 |
10-17-2011, 02:13 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Gloucester City, NJ
Posts: 73
|
FEC chemotherapy
Has anyone received this group of drugs? I do not start my next treatment for about 3 weeks due to still having the drains from surgery but originally the plan was for A/C now the Onc has changed to these drugs and I was wondering how other ladies have fared on these.
Thanks for the help..
HUGS
Tracy
__________________
Baseline Mammogram November 2010, found 2 suspicious calcifications (right side).
Second Mammogram April 2011, found 2 masses in the right breast, 1 in the lymph node and 1 in the left breast.
3 Biopsies May 11, 2011
Diagnosed right Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer which spread to my lymph node 5-13-2011.
Between Stage 2 and 3 with tumors grade III. ER/PR- but Her2neu+++
PET Scan clear
Breast MRI showed 2 masses in left, 5 in the right and 2 in the lymph node.
Biopsy of left mass benign
Joined clinical trial which required second biopsy of one of the right masses
Port placed May 27, 2011
Began Chemo (Taxol, Herceptin and Tykerb) on June 1, 2011 - September 12, 2011
Bi-lateral Mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders) October 3, 2011
FEC 12 weeks
Radiation 6 weeks
Herceptin 8 months finish September 2012
Exchange surgery August 3, 2012
Been NED since October 2011
Lymphedema right arm since Nov 2013
|
|
|
|
10-17-2011, 04:45 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
|
Re: FEC chemotherapy
Hi Tracy,
I did 3 rounds of FEC, followed by 3 of Taxotere, then did my year of Herceptin - 17 infusions every 3 weeks. FEC is a combination used in Canada and many of the commonwealth countries like the UK and Australia.
I think the side effects are similiar to AC - the most important advice I can give you is to drink a lot of water, and take the anti-nausea meds BEFORE you get nauseous. You don't want to play "catch" up with the meds. Your pee will turn red (the E- Epirubicin) does that to you. My hair started to follow out around day 12, I had my hairdresser cut it very short before I had my first chemo so it wasn't too bad.
Chemo is very doable, just listen to your body and rest as much as possible.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
|
|
|
|
|
10-17-2011, 05:21 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Gloucester City, NJ
Posts: 73
|
Re: FEC chemotherapy
Caya
Thanks for the advice. I already did 4 cycles if Taxol, Lapatinib with Herceptin. My problem is the anti-nausea meds haven't worked for me so far. Already bald thanks to the other chemo so that's not an issue. My nails are black too. My legs are still swollen and still dealing with the numbness in my fingers. I think the part I am not looking forward to is the steroids they are going to give me since I don't sleep for days on them.
I have to agree chemo is do-able. I know I would rather have done chemo the rest of my life than go through double mastectomy.
Warm wishes
Tracy
__________________
Baseline Mammogram November 2010, found 2 suspicious calcifications (right side).
Second Mammogram April 2011, found 2 masses in the right breast, 1 in the lymph node and 1 in the left breast.
3 Biopsies May 11, 2011
Diagnosed right Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer which spread to my lymph node 5-13-2011.
Between Stage 2 and 3 with tumors grade III. ER/PR- but Her2neu+++
PET Scan clear
Breast MRI showed 2 masses in left, 5 in the right and 2 in the lymph node.
Biopsy of left mass benign
Joined clinical trial which required second biopsy of one of the right masses
Port placed May 27, 2011
Began Chemo (Taxol, Herceptin and Tykerb) on June 1, 2011 - September 12, 2011
Bi-lateral Mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders) October 3, 2011
FEC 12 weeks
Radiation 6 weeks
Herceptin 8 months finish September 2012
Exchange surgery August 3, 2012
Been NED since October 2011
Lymphedema right arm since Nov 2013
|
|
|
|
|
10-17-2011, 05:37 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
|
Re: FEC chemotherapy
Tracy,
Speak to your onc. about getting something to help you sleep - maybe Ativan or even Imovane (Zoplicone).
Why are you getting another round of chemo? Have you recurred?
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
Last edited by caya; 10-17-2011 at 08:46 PM..
|
|
|
|
|
10-17-2011, 08:22 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Gloucester City, NJ
Posts: 73
|
Re: FEC chemotherapy
Caya
They tried the Ativan I will ask about the Imovane though. The Onc feels this is best course of treatment. I was diagnosed in May this year Stage IIIB did the weekly Taxol, Lapatinib and Herceptin, had bi-lat mastectomy last week with expanders and now onc wants me to do FEC every 3 weeks for 3 months then have 3 weeks off then start 5 days a week for 6 weeks of radiation then a year of Herceptin every 3 weeks. Pathology report came back NED I thought all this was overkill but according to her the aggressiveness of the cancer requires it.
