Does Chemotherapy Work?
February 15th, 2012 | 
Author: Chemotherapy can be a frightening experience. Knowing what to expect from the treatment process — from medicines and their side effects to the length of recovery period and much more — can make the whole experience less scary. Learn from one woman, who is actually a cancer-drug pharmacist by trade, about what she experienced throughout breast cancer chemotherapy treatment. In this story from leading women’s health information resource Lifescript.com, find out her full story, and get doctor-recommended advice on how to cope with side effects from chemotherapy.
Amy Barr of Ohio knew what to expect when she set out to start chemo for breast cancer in 2010, since she is an oncology pharmacist with a specialty in cancer drugs. In 2009, Barr noticed a strange line in her left breast. The line appeared, and then disappeared, so Barr dismissed it. But it reappeared as a dimpled line a little over a year later. Barr found out after testing that she had a breast tumor the size of a lemon and the cancer was also in her lymph node. To help her better visualize fighting off the tumor, Barr named it “Timmy” after a man with which she once went out on a bad date. She knew that she wanted to try neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a type of therapy given before surgery or other treatments.
With her expertise, Barr was able to work in tandem with her doctor to design her own chemo regimen. She opted for Taxotere, Adriamycin and Cytoxan, also known as “TAC” and had the treatment for six cycles.
Patients like Barr with stage 3, or locally advanced, breast cancer are usually given TAC or AC followed by T (four cycles of Adriamycin and Cytoxan, and then four cycles of Taxol, which is similar to Taxotere).
Chemo in breast cancer isn’t meant to reduce the size of the tumor, as is usually the case with other cancers. Instead, it’s meant to destroy microscopic cells that may have spread beyond the breast(s).
Barr’s treatment included anti-nausea medications as well as medicines to support her immune system and combat dehydration.
If you ever wonder ‘does chemotherapy work?’ check out the full article for an in-depth account of the treatment experience and get more recovery tips from Barr. Find extensive chemotherapy information and doctors’ tips on how to combat fatigue, fight loss of appetite, and cope with other chemotherapy side effects, including swelling (edema), “chemo brain,” and genitourinary tract irritation, among others.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).
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