TC Chemo Regimen 4 Rounds

I had stage 1 breast cancer, and the same TC, 4 rounds. My oncotype DX score was 34, and results showed doing 4 rounds and then 5 yrs of Tamoxifen med, will lower the score by 18%.
I was able to tolerate TC and was able to work from home. Did my treatment on a Thursday, the crashed til Mon to recovery and start work. I did the treatments alone, self care.

My journey thus far is a mirror of what you described. My oncotype score is 51% Im waiting for my 1st infusion treatment and have so many questions too. Still trying to wrap my head around how a 1cm lump can cause so much havoc! Hopefully more people will answer our concerns. Good luck to you as well!

Good morning, I had a very similar diagnosis, TNBC, stage 1B, no lymph node involvement, grade two.

I'm sorry I pressed submit I was not finished. And I started chemo almost exactly around when you will 2 years ago. I did four treatments of anthracycline (Red devil) and got through 10 of 16 taxol treatment.
I wore cold mitts and booties during my taxol treatment and I'm sure that helped however I did get some neuropathy in my toes. I have been getting acupuncture for the last year and I do believe it has helped. You're under light anesthesia when you get the pork put in so you don't feel anything. The doctor gave me lidocaine to put over the port the days I was getting my infusions. I learned if I put it on about 2 hours before and put it on really thick, it numbed my skin enough that I never felt the infusion needle at all.
For me, the fatigue was tough. I tried to walk a little bit everyday whatever I could, that felt important. It was hard for a busy bee to learn to pace myself, I'm still working on that haha! I found a nice bath helped me everyday. You will get through this, one step at a time.
Here's helping you feel good enough for your cruise, a good thing is on a cruise you have a room to relax in whenever you want to! And it will be something really wonderful to look forward to. Because the day you're finished with your chemo you'll be wanting to jump for joy.

I’m was about the same picture as you, got 4 rounds of TC in 2023. Did get a port because my veins are bad - they would stick me in 2-3 places every time I needed a cath for ct or mri so it seemed easier. I was under anesthesia for it (that surgeon required full anesthesia for placement) but it was removed later with a local. When they first used it, I was just told to take a deep breath as they put the needle in, but later someone asked if I needed the “freeze spray” which apparently was available to avoid the puncture discomfort. So if not offered, you may want to ask. Also was never offered any freeze caps, mittens etc - read about these as all this developed. Lost hair within first 2 weeks. I got infusion on Thursday, they put the Neulasta injection for 24 hours later (Friday afternoon). Would get bone/joint pain starting Saturday evening - first one was bad so took ibuprofen starting Saturday morning after that and it was fine - achy but not the massive pain. Sunday was my BAD DAY. I would just plan on sleeping, resting in recliner - whatever to get through the day but by Monday afternoon, I was doing fine - not “normal” but almost. Did get neuropathy in feet and legs with last infusion. They said it should go away in a few weeks but mine held on for months. Finally he suggested alpha lipoic acid and that cleared 90% of it over about 6 months. Still have mild neuropathy which seems to flare up with the exemestane.
I don’t know anything about tear ducts but am going to look that up because I am having massive problems with eyes in that location - extreme itching and discomfort, swelling, tears will run down my face at times. Never had this before so now wonder is it’s another side effect of all this.

Hi,
It's great to hear you have stage 1a and clean margins without lymph node involvement. I have stage 2a TNBC and am currently receiving 12 sessions of TC with immunotherapy (keytruda). The main and most common side effects of this chemo are nausea and fatigue which have been manageable for me.
I do wear Suzzi pads (feet and hands) during my Taxol infusion which lasts an hour. We bring them already frozen in a cooler. I put on surgical gloves and winter gloves inside the hand mitts and wool socks under the feet mits. It feels really cold and these help while not interfering with their effectiveness. The cancer center also has extra Suzzi mits for patients in case you need them. I am on my 7th infusion of 12 this week and have no issue with neuropathy yet. I also take B12 and B6 which are supposed to help.
The port placement is a minor procedure and isn't painful. It's more uncomfortable to have this foreign object under your skin. Use ice on it after the surgery and take tylenol. You may have to adjust how you sleep depending on which side they put it on (right or left). Good luck during your treatment and enjoy your cruise!!

You can ask for the port incision be aligned with where the natural wrinkles will be or are instead of straight across. The small scar will be more hidden over the years.

I am a challenging stick so chose a port. I don't recall if I had a general or local but was completely knocked out during the procedure with no major pain afterwards. I've gone through 4 rounds of TC, multiple blood labs drawn, and one infusion of Zometa all using the port. The nurses are excellent and I've required no numbing of the area. They insert the needle to the count of 3 and I take breath on 3. But the availability of numbing the port area is an option if you prefer. I know many people can't wait to remove their port but I'm so grateful to have it. It's made my life and that of the nurses much easier. I still have mine in since I am having blood work done fairly regularly.

I agree with people recommending the use of the ice packs to reduce the chance of neuropathy with certain chemo drugs like Taxotere. I wore compression socks and thin gloves as a barrier between my skin and the ice packs. I brought 2 sets of ice packs for each infusion because they warm up after a while and would sub in the second set. I kept the second set in a small Igloo lunch carrier along with some frozen ice packs.

Hope all goes well and you can enjoy that cruise!

Thanks everyone for your comments, very helpful. I have not started yet but will be scheduled for 4 cycles of TC - one cycle every 3 weeks. I am 74 years old and was wondering if anyone has any experience on possible side effects for older patients. I have heard that side effects differ by patient but was just curious to learn about vulnerabilities for older patients

@flojo51 I replied earlier but didn’t say, I was 71 when I had my chemo. I still have some abnormal white counts, lymphocyte count has never recovered but not necessarily due to my age. There was an article that came out about 6 months after I finished (of course) that indicated women over 65 will have more problems recovering and should rethink chemo. I still think I would do it because having another round of everything or mets might be worse than chemo effects. I guess my biggest problem is trying to decide if I can blame my problem on the treatment or if it’s just because I’m old!