How Does Ac Chemotherapy Work
Chemotherapy drugs interfere with how cancer cells develop and grow, and different drugs do this in different ways.
AC chemotherapy works by stopping the cancer cells from dividing and multiplying, which blocks the growth of the cancer.
Different chemotherapy drugs attack cancer cells at different stages of their growth. This is why a combination of drugs is often used instead of a single drug.
AC chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, which means it affects cells throughout the body.
Before Starting Ac Chemotherapy
Before starting your treatment some hospitals will arrange a chemotherapy information session. At this appointment a nurse will discuss how and when your chemotherapy will be given and how side effects can be managed.
You may have bloods tests and some people will have an ECG , a simple test that checks your heart rhythm. Your height and weight will also be measured.
Contact numbers will be given so you know who to phone if you have any questions or concerns.
Increased Risk Of Leukemia
Very rarely, certain chemo drugs, such as doxorubicin , can cause diseases of the bone marrow, such as myelodysplastic syndromes or even acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of white blood cells. If this happens, it is usually within 10 years after treatment. For most women, the benefits of chemo in helping prevent breast cancer from coming back or in extending life are far likely to exceed the risk of this rare but serious complication.
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Effects Of Giving Ac Chemotherapy
While the drug cyclophosphamide is being injected, you may feel hot or flushed and slightly dizzy, and have an itchy nose or a metallic taste in your mouth. These feelings usually go away when the injection is finished, but tell your chemotherapy nurse if you experience any of them. Some people find sucking a boiled sweet helps.
Can Chemo Be Postponed
Your chemotherapy might be postponed until your blood cells or platelets recover. You may also get imaging scans to see how well the chemotherapy is working. Short-Term Side Effects of Breast Cancer Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells. But it also kills some healthy cells, causing side effects.
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What Are Live Vaccines
Live vaccines contain a weakened form of the virus or bacteria. These vaccines introduce a small amount of the pathogen to prompt your body to make antibodies that would protect you from infection when you are exposed to the illness in the future.
The flu vaccine FluMist is a nasal spray with a weakened form of the influenza virus. This is one of the live vaccines that should be avoided in people with compromised immune systemsincluding those receiving Taxol.
However, most vaccines are safe during chemotherapy. Inactivated vaccines use pre-killed pathogens , and many vaccines use virus-like substances to stimulate the immune system.
Flushes And Blocked Nose
Some people who have cyclophosphamide have hot flushes or feel like their nose is blocked while the drug is being given. You may also have a strange taste in your mouth. These side effects do not last for long. But if you notice this, ask the nurse to slow down the drip. This will reduce these symptoms.
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How Is Chemotherapy For Breast Cancer Given
Chemo drugs for breast cancer are typically given into a vein , either as an injection over a few minutes or as an infusion over a longer period of time. This can be done in a doctors office, infusion center, or in a hospital setting.
Often, a slightly larger and sturdier IV is required in the vein system to administer chemo. These are known as central venous catheters , central venous access devices , or central lines. They are used to put medicines, blood products, nutrients, or fluids right into your blood. They can also be used to take out blood for testing.
There are many different kinds of CVCs. The most common types are the port and the PICC line. For breast cancer patients, the central line is typically placed on the side opposite of the breast cancer. If a woman has breast cancer in both breasts, the central line will most likely be placed on the side that had fewer lymph nodes removed or involved with cancer.
Chemo is given in cycles, followed by a rest period to give you time to recover from the effects of the drugs. Chemo cycles are most often 2 or 3 weeks long. The schedule varies depending on the drugs used. For example, with some drugs, chemo is given only on the first day of the cycle. With others, it is given one day a week for a few weeks or every other week. Then, at the end of the cycle, the chemo schedule repeats to start the next cycle.
Sex Contraception And Pregnancy
Its not known if chemotherapy drugs can pass through vaginal fluids . Most hospital specialists advise using a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom, for a few days after chemotherapy is given.
Having AC chemotherapy while pregnant may be harmful to a developing baby. Some women can still become pregnant even if their periods are irregular or have stopped. Use a non-hormonal contraception to avoid getting pregnant such as a condom, Femidom or diaphragm. It may also be possible to use a coil . However, you would need to discuss this with your specialist as not all types may be suitable for women with breast cancer.
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Chemo Drugs For Breast Cancer That Has Spread
- Taxanes: Paclitaxel , docetaxel , and albumin-bound paclitaxel
- Antibody drug conjugates
Although drug combinations are often used to treat early breast cancer, advanced breast cancer often is treated with single chemo drugs. Still, some combinations, such as paclitaxel plus gemcitabine, are commonly used to treat metastatic breast cancer.
For cancers that are HER2-positive, one or more drugs that target HER2 may be used with chemo.
Combination Drug Therapy For Early
Combination drug therapy means that you receive more than one type of drug at a time.
