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Chemotherapy Regimens for Breast Cancer

Read smart, friendly FAQ guides about common chemotherapy regimens to treat breast cancer. Learn about the duration and frequency of each treatment regimen and how to cope with side effects.

Common Chemotherapy Regimens

  • Holiday Star
    Taxol/Taxotere + Cytoxan
    TC includes two drugs: a taxane, paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere); and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). It’s gradually replacing AC, the Adriamycin-based “gold standard” of chemo for many years.
  • AC Chemotherapy
    AC Chemotherapy
    AC is one of the five most common types of chemotherapy given to women with breast cancer. And it's probably the MOST common drug combination given to women with node-negative (hasn't spread to your lymph nodes) cancer.
  • ACT TAC chemotherapy
    AC + Taxol / Taxotere
    AC is one of the five most common types of chemotherapy given to women with breast cancer. It includes two drugs: doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). Paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere) is added to AC for women with node-positive cancer, or in women who've had a recurrence; it's delivered after you've finished the AC.
  • AT Chemotherapy
    AT Chemotherapy
    AT is one of the types of chemotherapy given to women with breast cancer that’s node-positive (i.e., the cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes). It includes two drugs: doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and Paclitaxel (Taxol) or docetaxel (Taxotere).

More Regimens for Breast Cancer

  • CAF Chemotherapy for breast cancer
    CAF Chemotherapy
    CAF (sometimes called FAC) is a three-drug "cocktail." This combination, like CMF, is unusual in that it's been found effective for women with both node-negative, and node-positive breast cancer.
  • CMF Chemotherapy for breast cancer
    CMF Chemotherapy
    CMF is a three-drug "cocktail" effective for women with both node-negative, and node-positive breast cancer.
  • EC Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
    EC Chemotherapy
    EC stands for epirubicin (Ellence) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), the two-drug combo that you might get, if the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes.
  • FEC Chemotherapy for breast cancer
    FEC Chemotherapy
    FEC is a common combination of drugs given to women with node-positive breast cancer: i.e., the cancer has spread to one or more of your lymph nodes.

Coping with Chemotherapy

Advice from Women Like You

Read Expert Patient Jacki Donaldson's advice on preparing for chemo, managing during the treatment -- plus, what to expect after you complete your regimen.
Find out more >>

Related Chemotherapy Drugs