16 Chemo sessions??? Any one else went through this?

[mommysgirl]

Hi all,

My mother aged 50 is suffering from Breast Cancer as most of you know through my previous posts and questions. Yesterday I came to know that the doctor at Max Hospitals Saket, Delhi has advised 16 chemo sessions for her in all! I was surprised to know the number. Most of you here have 6 sessions or something like that. Then why is it 16 for her? I am confused.

Her chemo cycles have been divided in to 4 high dose (each 3 weeks apart) and 12 (weekly) supposedly low dose sessions. She has gone through first two high dose ones. I thought it would be 4 more for her.. but its 14 more now! Please explain about this. I am really puzzled. My dad is the only one who talks to the doctor about everything. And I cant ask him as he is really depressed himself. I googled about it but could not find anything. This forum is my last resort.

Thanks

MG

[kontak TeamBCI]

MG - its really disturbing to hear - but not heard till yet of 16 cycles- lets seek other members help

[shirdi]

MG

i also dont know how. Dr. Sumeet can help us.

[sumeet_shah Administrator]

MG, technically, it is only 8 cycles.

What they have done is, split the last 4 chemo cycles into 12 cycles. You see, for example, we can give 300 mg of chemo every 3 weeks, or we can split that into 100 mg chemo every week. The total dose is the same. But this splitting of last 4 chemo (Taxane) into 12 cycles reduces the side effects and is very helpful.

last 4 cycles x 300mg = 1200 mg in total

OR

split into 100 mg x 12 cycles = 1200 mg in total

So it's not 16 cycles really. It is only 8 cycles (4 cycles with some drug and 4 cycles with other drug). It's just that last 4 cycles have been split into 12 to reduce the side effects. And it's very effective. We too do the same in many patients. Only one thing, in these patients, a PORT is preferable

[1028]

My mom was suffering from triple negative breast cancer with metastastis in bones n lever was given 12 chemo therapies....