TC chemotherapy is the combination of Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide. This regimen has been approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and is usually used for the treatment of breast cancer. According to research, TC chemotherapy improves disease free survival. TC chemotherapy is helpful if given in the early stage breast cancer.

Taxotere or docetaxel was approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for use by women with node-positive breast cancer in 2004. Approval was based on various studies for women with this type of cancer along with a long track record of earlier studies for women with advanced cancer. Also Taxotere when added to the FEC chemotherapy  regimen (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) reduces the risk of recurrence of disease and extends survival in women with node-positive breast cancer. Thus it increases breast cancer chemotherapy benefits and side effects are reduced too.

However, combination of Taxotere and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy drugs offers more benefits in term of survival and side effects. Before TC chemotherapy, combination of Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and cyclophosphamide also known as AC chemotherapy  is used as standard chemotherapy regimen for women with early-stage breast cancer for many years. But Adriamycin can cause heart problems while Taxotere does not.

TC chemotherapy is applied as adjuvant chemotherapy (applied after surgery) for women with early stage breast cancer. According to studies, TC chemotherapy has proven to give better chances of disease free survival.

TC Chemotherapy Regimen

TC is usually given intravenously and on the same day. In most of the cases, Taxotere is slowly infused into the vein for a period of 30 to 60 minutes. This treatment for one day is given every week. This is one cycle of TC chemotherapy. After a rest period, the treatment is repeated again. These three weekly cycles are given four to six times. Thus, patients are usually given 4 to 6 cycles of TC chemotherapy.
TC Chemotherapy Side Effects

Before starting with TC chemotherapy, your doctor might prescribe you some medicines or drugs in order to minimize any allergies. You can also be given some drugs in order reduce any reaction that might occur due to infusion. The side effect can vary from one person to another. All the side effects mentioned here do not occur in all the patients. Similarly, the side effects may also vary in severity in patients.. These side effects include heartburn, nausea, fatigue, hair loss, memory loss, loss of appetite, vomiting, low blood cell count, neutropenia, bleeding, headache, mouth sores, eye sores and susceptibility to infection. Some patients can also complain of headache, bladder irritation, constipation, diarrhea, and even temporary infertility. Most of these side effects go away slowly once the treatment is over.

If you have more doubts about TC chemotherapy, you should consult your doctor. There are several precautions that you might be asked to undertake while you are given chemotherapy treatment. Do not skip any medicine or drug prescribed to you. If you happen to do so, seek the advice of your oncologist immediately.