to many choices

CB10
CB10 Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have tnbc and have seen 6 different doctors and need a little advise. I will be starting chemo within a week or so and here are the different choices.

Hi
Check out the differing opinions below.
Also, my surgeon cleared me to start chemo and it is important I start very soon.

1. Dr. Taxotere & Carboplatin & no Adriamycin (not worth risk - heart problems)
2. Dr. Taxotere & Cytoxin & no Adriamycin (not worth risk, small margin)
3. Dr. Taxotere & Cytoxin & no Adriamycin (not worth risk, not enough evidence)
(and Dr. #1 has zero evidence for that combination)
4. Dr. Taxotere & Cytoxin & no Adriamycin (not worth risk)
5. Dr. FEC & Adriamycin with Cytoxan then Taxotere ("Dr. #1 treatment interesting but no evidence)
6. Dr. working with studies via Stanford and now sees a lot of TNBC Adriamycin with Cytoxan then Taxol ("follow protocol of Lisa Carey, US Triple Neg Breast Cancer (TNBC) expert")

I would appreciate any feedback...

Comments

  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #2
    Welcome to the site.
    Don't really know if I can add anything, you have really researched. I am also Triple neg., Invasive Ductal, stage 2A, tumor 2.7 cent. Simple mastecomy, nodes clean. I had 4 cycles Cytoxen/Taxotere. No rads because no cancer found in pathology of breast after mastectomy. My doctor chose C/T becaue of possible heart problems with Adriamycin. It seems 4 of the 6 you have seen have also chosen C/T and no Adriamycin for the same reason. You didn't say what stage you are, any node involement, lumpectomy etc. That could possibly help you decide.

    I don't understand what you mean by Dr.#1 has no evidence. Evidence of what? If you read about Adriamycin, that is a possible side effect. I think many of the girls on this site talk about a certain tye of heart test before getting A. Hopefully they will give their views. It can also depend on your age and general health whether or not you get A.

    Good luck with your decision, keep us posted what you decide. Just make sure you are comfortable with your decision. And it helps to really like and trust your doctor because you need to have a very good, comfortable relationship during treatment and afterwards.

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #3
    Skeezie said:

    Welcome to the site.
    Don't really know if I can add anything, you have really researched. I am also Triple neg., Invasive Ductal, stage 2A, tumor 2.7 cent. Simple mastecomy, nodes clean. I had 4 cycles Cytoxen/Taxotere. No rads because no cancer found in pathology of breast after mastectomy. My doctor chose C/T becaue of possible heart problems with Adriamycin. It seems 4 of the 6 you have seen have also chosen C/T and no Adriamycin for the same reason. You didn't say what stage you are, any node involement, lumpectomy etc. That could possibly help you decide.

    I don't understand what you mean by Dr.#1 has no evidence. Evidence of what? If you read about Adriamycin, that is a possible side effect. I think many of the girls on this site talk about a certain tye of heart test before getting A. Hopefully they will give their views. It can also depend on your age and general health whether or not you get A.

    Good luck with your decision, keep us posted what you decide. Just make sure you are comfortable with your decision. And it helps to really like and trust your doctor because you need to have a very good, comfortable relationship during treatment and afterwards.

    Hugs, Judy :-)

    Hi
    I wish that I could provide you with some feedback, some help, but, I didn't have chemo. But, I offer you a warm welcome to the site and lots of luck in making your decision. There is a very strong support group here of survivors that took chemo and will help you.

    Hugs, Susie
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #4
    susie09 said:

    Hi
    I wish that I could provide you with some feedback, some help, but, I didn't have chemo. But, I offer you a warm welcome to the site and lots of luck in making your decision. There is a very strong support group here of survivors that took chemo and will help you.

