Chemotherapy Drugs for Early Breast Cancer
Learn about chemotherapy drugs for:
Chemotherapy for early and locally advanced breast cancer
The table below lists the most effective drugs for treating early and locally advanced breast cancer.
Chemotherapy drugs for early and locally advanced breast cancer | ||
Drug (abbreviation) | Brand name | Pill or IV drug (given by vein through an IV) |
5-fluorouracil (5FU) | Various brand names | IV drug |
Capecitabine | Xeloda | Pill |
Carboplatin | Paraplatin | IV drug |
Cyclophosphamide (C) | Cytoxan | Pill or IV drug |
Docetaxel (T) | Taxotere | IV drug |
Doxorubicin (A) | Adriamycin | IV drug |
Epirubicin (E) | Ellence | IV drug |
Methotrexate (M) | Various brand names | Pill or IV drug |
Paclitaxel (T) | Taxol | IV drug |
Chemotherapy schedule
Chemotherapy is usually given over 3-6 months. It’s given in cycles, with days or weeks off between treatments. This gives your body a chance to recover between treatments.
Your schedule will depend on the combination of drugs given.
Common chemotherapy drug combinations
The table below lists common drug combinations used to treat early and locally advanced breast cancer. Other combinations are also used.
Chemotherapy drug combinations for early and locally advanced breast cancer | |
HER2-negative breast cancers | |
Drug (abbreviation) | Chemotherapy drug combination |
AC | Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide |
AC—>Paclitaxel (T) | Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel |
AC—> Docetaxel (T) | Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel |
TAC | Docetaxel, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide |
TC | Cyclophosphamide and docetaxel |
CMF | Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil |
EC | Epirubicin and cyclophosphamide |
Paclitaxel and carboplatin | Paclitaxel and carboplatin |
Docetaxel and carboplatin | Docetaxel and carboplatin |
Pembrolizumab* and chemotherapy (KEYNOTE) | Pembrolizumab and chemotherapy, usually with paclitaxel and carboplatin, followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide |
* Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug and is only used in combination with chemotherapy. | |
HER2-positive breast cancers | |
Drug (abbreviation) | Chemotherapy drug combination |
TCH† | Docetaxel, carboplatin and trastuzumab (Herceptin) |
TCHP† | Docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab and pertuzumab (Perjeta) |
AC—>Paclitaxel (T) H | Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel and trastuzumab |
AC—>Paclitaxel (T) HP | Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab |
TH† | Paclitaxel and trastuzumab |
THP† | Paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab |
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1)†† | Ado-trastuzumab emtansine |
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† TCH, TCHP, TH and THP are not used without the HER2-targeted therapy drug trastuzumab. †† T-DM1 is a HER2 antibody-drug conjugate. It consists of trastuzumab (T) and a chemotherapy drug called DM1. |
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To learn more about a specific chemotherapy drug, visit the National Institutes of Health’s Medline Plus website.
HER2-positive tumors
All breast cancers are tested for HER2 status to help guide treatment.
If a tumor is HER2-positive, the HER2-targeted therapy drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) is included in the chemotherapy regimen. Sometimes other drugs that target HER2 are used.
Learn more about trastuzumab and other HER2-targeted therapies for early breast cancer.
Learn more about other drug therapies for early breast cancer.
Antibody-drug conjugates
Special antibody therapies are designed to target certain cancer cells. Antibody-drug conjugates are a combination of an antibody therapy and a chemotherapy drug.
For example, the antibody-drug conjugates ado-trastuzumab emtasine (Kadcyla, T-DM1) combines the HER2-targeted therapy drug trastuzumab and the chemotherapy drug DM1. This allows the targeted delivery of the chemotherapy to HER2-positive cancer cells.
Prescription drug assistance
Chemotherapy drug costs can quickly become a financial burden for you and your family.
Medicare and many insurance companies offer prescription drug plans. One may already be included in your policy, or you may be able to buy an extra plan for prescriptions.
Some drugs are off-patent and may have a generic form. Generic drugs cost less than the name brands but are just as effective.
You may also qualify for programs that help with drug costs or offer low-cost or free prescriptions.
Many cancer centers have financial counselors who can discuss insurance and cost coverage with you.
Learn more about insurance plans and prescription drug assistance programs.
Komen Financial Assistance Program |
Susan G. Komen® created the Komen Financial Assistance Program to help those struggling with the costs of breast cancer treatment by providing financial assistance to eligible individuals. To learn more about this program and other helpful resources, call the Komen Breast Care Helpline at 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) or email helpline@komen.org. Se habla español. |
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Susan G. Komen®‘s position on fairness in oral cancer drug coverage |
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Insurance coverage of oral cancer drugs Cancer medications given through an IV into a vein or by an injection (under the skin or into a muscle) are usually covered under a health insurance plan’s medical benefit. However, oral cancer drugs (cancer medications that are pills) are usually covered under a health insurance plan’s prescription drug benefit. As a result, people often find themselves facing high out-of-pocket costs when filling prescriptions for oral cancer drugs. Sometimes these costs can be thousands of dollars a month. The impact of high cost-sharing High prescription drug costs and the resulting out-of-pocket burden on patients are a barrier to care. They can prevent people from getting the medications prescribed by their health care providers. No one should be forced to get less appropriate treatment because an insurer gives more coverage for IV and injectable drugs than for pills. Efforts to increase fairness in drug coverage Komen supports state and federal efforts to require insurers to provide the same or better coverage for oral cancer drugs as they do for IV and injectable cancer drugs. This would help make sure patients have access to affordable, appropriate treatment. Become a Komen Advocacy Insider Sign up to be a Komen Advocacy Insider and get informed when action is needed on drug coverage issues at the state or national level. |
Updated 04/07/24