Combining drug therapies allows your care team to increase the chances that your treatment will be effective against the breast cancer. If a tumor becomes resistant to one drug, your treatment may still be effective because the tumor responds to the second or third drug in the combination you receive.
Combination therapy can be given before or after breast surgery. Most women receive a combination of two or three drugs at the same time. Some of these drugs are breast cancer targeted therapies. These drugs work by targeting specific molecules involved in breast cancer development.
Here are some of the drug combinations that MSKs medical oncologists commonly prescribe:
Dose-Dense AC-T Chemotherapy
- Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by paclitaxel
- Used to treat early-stage breast cancer, particularly in younger women or women with aggressive disease
- Given intravenously before or after surgery
Dose-Dense AC-TH Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy
- Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by paclitaxel and trastuzumab
- Used to treat early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer
- Given intravenously before or after surgery
Dose-Dense AC-THP Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy
- Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab
- Used to treat early-stage breast cancer
- Given intravenously before or after surgery
CMF Chemotherapy
TC Chemotherapy
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Bladder Irritation And Pink Or Red Urine
Drink plenty of fluids around the time you have your treatment because chemotherapy drugs can irritate the lining of the bladder. Try to empty your bladder regularly, as soon as you feel the urge. Tell your specialist if you notice any irritation or a burning/stinging sensation when passing urine.
Doxorubicin can cause your urine to become pink or red for a couple of days. This is because of the colour of the drug, and is completely normal.
How Ac Is Given
AC can be given after surgery as an adjuvant therapy, or before as a neoadjuvant therapy.
The medicines are usually given by vein on the same day, followed by a rest period of 2 or 3 weeks. When given every 2 weeks, your doctor may call this schedule dose-dense AC chemotherapy. This cycle is usually repeated 4 to 6 times over 3 to 5 months.
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Combination Treatment Every 2 Weeks May Benefit Some Women With High
George T. Budd, MD
Phase III SWOG Trial in Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Patients with hormone receptornegative/HER2-negative high-risk breast cancers may have improved outcome when treated with the once-every-2-week regimen. George T. Budd, MD, and colleagues
In a phase III trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, George T. Budd, MD, of Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues found no difference in disease-free survival among four different combinations of continuous or every-other-week doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide and weekly or every-2-week paclitaxel in patients with node-positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer.1 Both the AC comparison and the paclitaxel comparison were halted for futility at interim analyses. In the current analysis, a difference in overall survival was observed among regimens, and subgroup analysis suggested benefit of every-2-week AC and every-2-week paclitaxel among patients with hormone receptornegative/HER2-negative disease.
Study Details
This 2 × 2 factorial design trial tested two hypotheses: that a novel continuous schedule of AC was superior to six cycles of AC once every 2 weeks and that paclitaxel once per week was superior to six cycles of paclitaxel once every 2 weeks.
Futility Boundaries Crossed
Evidence of Interaction
Survival Results
Subset Analysis
Toxicity
Reference
How Long Does Breast Cancer Treatment Last
If youre lucky and catch your condition early on, then your breast cancer treatment will generally last between three and six months. This assumes there is no further growth while you are undergoing treatment. In more advanced cases, you should typically expect a minimum of six months of treatment. How far it goes beyond that depends on how many surgeries you need and how far the cancer has spread.
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Chemotherapy For Metastatic Breast Cancer
Advances in treatment are making it possible for women with metastatic breast cancer to live for many years. New drug therapies can not only slow down or stop a tumors growth but also keep symptoms at bay.
Which treatment your doctor recommends will vary based on your medical history, age, and breast cancer type, among other factors. Combinations of drugs are commonly prescribed for women with early-stage disease. Most women with advanced breast cancer generally receive only one drug at a time.
Chemotherapy drugs that MSK doctors commonly prescribe for advanced breast cancer include:
Women with advanced disease can also benefit from genomic testing. This is also called tumor sequencing or molecular profiling. It is offered to all MSK patients with metastatic breast cancer. Genomic testing involves looking at the cancer cells to see if there are any genetic mutations that could be linked to the specific type of breast cancer you have.
Our experts use a highly sophisticated testing approach developed by MSK researchers called MSK-IMPACT. The information gained from MSK-IMPACT can help us personalize your care. We can rule out drug therapies that may not work for you or sometimes recommend cutting-edge clinical trials designed to target the specific mutations in your tumor.
This Chemo Drug Has Several Uses Including The Treatment Of Breast Cancer
Taxol is a chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer. It is one of the most effective and commonly used drugs for breast cancer treatment and it can be used in all stages of the disease. Sometimes it is used to treat other types of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and Kaposi sarcoma.
If you or someone you know has been prescribed this drug , there are some essential things to know about it.
This article explains how Taxol works, along with the dosage, side effects, and risks.
