I have stage 2, grade 3, ER/PR+, HER2- breast cancer. I have no genetic mutations based on the 78 genome test, but on the MammaPrint I’m slightly over the line into high risk 2 for reoccurrence. I’m choosing to do chemo prior to surgery. I was given 2 options based on the NCCN Guidelines. AC 8 rounds every two weeks. This includes the Red Devil chemo. Sounds so lovely, right? The other option is TC, 4 rounds every 3 weeks. Now, the first option is harder on the body, has a small risk to the… read more
@A MyBCTeam Member You could also check with your gastroenterologist to see if they feel one is better suited for you than the other.
Most insurances will cover a second opinion, perhaps running the scenario past a second oncologist would help you feel more confident in your decision.
Adding in more prayers! Hugs!
I did AC-T. Not fun, but doable. I kept reminding myself this is temporary with a goal of curative.
Besides colitis, how is your overall health. If ok, I would do AC. My thought if I going to go through chemo, I would the one with best outcome.
I look at Adriamycin as the red angel because it saved my life.
Wishing you well!
I've undergone chemo twice now and have been given 5 different chemo drugs total. The drugs I found hardest to cope with were Carboplatin, Paclitaxol, and Docetaxol. I had red devil the 2nd time I had chemo, 4 rounds that were 3 weeks apart and then another 4 rounds of Docetaxol 3 weeks apart. I had heard horror stories from different cancer patients with a variety of different cancers about red devil, but I honestly found it to be more tolerable than the taxol and platinum chemos were. My doctor wanted me to do the red devil every 2 weeks, but I said no. Having already going through chemo once before I knew my body needed three weeks between chemo doses to recover adequately. Also by spreading sessions out to every 3 weeks instead of 2 weeks I was able to avoid having the Neulasta shots, which I've heard can cause some pretty intense bone pain, because my white, red, and neutrophil blood counts had enough time to recover whereas having chemo every 2 weeks doesn't usually give your body time to create all the new blood cells that get wiped out each time you get chemo.
Overall health is good. I’ve had chronic left shoulder pain for months. I am 5’7” and 205lbs, so overweight.
Laura, that’s a great perspective. Thank you. <3