chemo question

Chemo sessions
I go in every Thur. for 3 weeks and then get the 4th Thur. off. This will continue for 5 or 6 months. Be thankful that you (hopefully)won't need any more than 4 treatment sessions! Will you be having surgery or radiation? That also makes a difference. I wish the best for you!

Take care and God Bless
Sherry

4slurpee
Im only having four of AC myself. I think everyones treatments are different.

laura

keep quiet maybe he/she lost
keep quiet maybe he/she lost count


really though the more we learn the more we know there are variations in treatment. we went to two oncologists and had two treatment opinons, they did not vary too much though
good luck

VickiSam said:

I have been scheduled for 4 to 6 cycles .. starting Tuesday
I thought I would be having chemo 3 days consecutively .. surprise .. each Tuesday for 3 weeks, 1 week off. Repeat for 4 to 6 months.

I don't know what normal is .. however, I do not from conversations with others chemo can last longer than 6 months.

Keep positive.


VickiSam

4 rounds of TC
Hey, Slurpee -

Before my surgery, my oncologist estimated that he would recommend 6 rounds of TC (Taxotere/Cytoxan), based on what we knew going into surgery. It sounded to me like that was the "standard" for my type of case.

Post-surgery, when my lymph nodes came back negative, he took the number down to 4, specifically because I had no lymph node involvement.

So there was a "method to his madness" -- but I made him explain that to me, and also explain why he chose TC for me rather than another regimen. I definitely make my oncologist *work* for his money! :-) Make yours explain it to you, too.

Traci

TraciInLA said:

4 rounds of TC
Hey, Slurpee -

Before my surgery, my oncologist estimated that he would recommend 6 rounds of TC (Taxotere/Cytoxan), based on what we knew going into surgery. It sounded to me like that was the "standard" for my type of case.

Post-surgery, when my lymph nodes came back negative, he took the number down to 4, specifically because I had no lymph node involvement.

So there was a "method to his madness" -- but I made him explain that to me, and also explain why he chose TC for me rather than another regimen. I definitely make my oncologist *work* for his money! :-) Make yours explain it to you, too.

Traci

Why did you have to have
Why did you have to have chemo TracinLA if your nodes were clean? I didn't know you would have to if they were clear.

Sue

Ritzy said:

Why did you have to have
Why did you have to have chemo TracinLA if your nodes were clean? I didn't know you would have to if they were clear.

Sue

Chemo was optional
Hi, Sue -

Because my lymph nodes were clean, chemo was optional for me. My oncologist ran a rough computer simulation based on my data, which estimated that chemo would lower my chances of recurrence by 3-4%.

My tumors are ER+ and I'm only 40, so I have a lot of estrogen-filled years ahead of me before menopause. For me, I knew in my gut that I had to do EVERYTHING I could to never have to deal with this again, even if that meant fighting my way through chemo for an additional 3-4%.

For me, the bottom line was, what if the cancer comes back 5, 10, 20 years from now? I couldn't live with myself then if I was looking back saying, what if I'd done chemo?

It's such a personal choice, but I always, always advise anyone to go with what your gut tells you is best for you.

Traci

susie09 said:

Wishing you good luck
Wishing you good luck Slurpee! Love your name!

♠♣ Susie ♠♣

TC X 4
I am also on the 4 x TC chemo treatment. It is my understanding that the selection of the treatment plans consider many factors including size of tumor, grade, node status, Her2 status, age, type of tumor, oncotype score, etc. I'd ask your oncologist. I just had treatment #3 of TC yesterday and am looking forward to having #4 behind me! Good luck! Jane

TraciInLA said:

Chemo was optional
Hi, Sue -

Because my lymph nodes were clean, chemo was optional for me. My oncologist ran a rough computer simulation based on my data, which estimated that chemo would lower my chances of recurrence by 3-4%.

My tumors are ER+ and I'm only 40, so I have a lot of estrogen-filled years ahead of me before menopause. For me, I knew in my gut that I had to do EVERYTHING I could to never have to deal with this again, even if that meant fighting my way through chemo for an additional 3-4%.

For me, the bottom line was, what if the cancer comes back 5, 10, 20 years from now? I couldn't live with myself then if I was looking back saying, what if I'd done chemo?

It's such a personal choice, but I always, always advise anyone to go with what your gut tells you is best for you.

Traci

Thanks Traci
I just didn't understand why you would take chemo, but, you explained it to me. You are very smart! You are doing everything and then some!

Sue