Chemo Regimen FAQs: AC + Taxol/Taxotere chemotherapy (ACT, TAC)

My wife is currently going through the A.C.T. treatment plan. She has had 2 A.C. sessions. So far, it has been better than we expected. The first few days after treatment are the hardest, but this week she went back to work on day #3. Stay positive, take your meds and get plenty of rest. God Bless.

Breast cancer blogger and photographer Deborah D. Lattimore describes her chemo cocktail, along with radiation and Zometa in this post:

12.16.08 - Not what I wanted to hear: Adriamycin/Cytoxan 4x, Taxol 4x, radiation 36 treatments, and 6 months of Zometa

Learn more about Deborah by reading her blog, love, cancer, etc.

I agree with everything the first person said except for the comment about taxotere.  I received treatment at one of the top hospitals in the US - Oregon Health Science University.  My oncolologist stated that taxol should be avoided because it can cause permanent damage to the arms and legs leaving them without feeling and movement.  Taxotere does not do this.

I received ACT all at the same time.

Additional items to help you:

     *  the only thing I could drink that tasted good because of the metal taste was Crystal Light peach tea. 

     *  if you get mouth sores, avoid tomatoes and strawberries

     *  drink lots and lots of water to flush your system when you get an infusion

     *  ask for Neulasta to increase your white blood cells - it can cause some bone pain so be prepared for that.

     *  have a port imbedded under your skin - it saves a lot poking for treatment and blood draws.

     *  ask for Emla cream (lidocaine) to put on the port to kill the pain - it has to be put on for at least 90 minutes to work.  Put a piece of Saran wrap over it to prevent staining on yor clothes.

     *  Nausua - even though my treatment was very strong,  I didn't have nausua at all.  I contribute that to the meds I took - Emend.

     *  Chembrain - lots of people have this.  I didn't, and I contribute that to playing scrabble and other word games every night.  I kept my mind active even though I couldn't keep my body very active - I had severe fatigue the last 2 months and treatment and an additional 2 months when completed.

    *  Zometa - is usually taken for 5 years, not 6 months.  Do some research.

    *  ALWAYS get a 2nd opinion

Wow PJ I don't know if you still check this site but I sure hope so.  I have had one round of my eight total treatments for breast cancer.  For the most part I only complain about occasional nausea and man am I just a walking zombie every other second!!!  One minute I am just fine then all of a sudden I feel like I haven't slept in days!!  My treatments are one time every other week with four of AC then four of T.  I also am getting a shot of neulasta the day after each of the AC treatments.  My question is, can the neulasta be making me zonk out on top of the AC?  Also do the effects dissipate or continue to compound over time?  I guess I am wondering if I can look forward to curling up in a ball in a few weeks.  Thanks for all of the info you put on the site.

I am on AC now and have one treatment. I go again this Tuesday Nov 24 2009 for the second one. Your article was very helpful to me and gives me hope. So far the biggest side effect I have had is extreme fatigue for about 4 days and less energy than usual the rest. I am lymph node positive. My Onocologist decided to do chemo first to shrink the tumors and then a mastomy. I have a port in my chest and I love it. The pain is much less than ivs every time would be. I did get my hair cut really short so the hairloss wont be as dramatic. Thanks for the info here and encouragment.