even less since then.

I dont know if you have started herceptin? That can make you a little achey too but again its less so for me as time has gone on


Jen x

[Sunflower66]

Thank you for the reply, there really don't seem to be many people having this regime.

I have had 3 of the AC now, which I had first before the paclitaxol. It made me very tired and on the first two I was really sick. For the 3rd one I was nauseas but sick only once.

I wasn't given the 4th dose of AC due to side effects (neuropathy). I was interested to know how hair held up over the 12 weekly cycles and if anyone had managed to cold cap throughout the 12 sessions, which seems like a really long harsh slog! I thought side effects of the Paclitaxol were supposed to be slightly reduced by having a lower weekly dose as opposed to a higher 3 weekly dose, but clearly not in your case.

I'm also interested that you were given this chemo regime for Triple negative, and wonder who else gets it and for which diagnosis.

Thanks again for your reply. Hopefully any others who have had this chemo regime might reply. 

[namaste]

Hi, I had 12 x weekly paclitaxel followed by 4 x 3 weekly AC but I was triple negative. I found the tax much harder in terms of long lasting side effects. With AC it was more sickness and fatigue. I lost my hair both times. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know about?

[Sunflower66]

Is there anyone else out there who has had or is having 

 4 x 3 weekly AC (Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) & Cyclophosphamide)

followed by 

12 x weekly Paclitaxel (Taxol) with Herceptin

Most people seem to be having FEC or FEC-T, and this is different so I thought it might be helpful to have a separate thread as its hard to find info specifically for this regime and know how anyone else is getting on with it or how they found it when they had it.

I am HER2 positive and ER negative.

Looking forward to hearing any tips or advice.

Sx