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+++

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!! :)

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.

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.

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

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!! :)

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)

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

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

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

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.