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04-17-2013, 01:28 PM
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#21
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
hi- My oncologist wanted me to have 4 TCH, this was 2 years ago- I had a hard time with that as everyone else was getting 6 treatments. So, we settled and I had 5- I did get Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin. He gave it to me every 2 weeks- and the the H every 3 weeks for 1 year.
good luck with your decision-
FYI-
my tumor was 1.2 cm., no nodes, ER+, PR-, HER2+++
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04-18-2013, 05:17 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 265
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
Ohhhh lizbeth!!
I saw my Oncologist today, it went well...as to my heart palpitations, he is first going to have me wear a heart monitior while I recieve herceptin.
He said he could change my treatment schedule, as of now, I get Herceptin once a week, now he said he would administer it with the TC every 21 days for my 5 more treatments...then Herceptin for 17 weeks.
Is that how you receive yours...or anyone...TCH all together...or Herceptin once a week...then TC every 21 days??
Thanks for your input, I'm full of questions...however, know that I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU MORE THAN I CAN EVEN PEN!! 
__________________
10/18/12 Found pea size lump right breast
11/7/12 Biopsy
12/14/12 Lumpectomy
1/4/13 Rexcision, NO CLEAR MARGINS!! :(
2/11/13 Mastectomy with Expander Placed
2/15/13 INFECTION at Mastectomy site...emergency Surgery!!! Expander removed :(
DX: DCIS, IDC, Stage 2a, 2.7cm, 1/5 nodes positive
ER/PR-, HER2+++
3/28/13 Port placed
4/1/13 Begin 6 Cycles TCH Therapy
4/1/14 Finished Herceptin!!
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04-18-2013, 06:15 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 129
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
5/12-7/12- TCH every 3 weeks, with weekly H.
7/12- APRIL 24, 2013!!!!!- H every 3 weeks.
__________________
Age 54, married farm wife/school nurse/mom of 5 adult children...March 2012- found 2.5cm hard, non-painful mass on bse. It was not there, and then it was. Yikes.
Biopsy- DCIS, IDC, er-/pr-/her2+++, grade3. 1 node suspicious on us. Biopsy +.
Plan was for Neoadjuvant TCH x6, Herceptin q3w x a year.
May1- first chemo.
May 5- I could no longer feel the mass. Really. Neither could my oncologist.
July 2- 4th TCH- Oncologist cancels last 2 tx due to "complete response"
August6- lumpectomy with axillary node dissection. No disease present in breast. 1 out of 14 nodes + (4mm)
MUGA #2- 72%
Finished 30 rads Oct '12. Mild lymphedema noticed when I had 2 rads left.
Continue Herceptin q3w until next May
April '13- first mammo since surgery- calcium deposits that are " not concerning." Well, they are concerning to ME! Turned loose from surgeon for 6 months! One more Vit H, will make plans then for port removal.
Oct '13- no change in calcium deposits. "See ya in 6 months!" Keeping port for now.
March '14- oncologist says return in 6 mo.
April '14- mammo unchanged. Surgeon will see me in 6 months but no mammo for a year unless something changes. Its getting easier, but oh, boydo i hate that scanxiety! Keeping port until 2 year anniversary of last Herceptin.
Sept'14- bloodwork good, return to onco in 8 months.
Oct'14- surgeon will see me in April '15. Moving on.
May '15- mammo unchanged, keeping same schedule. Tumor markers soon and if all is well port comes out.
July '15-tumor markers normal. See onco in a year. Appt. for port end of month. First grandchild born July 1st- for today, life is good.
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04-18-2013, 06:40 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
SusanN,
My oncologist humored me by allowing me to do weekly Herceptin for all 52 weeks to minimize heart damage.
Also try and get regular exercise. It seems counterintuitive but it actual reduces fatigue over time, and keeps your heart strong.
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes
Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"
Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla
Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision
The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
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04-18-2013, 06:42 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 645
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
TCH (taxotere, carbo, H) every 3 weeks for 6x. Herceptin every 3 weeks after chemo for a total of 17 times (6 with chemo/11 solo). Finished the TC part March 14
So, yes - what your doc is giving you the option of doing, I did. I would have gone batty if I had to go every week (well, more batty :-) )
Carlatte - one more to go for you!! Yea
__________________
March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a
June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010)
Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70%
BRCA 1 and 2 negative
October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement
Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB
Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks.
