Has anyone with TNBC avoided red devil chemo due to heart issues?

Many people in this community have explored different chemotherapy options with their oncology teams when standard protocols aren't suitable due to heart concerns or other medical factors. This is definitely a conversation worth having with your medical team, as they can discuss alternative treatment approaches that may be appropriate for your specific situation and help weigh the benefits and risks of different options for TNBC.

I’m 53 and was diagnosed with TNBC on 01/09/26. My treatment plan is currently awaiting the results of the MRI (to determine if the C has spread to my lumbar spine).

Hi Michelle , I understand you concerned about ur house issue . That is an aggressive kind of cancer n I was recommended to start with the red devil . I don’t know in which state or country u r from . I live in Massachusetts n both oncologist I consulted recommended the same treatment.

That's what I'm afraid of I'm from California and don't want to beat cancer to then have heart problems due to my history

Michelle et all, I have a very aggressive triple negative IDC and BRCA 2. My sister died from ovarian cancer and literally most of my family and relatives died of cancer. I had 3 months of weekly, aggressively dosed Carbo/Taxol, followed by 3 months of every other week of Adriamycin the red devil/ Cytoxan. I had to have an echocardiogram done prior and weekly blood work… my doses were mega doses, but I was and still am being watched closely and am doing well. Chemo is not easy but I was told a necessity. I was given premedications to tolerate the treatments. I am an ICU RN for over 45 years and I followed recommendations, knowing my cancer is very aggressive. I required double mastectomies, opted for implants as skin sparing, and my tiny tumor and clear surgical margins and nodes in surgery still spread to one node within a year, and that is when my chemo journey began. I had surgery to remove the cancerous node post chemo, than had oral chemo, hi dosed radiation 3 weeks to entire right chest, and am on a PARP med Lynparza for a year to inhibit the BRCA gene mutation. I cannot have immunotherapy due to autoimmune diseases and risk of sudden death. I follow an aggressive exercise program walking every day, eat well, knowing this is recommended for aggressive cancers. No journey is easy and 2 years into this, I am doing well, labs still every other week, PET CT scans every 6 months. I’m no evidence of further disease to date, but remission or being “cancer free” is not mentioned, as nursing education states this is not talked or mentioned until at least 5 years. I’m praying for everyone. We have choices and many cancers are very treatable and curable… if you desire to refuse treatments, please talk to your Oncologist. He or she can probably prescribe alternatives. I also have and still experience about every side effect mentioned, managing through symptoms with prayer and medication if needed. My white cells and red cells have been critically low but were managed. I have had exhaustion, nausea, total hair loss, mouth, foot and hand blisters, neuropathies, loss of taste, etc. A year following aggressive chemo, my hair is growing back wonderful. Again, nothing is easy but as an RN in critical care, I have seen and heard many regrets when care is refused. Please try to focus on positives and find support. My prayers to everyone. 🙏❤️