treatment options

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tamyx
tamyx Member Posts: 5
I have completed 3 of 6 treatments of Taxotere/Cytoxan/Herceptin. I was dx 6/11 with Stage 3 invasive lobular breast cancer. Had bilateral mastectomy (positive nodes) with reconstruction end of July. I see that many of you had only 4 cycles of chemo and I am SO ready to be done. I am 66 and am questioning the value of 2 additional treatments at my age versus the potential harmful side effects. I am to follow chemo with rads. I am rambling a bit but I hate this (like THAT is really unique!) I am so sorry for all of us that need to seek comfort and advice here although, from what I can tell, this is the place to be if you find yourself with the dreaded diagnosis.

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  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
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    I had 16 rounds of chemo (4
    I had 16 rounds of chemo (4 AC, 12 taxol), throw everything you have at the beast! You will be done before you know it. Rads aren't that bad the time just flies by.
    The past year has been a crazy ride, but it does eventually slow down. You will be back to doing day to day stuff soon enough.

    Take care,
    Cindy
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
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    Had 8 rounds
    I had 4 of one kind of chemo and 4 of another kind at age 55. I am only a stage 2. However, becasue I have triple negative breast cancer and chemo is the best way to fight it I was not going to skimp on chemo. Discuss it with the doctor. I suppose it would depend on several factors on whether you could cut down or quit.
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
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    I am a stage III also, only IDC with positive nodes
    I had 8 rounds of chemo and 33 Rads. As my MO said, we threw the kitchen sink at it. I got really frustrated during rads and thought about blowing off the last 5, then the last 2, but I finished them. I was too afraid that it would come back and I wouldn't be able to say I had done everything I could to keep it away. Our treatment plans depend on our diagnosis and staging...we are all different. Of course the choice is yours, but hey, look at it this way, you are 1/2 done with chemo. Congratulations on that milestone!!

    It isn't easy, hang in there,

    Jennifer
  • tamyx
    tamyx Member Posts: 5
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    Keeping on
    Thank you all for the encouragement. I am going to talk with the oncologist to get some statistical info, but I will likely stay the course. I probably should be more excited about being half way through because I really am an upbeat person most of the time. I start back to work (part time) Monday and I think that will help, giving me something to focus on other than me, the diagnosis and the treatment. Thanks again. Love and prayers to all
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
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    tamyx said:

    Keeping on
    Thank you all for the encouragement. I am going to talk with the oncologist to get some statistical info, but I will likely stay the course. I probably should be more excited about being half way through because I really am an upbeat person most of the time. I start back to work (part time) Monday and I think that will help, giving me something to focus on other than me, the diagnosis and the treatment. Thanks again. Love and prayers to all

    I had lobular also and had 4
    I had lobular also and had 4 AC and 12 taxol and now am on tamoxifen. keep at it you will be glad you did!!
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
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    I had 4 ac and 4 taxol -
    I had 4 ac and 4 taxol - stage III (nodes involved). That was in 2007. You can do it! xoxoxo Lynn
  • poplolly
    poplolly Member Posts: 346
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    chemo and rads
    I had 33 chemo treatments. The first 4 were every other week and after those I had them weekly. Then I had 33 radiation treatments. I had one of those doctors who just stated that was what I needed to do. I didn't have enough sense to questions her. I was just too scared. I know God will bless you with the right decision for you.


    Hugs, Judy
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
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    poplolly said:

    chemo and rads
    I had 33 chemo treatments. The first 4 were every other week and after those I had them weekly. Then I had 33 radiation treatments. I had one of those doctors who just stated that was what I needed to do. I didn't have enough sense to questions her. I was just too scared. I know God will bless you with the right decision for you.


    Hugs, Judy

    I had 4 A/C and 12 taxol
    followed by 33 rads after a lumpectomy. I was stage 3a, 6.5cm tumor with 2/14 nodes positive. Now anastrozole for another 4 years.

    If you can possibly do all your doc recommends you should try to do so. Praying that you and your onc come to an agreeement on the right treatments for you.


    marge