Warm wishes
Tracy
__________________
Baseline Mammogram November 2010, found 2 suspicious calcifications (right side).
Second Mammogram April 2011, found 2 masses in the right breast, 1 in the lymph node and 1 in the left breast.
3 Biopsies May 11, 2011
Diagnosed right Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer which spread to my lymph node 5-13-2011.
Between Stage 2 and 3 with tumors grade III. ER/PR- but Her2neu+++
PET Scan clear
Breast MRI showed 2 masses in left, 5 in the right and 2 in the lymph node.
Biopsy of left mass benign
Joined clinical trial which required second biopsy of one of the right masses
Port placed May 27, 2011
Began Chemo (Taxol, Herceptin and Tykerb) on June 1, 2011 - September 12, 2011
Bi-lateral Mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders) October 3, 2011
FEC 12 weeks
Radiation 6 weeks
Herceptin 8 months finish September 2012
Exchange surgery August 3, 2012
Been NED since October 2011
Lymphedema right arm since Nov 2013
|
|
|
|
|
10-18-2011, 06:22 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 231
|
Re: FEC chemotherapy
I did 4 rounds (every 3 weeks) of FEC with Herceptin and had very little complaints. No neuropathies, no nausea (provided I took the pre-meds), some diahhrea (manageable). I did loose my hair but really had very few issues with the combo.
__________________
[B]Kristin
Aug 2010: diagnosed stage 3b, 4 mo. after birth of son. 29 yrs old and breastfeeding, ER/PR-, Her-2+ started Neoadjuvant therapy: 4x FEC, 10x abraxane & Herceptin
Feb 2011: L mx with recon. Path. showed only DCIS but 4/10+ nodes.
March 2011: 6 wks rads.
Mother passed, lower back pain.
Late May 2011: Bone mets but organs clear; Tykerb, Xeloda, Xgeva. Stopped Herceptin. Implant infected: removed implant.
October 2011: Bone progression; Gemzar and Carboplatin & restarted Herceptin.
Jan 2012: Progression, re-classified as ER+; Tykerb, Herceptin, Zoladex & Femara. Anti-E is working!
May 2012: ovaries out, markers stable but elevated. Cont. Herceptin, Tykerb, Xgeva & Femara.
Dec 2012: aromasin
Jan 2013: faslodex, herceptin, tykerb
Jun: Kadcyla
Aug: Rads to hip, then Perjeta, Herceptin & Taxotere
Nov 2013: Perjeta, Herceptin, Halaven
Early 2014: Affinitor, Aromasin, Perjeta, Herceptin.
June 2014: Estradiol, Perjeta, Herceptin
Aug 14: Tamoxofin, H & P
http://kristin-notdying-blog.blogspot.com/
|
|
|
|
|
10-18-2011, 07:07 AM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Gloucester City, NJ
Posts: 73
|
Re: FEC chemotherapy
Kristin
Thanks for posting. I appreciate the information.. Hang in there my thoughts are with you..
Tracy
__________________
Baseline Mammogram November 2010, found 2 suspicious calcifications (right side).
Second Mammogram April 2011, found 2 masses in the right breast, 1 in the lymph node and 1 in the left breast.
3 Biopsies May 11, 2011
Diagnosed right Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer which spread to my lymph node 5-13-2011.
Between Stage 2 and 3 with tumors grade III. ER/PR- but Her2neu+++
PET Scan clear
Breast MRI showed 2 masses in left, 5 in the right and 2 in the lymph node.
Biopsy of left mass benign
Joined clinical trial which required second biopsy of one of the right masses
Port placed May 27, 2011
Began Chemo (Taxol, Herceptin and Tykerb) on June 1, 2011 - September 12, 2011
Bi-lateral Mastectomy with reconstruction (expanders) October 3, 2011
FEC 12 weeks
Radiation 6 weeks
Herceptin 8 months finish September 2012
Exchange surgery August 3, 2012
Been NED since October 2011
Lymphedema right arm since Nov 2013
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:48 PM.
|
Linear Mode
