TCH vs Standard method
 

These are the 2 methods of treatments recommended to me. My oncologist did a mugga scan of my heart and said that will probably determine which way to go. Does anyone know any other side effects to the standard method besides the adriamycin causing heart damage that would want me to go with the TCH. I'm not really sure which way to go at this point.

Standard
Cytoxan and Adriamycin once every 2 weeks for 4 treatments

Taxol and Herceptin weekly for 12 weeks

Herceptin every 3 weeks for 40 weeks.

TCH
taxotere and carboplatin every 3 weeks for 6 treatments

Herceptin weekly for 18 weeks

Herceptin every three weeks for 34 weeks.

Re: TCH vs Standard method
 

If your MUGA is good, your oncologist will give you 'Standard'. If it's less ideal, your doctor probably will pick TCH, which, by the way, has been the standard until about a year ago (and CMF had been the standard before TCH). Even TCH could affect our heart. My MUGA dropped more than 10% at 22 weeks (18 TCH + 4 weekly H) and we had to stop. [Notice the C (Carboplatin) in TCH is different from the C (Cytoxan) in other combinations.]

I was given FEC in 2003 instead of AC because of the heart concern. A couple of years ago, while TCH was the standard, Britain adopted FEC as its first-line treatment. The new standard (4 AC + TH + H) appeared on this board about a year ago. (Check the signatures of the newly diagnosed and you will get the picture.)

See a brief history of breast cancer treatment below:

http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v1.../6605268a.html

Re: TCH vs Standard method
 

Can you tell us about your stat's ?? I know my oncologist decides based on hormone receptors and the number of lymph nodes involved.

Re: TCH vs Standard method
 

Diagnosed 3/25/11
TYPE: Left Breast Infiltrating ductal carcinoma
GRADE: Grade III
Size: Three tumors 2.1cm, 1.7cm and 0.7cm
Lymph Nodes: 4 lymph nodes all negative
Pathological Staging: T2, N0, M0
ER: Negative
PR:Negative
HER-2/neu: Positive 3+
Ki67: Unfavorable (more than 20%)

Left Mastectomy and Right Prophylactic Mastectomy with tissue expanders 5/17/11