There are quite a few chemotherapy drugs commonly used for breast cancer. So we can't say what your doctor will recommend. Usually you would have a combination of about 3 chemotherapy drugs together. But in some circumstances, your specialist may suggest one on its own. The drugs are
Cyclophosphamide
Epirubicin
Fluorouracil (5FU)
Methotrexate
Mitomycin
Mitozantrone
Doxorubicin
Docetaxel (Taxotere)
NICE guidance recommends that adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer should consist of 4 to 8 cycles of a combination of drugs, including an anthracycline (epirubicin or doxorubicin).
In September 2006 NICE approved the chemotherapy drug docetaxel (Taxotere) after surgery for women with early stage breast cancer who have lymph nodes under the arm that contain cancer cells. NICE say docetaxel can be used in combination with the drugs doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (the TAC regime). But NICE didn't recommend the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel (Taxol) for women with this stage of breast cancer.
Some of the most common combinations used for breast cancer are
CMF – cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-FU
FEC – epirubicin, cyclophosphamide and 5-FU
E-CMF – epirubicin, followed by CMF
AC – doxorubicin (adriamycin) and cyclophosphamide
MMM – methotrexate, mitozantrone and mitomycin
MM – methotrexate and mitozantrone
In our main chemotherapy section, we have pages on the specific side effects of individual chemo drugs and chemo combinations. The links above take you to the right page for each drug or combination. Or you can go through the alphabetical list yourself in the section on side effects of specific chemo drugs.
Different combinations of drugs have different side effects. For example, with AC or FEC, you are more likely to lose your hair than with CMF.
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