Hi, on New Year's Eve I found a lump in breast. Since then, I have been diagnosed with early breast cancer and have had the lump removed through breast conserving surgery. Surgery went well - clear margin and no sign of the cancer in 8 lymph nodes. The cancer was diagnosed as triple negative which means chemo and radio coming up. So I have just had my first oncologist appointment and just when I thought I had my head wrapped around it all, the appointment has left me with more confusion. She has offered me two choices for chemo. Four rounds of TC (3 months) or 3 rounds of FEC and 3 rounds of TC (4.5 months) for which I will need my heart tested first. Has anyone else been given a choice? What influenced your decision? Anyone else have these combinations? I was also told chemo has the possibility of leading to leukemia - small possibility but still a possibility. This has thrown me a bit. She has also offered the option of using one of those head cooling caps to reduce hair loss. She said it would be quite effective with the first option, not as effective with the second option. Has anyone else used one of these? What was your experience? I am 43 years old and a full time working mum of two young girls aged 5 and 3. I have a long road ahead of me yet.

Hi Gurneys: I wasn't given a choice by my Oncologist. He simply told me what I needed. I like that he took charge and was confident in his choice of treatment. I should add that my husband is a doctor so even when I am given a choice, I have a lot of help. I don't know what I would do with all this information if I didn't have him. You may be best getting a second opinion to see if someone else can offer you a clear path forward. Unfortunately, TNBC comes with a high rate of occurrence and getting the appropriate chemotherapy is of utmost importance. I would not be happy having to make a decision myself. I would really want someone driving the best plan forward on my behalf. While I am triple negative, I am having neoadjuvant treatment (chemo before surgery) so it is a bit of a different approach. I have had four rounds of AC and am currently doing 12 weekly rounds of PC. I will then have surgery and radiation. You may wish to check in with breastcancer dot org as the TN discussion boards are quite active and current. Good luck to you! I hope you get some clarity on all of this as a good plan can give you some much needed peace of mind. Yvette

So many decisions. I was never given a choice, I met with my oncologist and he planned my treatment around what was best for TNBC at the time. I think maybe asking for reasons for the choice? I would be basing my choices on whatever will give you the best possible outcome in the long run. Maybe that will help you. I was always of the opinion, leave no stone unturned. This may sound harsh but the hair loss thing would be the consideration that I would consider least. We are after survival here. It is not great losing your hair (I did it twice) but it does grow back and even though it is sad and a bit traumatic it may be a necessary evil. Having said that, if the treatment path you take has a chance of you not losing your hair then that is great to. At the end of the day it is about making a list of pros and cons and using that to help you. I wish you luck. Paula xx

Thanks Yvette! It would be so much easier if someone just said "yep, this is what we're doing".

Hi Paula Yeah, hair loss isn't really an issue for me. I thought I'd try the cooling cap thing but if it doesn't work or I hate the feel of it, so be it. You are right about choosing the treatment with the best possible outcome and my immediate choice of treatment was the one that improved the chances of the cancer not recurring (FEC/T). But then it was explained that that treatment carried the risk of causing long term heart damage. So the choice is, play it safer with four rounds of TC but slightly greater chance of cancer recurring or choose the FEC/T course with the risk of causing heart damage but improving my chances of the cancer not recurring. I think my brain is going to explode.

I've done both. They will usually refer you to a cardiologist to check out your heart first, at least they did with me. I feel your pain. Wishing you peace with your decisions. Paula xxx

Choosing my treatment | BCNA Online Network

16 Replies

Vicki_Anne
Member
10 years ago
Hi Paula, I was very pleased with the results and my chemo and breast care nurses kept telling me how well it had worked. I lost the most hair after the first round then it was just random hairs after that. It did start growing back in quite quickly too. I had my treatment through the private system so am unaware if it is available in public hospitals.
mum2jj
Member
10 years ago
Wow Vicki, that's amazing how well it worked!!!

There was no such thing offered when I did chemo nearly 5 and 6 1/2 years ago.

Paula xx
Vicki_Anne
Member
10 years ago
I am so glad it has helped. My only advice to you is go in with an open mind and a positive attitude, I really didn't find the chemo too bad and my MO had me on preventative drugs to combat any side effects so I never felt sick. They told me not to cut my hair either even though it was already short. I hope everything thing goes well for you.
gurneys
Member
10 years ago
Oh my goodness Vicki Anne - that information was so valuable!! Thank-you so much for sharing. I am glad the cold cap worked so well with the FEC/D combination. I had been told it isn't as effective with that chemo combination but my oncologist has encouraged me to give it a go. I have very long hair so she said not to cut it as being long will be an advantage. One week to go until I start. I have chosen the FEC/D combination.
Vicki_Anne
Member
10 years ago
I had trouble uploading the last photo but it gives you an idea of hair loss, I can only guess that the cap didn't first closely enough to the top of my head maybe. there are two cap sizes though.
Vicki_Anne
Member
10 years ago
Vicki_Anne
Member
10 years ago
Vicki_Anne
Member
10 years ago
Hi Gurneys, I wasn't given a choice either, my MO made that decision for me which I trusted fully. I had neoadjuvant chemo which is given before operating as I had an aggressive cancer, even though it was early stage it was 2.5cm, the idea of having chemo first was to shrink the lump before operating as I am not blessed with ample boobs. I had three rounds of FEC and three rounds of D ( docetaxel ). My core biopsy showed a very weak 5% receptor to progesterone but after the lump was removed it tested as triple negative which my MO had explained can happen as the core biopsy is such a small sample.

On the question of the cold cap I highly recommend you give it a try if it is on offer to you. I used it and even though my hair did thin out a bit I just wore a hat when going out, I still had hair showing around my face so I doubt anyone would have really noticed. The other benefit is that the hair that does drop starts to grow back in a little quicker. I heard that some women complain about the cold but it never worried me, my chemo nurses always made sure the rest of me was toasty warm with an electric blanket, this was during last winter so not sure what it is like during the heat of summer. They also gave me paracetamol each time to aid against possible headache which I never suffered from. It is now just six months since I finished chemo and my hair has thickened up nicely. The only down side I can find is it adds extra time to your treatment, to be honest I usually fell asleep.

Vicki
gurneys
Member
10 years ago
Hi Wendy! Thanks for that. I'm not overly concerned with hair loss. Just trying to make the right decision on the treatment. Feeling very overwhelmed. xo
Wenj2015
Member
10 years ago
I was diagnosed with TNBC in July 2015. I was given a choice FEC or TAC both 6 rounds. I based my decision on what would have the greatest effect on survival. As Paula has said at the end of it hair loss is the least of our worries. Dont get me wrong i cried for days at the thought of losing my hair but now after chemo, surgery and now radiotherapy it really wasnt that bad. Everyone has to make their own decision. You will make the one that is right for you.

Take care

Wendy