Triple negative ?? 4 or 12 chemo treatments??

mcsessions
mcsessions Member Posts: 48
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I just found out my Mom's cancer was classified as triple negative. She got 21 nodes removed and thank God all of them were negative.
Anyways, the Dr. explained that the triple negative type of cancer is "sneaky" and needs to be treated as if it was one of the most aggressive ones.
My Mom will get 4 rounds of chemo (she got her 1st a couple of weeks ago) and then another set of rounds where she can choose to get 4 every 21 days or 12 once a week (12 weeks).

Has anybody been given this choice?

He said both options are efficient, but when the time comes we will discuss pros/cons and most of all toxicity issues...
Any input?

Thanks!

Comments

  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #2
    Do you know what chemo drugs
    Do you know what chemo drugs your mom is taking... I had the choice of 4 treatments of Adromycin and Cytoxin dose dense every 2 weeks and 12 treatments of Taxol every week or 4 treatments of Adromycin and Cytoxin dose dense every 2 weeks and 4 treatments of Taxotere every 3 weeks...

    I am also triple negative... I am stage 2II with 2 positive nodes.

    I chose the second choice.. for me.. it had to do with numbers... I am a mother of 3 young kids and was afraid that with the first choice I would've had no good days.
    Its a hard decision to make.. because we want to have the best treatment possible. I based my decision also upon speaking with my oncologist and with a Clinical trail nurse at University of Pennsylvania Hosp. and both told me they where both good treatments and one didn't out weigh the other.. The 12 taxol treatments is just a little newer way of admin. the drugs. Traditionally Taxol is given every two weeks.. This is a smaller dose given every week..

    Good luck with you decision..
  • mcsessions
    mcsessions Member Posts: 48
    #3
    e_hope said:

    Do you know what chemo drugs
    Do you know what chemo drugs your mom is taking... I had the choice of 4 treatments of Adromycin and Cytoxin dose dense every 2 weeks and 12 treatments of Taxol every week or 4 treatments of Adromycin and Cytoxin dose dense every 2 weeks and 4 treatments of Taxotere every 3 weeks...

    I am also triple negative... I am stage 2II with 2 positive nodes.

    I chose the second choice.. for me.. it had to do with numbers... I am a mother of 3 young kids and was afraid that with the first choice I would've had no good days.
    Its a hard decision to make.. because we want to have the best treatment possible. I based my decision also upon speaking with my oncologist and with a Clinical trail nurse at University of Pennsylvania Hosp. and both told me they where both good treatments and one didn't out weigh the other.. The 12 taxol treatments is just a little newer way of admin. the drugs. Traditionally Taxol is given every two weeks.. This is a smaller dose given every week..

    Good luck with you decision..

    I don´t know the name of
    I don´t know the name of the drugs she is taking right now. But I do know the 12 weeks option would include Taxol.
    So you picked the 4 treatments every 2 weeks and then taxotere every 3?
    Did you have really aggressive side effects?

    Thanks!
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #4
    Hello
    I'm doing the 4 bi-weekly rounds of adriamycin and cytoxan (4th treatment this Thu.), then 12 weekly treatments. Triple negative here with lymph nodes and two major nodes that cannot be removed involved, stage IIIC. I was not given a choice of chemo treatments but it sounds like the one option your Mom has been offered is what I'm currently doing. The difference is, my surgery will come after all of my chemo (chemo needed in order to shrink the tumor before operation), then radiation to the tumor site and the two nodes that cannot be removed. Hope that helps.....sure you will get more replies on here as these ladies are wonderful :)
    Take Care,
    Kari
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #5
    mcsessions said:

    I don´t know the name of
    I don´t know the name of the drugs she is taking right now. But I do know the 12 weeks option would include Taxol.
    So you picked the 4 treatments every 2 weeks and then taxotere every 3?
    Did you have really aggressive side effects?

    Thanks!

    For me.... the dose dense AC
    For me.... the dose dense AC made me very very tired.. and neulasta inj gave me bone pain... I had a harder time with the taxotere.. horrific bone and joint pain, terrible mouth discomfort, nails yellowed...

    That being said... everyone is different and reacts to treatment differently...
    good luck
  • mcsessions
    mcsessions Member Posts: 48
    #6
    pinkkari09 said:

    Hello
    I'm doing the 4 bi-weekly rounds of adriamycin and cytoxan (4th treatment this Thu.), then 12 weekly treatments. Triple negative here with lymph nodes and two major nodes that cannot be removed involved, stage IIIC. I was not given a choice of chemo treatments but it sounds like the one option your Mom has been offered is what I'm currently doing. The difference is, my surgery will come after all of my chemo (chemo needed in order to shrink the tumor before operation), then radiation to the tumor site and the two nodes that cannot be removed. Hope that helps.....sure you will get more replies on here as these ladies are wonderful :)
    Take Care,
    Kari

    Yes it sounds like it.
    Would
    Yes it sounds like it.
    Would you mind letting me know how do you feel when you begin your 12 sessions treatment?
    I'm sure those are lighter doses.
    Good luck, and congratulations on getting your last 4th treatment!!!

    You will see surgery will be a walk in the park.
    My Mom is carrying my 16 lbs baby one month after surgery!

    Take care,
    MC
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #7
    mcsessions said:

    Yes it sounds like it.
    Would
    Yes it sounds like it.
    Would you mind letting me know how do you feel when you begin your 12 sessions treatment?
    I'm sure those are lighter doses.
    Good luck, and congratulations on getting your last 4th treatment!!!

    You will see surgery will be a walk in the park.
    My Mom is carrying my 16 lbs baby one month after surgery!

    Take care,
    MC

    MC .. once you find out the names of chemo cocktail
    your mom will be taking .. you can go on line to chemocare.com - Scott Hamilton's picture will appear .. input chemo name (s), and side efforts, etc will appear - this may give you some insight to the drug's Mom will be taking.

    Good Luck, and Mom is truly blessed to have you in her corner.


    VickiSam
  • mcsessions
    mcsessions Member Posts: 48
    #8
    VickiSam said:

    MC .. once you find out the names of chemo cocktail
    your mom will be taking .. you can go on line to chemocare.com - Scott Hamilton's picture will appear .. input chemo name (s), and side efforts, etc will appear - this may give you some insight to the drug's Mom will be taking.

    Good Luck, and Mom is truly blessed to have you in her corner.


    VickiSam

    Will do, thanks a lot!

    Will do, thanks a lot!

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