Breast cancer, the abnormal growth of cells that originates in the breast tissue, is the second most common cancer in women. The American Cancer Society estimates that one in eight women will have invasive breast cancer sometime in their lives. Chemotherapy, the delivery of drugs to destroy or inhibit cancer cells from growing and spreading, is often used before surgery, after surgery or on its own to treat breast cancer. There are many chemotherapy medications and most treatments utilize a combination of medications to more effectively kill the cancer and prevent it from returning.
Adriamycin and Cytoxan (AC)
Adriamycin, also called doxorubicin, is an anthracyclin medication that closely resembles an antibiotic that is administered by injection. This red medication can turn bodily fluids, including urine red in the hours after treatment. Common side effects of doxorubicin are mouth sores and hair loss. Cytoxan, generically known as cyclophosphamide, may be given as an oral tablet or as an injection. Cytoxan often causes nausea and vomiting, and also irritates the lining of the bladder resulting in urinary discomfort. AC treatment, one of the most popular for breast cancer, is given in four to six rounds over a three-to six-month period according to information provided by the University of Virginia Health System.
Adriamycin and Taxotere (AT)
Taxotere, a member of the taxane group of medications, is also paired with Adriamycin. This regimen of chemotherapy is often prescribed for patients when they have lymph nodes that tested positive for cancer cells. Taxotere is given as an intravenous injection, just as Adriamycin. It can cause a variety of side effects, including a weakened immune system, nausea, mouth sores, hair loss and fatigue.
Cytoxan, Methotrexate and Fluorouracil (CMF)
CMF chemotherapy treatment is usually used as an adjuvant therapy, meaning it is given along with another form of therapy. It has been found very useful in preventing cancer from returning when given after surgery. CMF is usually administered in 21 or 28 day cycles with a total of six cycles given. The side effects of this regimen may involve all the side effects of each individual medication. The most common side effects are an increased risk of infection, fatigue and an increase risk of bruising. Although hair loss is a possibility, patients are less likely to experience this side effect than when taking other combination therapies like AC.
Fluorouracil, Adriamycin and Cytoxan (FAC or CAF)
The chemotherapy combination of fluorouracil, adriamycin and cytoxan may be called FAC or CAF, depending on how the doses are administered. FAC treatments are often used on women who are pregnant and need to receive chemotherapy. Although the treatment may affect future fertility, it has been found relatively safe to use during the second and third trimesters according to BreastCancer.org.