    Hugs, Susie

    I am not triple negative, I
    I am not triple negative, I had adriamycin cytoxan and taxol. I had an echocardiogram before I started to check for heart function. once you get adriamycin I dont think you can get it again. good luck on your decision
  • ms.sunshine
    ms.sunshine Member Posts: 707 Member
    #5
    You have 6 different
    You have 6 different opinions and only you can choose. 4 out of the 6 said no Adriamycin, if you can avoid that drug do so. I had Adriamycin and they do send you for a heart test this drug has been known to weaken the heart. It is good you have choices I had none. I was told I had to take this drug I had no choice. Drs.2,3,4 seem to be on the same page, worth noting. You will make a good decision, the best one for you. The best to you keep in touch.
    Jennifer
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #6
    ms.sunshine said:

    You have 6 different
    You have 6 different opinions and only you can choose. 4 out of the 6 said no Adriamycin, if you can avoid that drug do so. I had Adriamycin and they do send you for a heart test this drug has been known to weaken the heart. It is good you have choices I had none. I was told I had to take this drug I had no choice. Drs.2,3,4 seem to be on the same page, worth noting. You will make a good decision, the best one for you. The best to you keep in touch.
    Jennifer

    Welcome to this site, though
    Welcome to this site, though I am sorry for the reason. You will make a good decision that is right and best for you. Let us know how you do.
  • Lynda53
    Lynda53 Member Posts: 210
    #7
    Me=Tax and Cytocin, no A due to heart as well
    The bc found the heart problem.(afib at 129 a minute, muscle damage)
    I was allergic to the taxol/taxotere, had to have desensitization. It worked and shrunk the beast. (6 chemos)
    Mastectomy 4/2, lousy time, major infection, but that is done.
    Now 33 rads, 28 to go.
    I had inflammatory bc, rare and invasive and plain old nasty!
    Best of luck
    Peace
    Lynda
  • CB10
    CB10 Member Posts: 3
    #8
    Lynda53 said:

    Me=Tax and Cytocin, no A due to heart as well
    The bc found the heart problem.(afib at 129 a minute, muscle damage)
    I was allergic to the taxol/taxotere, had to have desensitization. It worked and shrunk the beast. (6 chemos)
    Mastectomy 4/2, lousy time, major infection, but that is done.
    Now 33 rads, 28 to go.
    I had inflammatory bc, rare and invasive and plain old nasty!
    Best of luck
    Peace
    Lynda

    Thank you everyone for their
    Thank you everyone for their support.
    Will be starting T&C no Adriamycin next week.
    God Bless all...
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #9
    CB10 said:

    Thank you everyone for their
    Thank you everyone for their support.
    Will be starting T&C no Adriamycin next week.
    God Bless all...

    I bet you feel better now that you have made that
    decision. How many cycles of chemo will you be getting? I was amazed at how peaceful the day of chemo was. Of course they gave me a huge bag of Ativan before the chemo!

    Please keep us posted on how you are feeling.

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • CB10
    CB10 Member Posts: 3
    #10
    Skeezie said:

    I bet you feel better now that you have made that
    decision. How many cycles of chemo will you be getting? I was amazed at how peaceful the day of chemo was. Of course they gave me a huge bag of Ativan before the chemo!

    Please keep us posted on how you are feeling.

    Hugs, Judy :-)

    6 treatments

    6 treatments
  • TawnyS
    TawnyS Member Posts: 144 Member
    #11
    carkris said:

    I am not triple negative, I
    I am not triple negative, I had adriamycin cytoxan and taxol. I had an echocardiogram before I started to check for heart function. once you get adriamycin I dont think you can get it again. good luck on your decision

    You're right about Adriamycin only once in lifetime
    I remember my last tube of the red devil coming at me and I said to the nurse I will be so glad to not see that again. She then told me that indeed I never would because you can only have Adriamycin once in your lifetime. I was surprised.....and most happy! That stuff is pure evil! But it kills the cancer! Double edged sword I guess!
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #12
    CB10 said:

    6 treatments

    6 treatments

    ok step one making the
    ok step one making the decision, cross that off. Let us know how you are doing, hopefully it will go well.

Discussion Boards