Echo / Getty Images
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When Would Adriamycin And Cyclophosphamide Be Used
The combination of Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide may be used to treat early-stage localized breast cancer that may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes. It is usually followed by weekly paclitaxel or docetaxel , to create a combination regimen referred to as AC-T or ACT .
Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide may also be given when breast cancer has returned, or for breast cancer that has spread to distant areas of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs or brain.
Does Chemo Affect Hair
Some chemotherapy drugs damage the genetic material of the cells. Others interfere with the way the cells divide. However, some also affect other fast-growing cells in the body, such as hair, blood cells, and cells in the stomach lining and mouth. This accounts for some of the more common side effects.
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Does Komen Provide Better Coverage For Iv Chemo
Efforts to increase fairness in drug coverage. Komen supports state and federal efforts to require insurers to provide the same or better coverage for oral chemotherapy as they do for IV chemotherapy. This would help ensure patients have access to affordable, appropriate treatment. Become a Komen Advocacy Insider.
What Is The Main Effect Of Chemotherapy
In cancer treatment, chemotherapy refers to the use of drugs whose main effect is either to kill or to slow the growth of rapidly multiplying cancer cells. Chemotherapy often includes using a combination of drugs, since this approach is more effective than using a single drug alone. There are many drug combinations used to treat breast cancer.
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Side Effects Of Breast Cancer Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy usually works by attacking rapidly dividing cells. This means that chemotherapy can harm not only cancer cells but also healthy cells that are dividing rapidly, like the ones that cause your hair to grow.
Whether you have side effects from breast cancer chemotherapy will depend on the details of your treatment plan. The care teams at MSK are committed to helping you feel your best during and after treatment. During treatment, well watch carefully for your reaction to the drugs and adjust the drugs or dose as necessary. Well also continue to monitor you for possible long-term effects after your treatment ends.
We offer a variety of other specialized services to support you during your treatment. Many MSK patients find that our Integrative Medicine Service can be a valuable part of their treatment plan. Programs include massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, visualization, music therapy, and nutritional counseling.
One side effect of chemotherapy can be hair loss. MSK offers scalp cooling to help minimize hair loss. Learn more about scalp cooling, or ask your care team for more information.
How Does Adriamycin And Cyclophosphamide Work
Adriamycin belongs to a class of cancer medicines called anthracycline antibiotics. It works by damaging the DNA inside cancer cells so they cannot replicate. It works at any point in the cell cycle.
Cyclophosphamide belongs to a class of cancer medicines called alkylating agents. Cyclophosphamide prevents cancer cells from dividing by cross-linking DNA strands and decreasing DNA synthesis. It works during the resting phase of the cancer cell cycle.
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Sore Mouth And Throat
This treatment may cause a sore mouth and throat. You may also get mouth ulcers. This can make you more likely to get a mouth or throat infection. Use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth or dentures in the morning, at night and after meals.
If your mouth or throat is sore:
- tell your nurse or doctor they can give you a mouthwash or medicines to help
- try to drink plenty of fluids
- avoid alcohol, tobacco, and foods that irritate your mouth and throat.
Sucking ice chips may sometimes help relieve mouth or throat pain. But if you are having radiotherapy to the head or neck, do not suck on ice. It can cause damage.
How Long Treatment Lasts
Youll usually have four to six cycles of AC chemotherapy, over three-four months. Both drugs are given on the same day, every three weeks.
The time between each cycle of treatment gives your body time to recover.
This may vary depending on whether the number of blood cells has returned to normal between each cycle.
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How Is Ac Chemotherapy Given
AC chemotherapy is given intravenously . This will usually be as an infusion into the hand or arm, although other intravenous methods may be used depending on factors such as how easy it is for chemotherapy staff to find suitable veins, and your preferences.
Read about the different ways chemotherapy may be given.
Youll normally be given your treatment at hospital as an outpatient or day case, which means youll be able to go home on the same day.
Weekly Taxol Improves Survival In Early Breast Cancer
The chemotherapy schedule that includes once-weekly administration of Taxol® in combination with Adriamycin® and Cytoxan® appears most effective in early breast cancer. These results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Early breast cancer is cancer is confined to the breast and/or lymph nodes under the arm. Standard therapy for early breast cancer typically includes a combination of chemotherapy agents often these chemotherapy agents include Adriamycin and Cytoxan , followed by a taxane . Until now, taxanes appeared to have similar anticancer activity to one another. Different treatment schedules including a taxane have been used, with the most common being once per week or once every three weeks.
Researchers affiliated with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group , the Southwest Oncology Group , the Cancer and Acute Leukemia Group G , and the North Central Cancer Treatment Group recently conducted a clinical trial that directly compared different taxanes as well as different treatment schedules. This trial included nearly 5,000 women with early breast cancer who were treated with standard AC followed by one of the following schedules including a taxane: Taxol every three weeks Taxol once per week Taxotere every three weeks or Taxotere once per week. Follow-up was approximately five years.
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