Is TC chemotherapy as effective as CMF chemotherapy?
I am 40 yrs old and recently had a lumpectomy to remove a 1.4cm invasive ductal carcinoma and now am faced with choosing a chemotherapy regime. My nodes were negative and the tumor was ER positive (35%). The oncologist wants me to choose between 4 rounds of TC chemotherapy and 6 months of CMF chemotherapy. Any guidance on how to pick between the 2 would be appreciated!
Honie, ask your doctor if you can have the Oncotype-DX test, which predicts how effective certain kinds of chemotherapy will be for you. I know more and more women are finding that this test has really helped them make a decision.
For more information about CMF, see our FAQS:
http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/78/10884/chemo-faqs-cmf/
As for TC, I don't know what that is - haven't heard of it. But take a look at this FAQ on AC+ T chemo:
http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-cancer/c/78/10887/ac-act-tac/
Hope this helps, Honie. Good luck -PJH
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Hi,
I had the oncotype DX test done. My score was 27- an intermediate result meaning I have a 17% chance of recurrence in 10 years. So additional TC adjuvant chemotherapy will give me an added 5% reduction in possible metastasis over 10 years. My oncologist thought that this number is worth going through TC chemo. (Mastectomy, no nodal involvement, ER/PR positive, HER2 negative, 3.5 cm mucinous breast cancer).
You should start adjuvant chemo within 8 weeks of your lumpectomy. My first chemo was on June 3, 2008. The TC protocol went surprisingly smoothly. It felt like a 3 day flu, and I think the next 3 will go by quickly. I am 52 years old and only missed one day of work so far.
Good luck with your decision. TC chemo seems very do-able to me.
June Chan
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