Post #32- My Clinical Trial Chemotherapy Generalities

Just found out some good news while looking up chemo stuff on the internet. :)

The results of a Phase III clinical trial, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, concluded that Taxotere (docetaxel) plus Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) resulted in better cancer free survival than the treatment combination of Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide).

Adriamycin and Cytoxan, referred to as the AC chemotherapy regime, has been the gold standard for adjuvant therapy for those patients diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. This study was conducted on more than 1000 women who had Stage I to Stage III disease. Half of the women were given the AC regime and the other half given the Taxotere/Cytoxan (TC) regime.

The results of the study showed that cancer free survival was 86 percent for those treated with TC an 80 percent among women treated with AC. Overall survival was 90 percent among women treated with TC and 87 percent among women treated with AC. Nausea and vomiting were more common among women treated with AC. Muscle and joint pain, edema, and low white blood cell counts accompanied by fever were more common among patients treated with TC.

MY CLINICAL TRIAL and CHEMO INFO
Study Title- Phase II Trial of Adjuvant TC (Docetaxel/Cyclophosphamide) plus Trastuzumab(Herceptin) in Her2- Positive Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients

The goal of this clinical study is to determine if a shorter course of chemotherapy with TC, when combined with standard Herceptin, is safe and effective in the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.

Procedures:
I will receive IV Taxotere and Cytoxan on Day 1 and IV Herceptin on Days 1, 8 and 15 of each 21-day treatment period, or cycle for a total of 4 cycles. Once 4 cycles of TC+H have been received, I will continue to receive only IV Herceptin once every 21 days to complete 1 year total of Herceptin therapy, which is the current standard of care for early stage HER2+ breast cancer.

I will also have a echocardiogram every 3 months plus much more. The onocological nurse was giving me a schedule over the phone that she is preparing to give me when I see her on 12/15. It is a lot of check ups, tests and follow ups during the trial and after for three years. That makes me feel good about this trial because I see that I will be taken care of properly. So I will give you all the specific details on 12/15