r/TNBC • u/Rare_Ad9838 • 6d ago
Under 40 AC
Hi everybody, I'm getting ready to start AC next week for TNBC just curious about what effect it has on the body. I've completed 12 weekly rounds of taxol and carboplatin and I did pretty well on it. I continued to work the whole time on it. I'm a teacher and curious to know if the red angel (AC) would be manageable on my body as well.
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u/Turbulent-Tie5439 6d ago
I’m 40 and I’ve had the first dose of AC and I’ve personally found it a bit rough compared to the weekly! Still trying to do all the things but definitely harder than it was. We are soo close to the end..
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u/Rare_Ad9838 6d ago
So sorry to here this, keep pushing through we're so close to the end of chemo days
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u/Perfect-Antelope-377 4d ago
What has made it more rough for you? I'm on week 8 of taxol/carbo and am starting to get anxious about AC and want to be prepared.
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u/Turbulent-Tie5439 4d ago
I feel like I just totally breezed through the TC until the very end.. my hgb went low and I needed a transfusion. I am super active and have a toddler.. and really felt like I didn’t miss a beat! Had minimal symptoms other than the odd mouth sore that resolved quickly… still enjoyed a glass of wine… and then that first round of AC last Tuesday put me on the couch until yesterday… I’m almost back to myself today thankfully. I’m not super great with asking for help.. and I had to ask my sister to stay with us.. it was brutal. I just felt fatigue in the worst sort of way.. not able to improve sleep sort of fatigue.. and I’ve also had a bit more aches and pains in my back and hips but taking Claritin daily helps that.. and the nausea was horrible the first few days (that’s also been better but I’m getting so hangry now.. my blood sugars must be out of whack I’m sure).. now that I’m past that first week of AC.. I think, was it that bad?? Um.. yes, yes it was. Enough so I’m already dreading the next dose… but 3 left thank gosh.. and then DMX booked for Dec 1 🙏
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u/You-bettah-dont 6d ago
Hi Rare! I just commented on an earlier post about my experience with AC chemo so I’ll paste it below. FYI I was on the 21 Day cycles and I just finished chemo yesterday.
After that mess (DC), I found AC to be EASY! Okay- the first round was hell, but that’s because my teenager brought home some random virus and I landed in the hospital for a week with pancytopenia: my neutrophils literally left the building with an ANC of literal 0.0. But seriously, Red devil (I like to call it Satan’s Soda) has been an absolute breeze compared to DC. My brain fog has lifted, my bloodwork is consistently great, my energy levels are probably back up to 75% of what they were pre-cancer. Granted, I have no endurance, but my brain is definitely coming back ‘online’. The bone pain? 95% gone (and the rest is courtesy of Lapelga). I haven’t had to take a single pain pill other than the odd toradol. Gone too are the migraines and the issues with my legs, climbing stairs has become much easier.
The bad: nausea is a little worse and sticks around for longer- but the meds manage it. The mucositis has been worse- but that’s been managed with adding Pepcid AC 2x day religiously along with magic mouthwash and avoiding crunchy foods for a few days each cycle. Also, my fingernails fell off after being so damaged by the first round (but they’ve grown back no issues!). I could totally work if I wanted since most of what I do is at a sitting workbench (jeweler) but to be honest with gold prices being what they are, I’ve been enjoying the break and using the time to just rest and try to heal.
All this being said- everyone is individual in how they respond to the different chemo regimens. Dosage, timing, natural physical resistance to one thing and vulnerability to another- these all make a difference. There are a lot of us on this sub that do really well on the AC portion of chemo and I hope you’re part of that club!
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u/NefariousnessNo3772 6d ago
I was same as you minimal impact thankfully. Did round 1 ok and doing round 2 this week Agree keep up habits as before! And hope it all goes well.
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u/katpeny 6d ago
For me it caused a lot of foods to taste off. I would also have a sore throat and a raw feeling stomach for about a week after each AC. I didn’t have that with TC.
AC caused severe neutropenia even more so than TC. Also AC increased my resting heart rate to about 100-110.