March 14, 2013: Finished chemo
April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x
May 22, 2013: Finished rads
June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs.
July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life
October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery
October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin
December 5, 2013: Port removed
Glad this year is over!
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04-19-2013, 12:57 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 265
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
Ohhh Myyyy, what to do...well, I do know one thing...switching from this Lincoln VA to the Omaha VA will be the best as the nurses are much more educated as to the side effects, etc...as well as professional and personal...
I feel "safe" there, even though we will have to drive an hour every 21 days...it will all be worth it...we will see how it goes.
I'm just praying Herceptin & I get along as this is my saving Grace...PRAYING!!!
Have a wonderful weekend beautiful women!!
__________________
10/18/12 Found pea size lump right breast
11/7/12 Biopsy
12/14/12 Lumpectomy
1/4/13 Rexcision, NO CLEAR MARGINS!! :(
2/11/13 Mastectomy with Expander Placed
2/15/13 INFECTION at Mastectomy site...emergency Surgery!!! Expander removed :(
DX: DCIS, IDC, Stage 2a, 2.7cm, 1/5 nodes positive
ER/PR-, HER2+++
3/28/13 Port placed
4/1/13 Begin 6 Cycles TCH Therapy
4/1/14 Finished Herceptin!!
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04-25-2013, 10:35 AM
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#27
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
I also have some confusion on 4 vs 6 cycles of TCH as my first oncologist said only 4 would be necessary for me but i moved to a larger medical center with a more traditional, younger MD who insists that 6 is necessary and there are NO studies supporting 4 cycles. I have been hospitalized twice due to fever and neutropenia (only UTI0) and am now on Neulasta and a second time after passing out.I get dehydrated and fatigued and have insisted on hydration my first week. Although i would LOVE to stop (just had #4 yesterday) i see women who are fighting with metastastic disease and feel I should fight on so i will not have any regrets. It is such a personal choice. i would love to hear of any concrete info that would support only 4 cycles too!
Kim ( Dx 10/2012 s/p single mastectomy 12/2012, stage 1,grade3, er-,pr-, HER2+, chemo since 2/2012)
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04-25-2013, 10:45 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
Kim, look back through this thread. There is a study posted that suggests 4 is as good as 6 and, of course, reduces toxicity I have heard this elsewhere as well But you have do do what you are comfortable with after consulting with your onc. New developments all the time
Keep the faith
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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04-25-2013, 10:54 AM
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#29
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
Hi. I also had heart palpitations during chemo and the heart monitor was a great idea (I wore my on a sticky to my chest for 2 weeks). It turns on I had infrequent A fib BUT it resolved when my Magnesium was increased with a couple of boluses during a hospitalization when I passed out (dehydration not any heart issues). Food for thought...Kim
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04-25-2013, 10:57 AM
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#30
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
Hi-I was very excited when I read that study but unfortunately it was not taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin. I even contacted the researcher who said I could not generalize from their drugs to mine... Kim
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04-25-2013, 12:13 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Re: TCH Therapy...6 OR 4 Cycles...
Kim,
Perhaps you would be interested in this study completed and published in the New England Journal of Medicine instead?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...943/figure/F2/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?o...al+of+medicine[Jour]+AND+2008%2F04%2F17[pdat]+AND+Sparano[author]
It compares 4 cycles of Paclitaxel to 4 cycles of Docetaxel with ACT. I suspect this study is why we don't see a TCH study comparing taxanes.
The researcher really cannot comment on a drug that wasn't used in the study, it is outside their scope of practice. Clicking on some of the charts in this study showed the combination with 3 week Docetaxel was superior to Paclitaxel.
You could get creative. You stop at 4 treatments of the taxane, continue with Herceptin.
After Herceptin you could enroll in one of the vaccine clinical trials.
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes
Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"
Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla
Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision
The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
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