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Dragonlover's avatar
11 years ago

Advice please!

Looking for some advice - had a visit with oncologist yesterday and she has given me two options for chemo. First one involves 6 treatments over 12 weeks and second one is 4 initial over 12 weeks then smaller dose over the next 12 weeks so making it about 6 months all up. The possible advantage of the second option is that smaller doses on a weekly basis may be kinder to me in general. Has anyone gone through this? Certainly stretches out the treatment time and thinking it might be better to just get it over and done with as quickly as possible?

4 Replies

  • I've done a bit of reading about various chemo options and I recommend going to a good library and having a look at some of the latest info books on breast cancer treatment (think Mayo Clinic).

    You could also ask your oncologist which of the two treatment options they would prefer. You are probably in a risk category in which the two treatment options are fairly similar and they are giving you the option to choose which is personally convenient.  

    I have read that the weekly taxol regime has a slight edge over the less frequent dosage schedule. Again, ask your oncologist for confirmation of this, and it may also make no difference to you personally because of the type and stage of your particular breast cancer  - which is great!

    Personally, I had four 3-weekly doses of AC, then 12 weekly doses of taxol with a the odd week off occasionally due to low white blood cell count. I had one lot of antibiotics and remained healthy throughout. I was able to do some walking and kept up a weekly Pilates reformer class with my physio.

    Wishing you the best

    Cheers

    Meg

  • I've done a bit of reading about various chemo options and I recommend going to a good library and having a look at some of the latest info books on breast cancer treatment (think Mayo Clinic).

    You could also ask your oncologist which of the two treatment options they would prefer. You are probably in a risk category in which the two treatment options are fairly similar and they are giving you the option to choose which is personally convenient.  

    I have read that the weekly taxol regime has a slight edge over the less frequent dosage schedule. Again, ask your oncologist for confirmation of this, and it may also make no difference to you personally because of the type and stage of your particular breast cancer  - which is great!

    Personally, I had four 3-weekly doses of AC, then 12 weekly doses of taxol with a the odd week off occasionally due to low white blood cell count. I had one lot of antibiotics and remained healthy throughout. I was able to do some walking and kept up a weekly Pilates reformer class with my physio.

    Wishing you the best

    Cheers

    Meg

  • I was given 2 choices as well which surprised me as I thought the oncologist would just tell me what I was doing. My choice was basically 12 weeks or 18 weeks with a treatment every 21 days. My first thought was 12 weeks just because it was shorter. After reading all the paperwork I decided on the 18 week course as I thought it more thorough. Can't really help with your decision, sorry, make sure you know all the facts and go from there. When you feel comfortable with your decision you will know you've made the right one. All the best with whatever you choose, take care, 

    Hazel xx

  • I was given 2 choices as well which surprised me as I thought the oncologist would just tell me what I was doing. My choice was basically 12 weeks or 18 weeks with a treatment every 21 days. My first thought was 12 weeks just because it was shorter. After reading all the paperwork I decided on the 18 week course as I thought it more thorough. Can't really help with your decision, sorry, make sure you know all the facts and go from there. When you feel comfortable with your decision you will know you've made the right one. All the best with whatever you choose, take care, 

    Hazel xx