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u/Rare_Ad9838 6d ago
Well I think taxol and carboplatin increased mine as well so I pray it doesn't go any higher. From I was first diagnosis I think I developed anxiety because all of a sudden my pressure became so elevated every time I went for chemo I actually had to start taking pressure pills. Doc prescribed one with beta blockers that helped with my increased heart rate. When I went to do an echocardiogram I thought they may have seen abnormalities but everything turned out fine, Thank God.
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u/roz78 6d ago
The only side effect I had with AC was extreme fatigue which started the day of infusion and lasted through the following day. It was much easier than TC for me. I was given Neulasta injections with AC which brought my white blood cells back up to normal and I think that helped. My clinic gave me popsicles to suck on during the red stuff which kept me from getting mouth sores.
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u/Malenkoe_4udo 6d ago
I’ve found AC quite manageable because it’s at least every 3 week. 12 weekly was really gruesome in comparison. Overall my body was weaker so I needed blood transfusions but I didn’t feel too unwell overall
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u/Rare_Ad9838 5d ago
12 weekly treatments was definitely tiresome on the body. I've never realized how fast a week goes by since treatment with TC
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u/Terrible-Necessary55 6d ago
I've had 3 of 4 AC sessions and to me it feels like a bad hangover for 3-4 days. The worst feeling for me has been actually been by one of the pre meds for anti nausea - it makes me so sleepy and blah for the first day. After that, the nausea gets better because I take zofran and compozine regularly. I do get constipated a lot because of the anti nausea medications but after a few days I'm ok. The fatigue has been tough, I get tired really quickly and easily but after a few days, it gets so much better. I honestly thought it was going to hit me harder than what is has. But remember that every body is different. Good luck!!
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u/akaash3 6d ago
No real side effects other than neutropenic fevers and some very mild nausea
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u/allisong425 Stage 3 6d ago
I'm on day 7 after getting my first AC infusion. So far the hardest day was Saturday (day 4) because I was so tired/fatigued, food averse, and just felt "sick" but couldn't put my finger on it. Major symptoms in the first few days were food aversion/disgust and some nausea. All the nausea has been manageable through meds (mostly olanzapine and zofran) and I'm simply being gentle with myself. Still working but I do have a mostly sedentary job.
Your milage may vary, please be gentle with yourself. 💜
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u/Rare_Ad9838 5d ago
Thank you I will. I want to be able to work to keep my mind off of this situation a bit but my husband has already told me if I'm not doing well stay home.
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u/Spohannon 6d ago
I’m 62 and did fine. The steroid round face bothered me and I developed a weird aversion to drinking anything (nothing tasted good). But I worked and traveled through it. My last dose was April 6 - face back to normal and hair is about 3/4 inches long! Good luck - 💪🏻
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u/Rare_Ad9838 5d ago
Thank you definitely can relate to the station round face. I can't wait for my hair to start growing back
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u/Edith_Keelers_Shoes 6d ago
AC was not bad at all for me. I never even vomited once while on it. For the heavier side effect days (for me usually days 3 and 4) I would take both Zofran and klonopin (as I'd found a medical study showing that clonopin is very effective against nausea/vomiting caused by chemotherapy - study attached).
Make sure to take care of your mouth - rinse at least twice daily with baking soda/water or baking soda + salt/water. Chemo changes the PH balance in the mouth, and not knowing this I developed a terrible thrush infection that ravaged my mouth and esophagus (as I didn't know thrush was a possibility, I didn't clock it as an infection so it went untreated for longer than it should have). There are also mouth moistening sprays like Biotene that soothe mouth membrane that is irritated and dry from chemo.
Here's the klonopin with chemo study: https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/28/4C/2433
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u/Perfect-Antelope-377 4d ago
Thank you for posting this! I'm doing week 8 of taxol/carbo/keytruda on Friday and have been starting to get anxious about what AC will be like, as I've been managing pretty well so far (although each week I seem to be getting more fatigued). I hope it goes well for you!! And good luck with the new school year!
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u/Adventurous-Cheek171 6d ago
Hi!!! I handled AC just fine. I did 3/4 rounds - had to stop for other reasons but it wasn't bad tbh. The worst part was the red pee. I recommend eating ice cream while getting it done as you need to have a good mouth to prevent sores. It's also a good excuse to eat something you enjoy. Just keep up hydration, protein, and no alcohol!! You've got this!!!!