Chemotherapy Drugs
Learn about chemotherapy drugs for:
Chemotherapy for early and locally advanced breast cancer
Figure 5.4 lists the most effective drugs for treating early and locally advanced breast cancer.
Figure 5.4: Chemotherapy drugs for early and locally advanced breast cancer | ||
Drug (abbreviation) | Brand name | Pill or IV drug (given by vein through an IV) |
Capecitabine | Xeloda | Pill |
Carboplatin (C) | 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.
Your schedule depends on the combination of drugs used for treatment.
Common chemotherapy drug combinations
Common drug combinations used to treat early and locally advanced breast cancer are listed below. Other combinations are also used.
Figure 5.5: Chemotherapy drug combinations for early and locally advanced breast cancer | |
HER2-negative breast cancers | |
Drug (abbreviation) | 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 |
HER2-positive breast cancers | |
Drug (abbreviation) | Drug combination |
TCH* | Docetaxel, carboplatin and trastuzumab |
TCHP* | Docetaxel, carboplatin, trastuzumab and pertuzumab |
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 |
*Only used for HER2-positive breast cancers. TCH, TCHP, TH and THP are not used without trastuzumab. | |
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. Pertuzumab (Perjeta) can be combined with trastuzumab and neratinib (Nerlynx) can be given after trastuzumab. In some cases, ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla, T-DM1, trastuzumab emtansine) may be given.
These drugs are not used to treat HER2-negative cancers.
Trastuzumab (with or without pertuzumab) is given by vein (through an IV) or by injection every 3 weeks for one year. It’s usually started with chemotherapy, and then continued after the chemotherapy has ended.
Learn more about trastuzumab, pertuzumab and other HER2-targeted therapies for early breast cancer.
Chemotherapy drugs for metastatic breast cancer
Figure 5.6 lists the most common chemotherapy drugs (used alone or in combination) to treat metastatic breast cancer.
Figure 5.6: Chemotherapy drugs for metastatic breast cancer* | ||
Drug (abbreviation) | Brand name | Pill or IV drug (given by vein through an IV) |
Capecitabine | Xeloda | Pill |
Carboplatin | Paraplatin | IV drug |
Cisplatin | Platinol | IV drug |
Cyclophosphamide (C) | Cytoxan | Pill or IV drug |
Docetaxel (T) | Taxotere | IV drug |
Doxorubicin (A) | Adriamycin | IV drug |
Epirubicin (E) | Ellence | IV drug |
Eribulin | Halaven | IV drug |
5-Fluorouracil (5FU or F) | Adrucil | IV drug |
Gemcitabine | Gemzar | IV drug |
Ixabepilone | Ixempra | IV drug |
Liposomal doxorubicin | Doxil | IV drug |
Methotrexate (M) | Maxtrex | Pill or IV drug |
Paclitaxel (T) | Taxol | IV drug |
Paclitaxel, albumin bound (nab-paclitaxel) | Abraxane | IV drug |
Vinorelbine | Navelbine | IV drug |
*This list is not exhaustive and does not include drugs rarely used or no longer in use.
To learn more about a specific chemotherapy drug, visit the National Institutes of Health’s Medline Plus website.
Learn more about treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
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.
Learn more about insurance plans and prescription drug assistance programs.
Komen Treatment Assistance Program |
Susan G. Komen® offers the Komen Treatment Assistance Program to eligible individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment at any stage or living with metastatic breast cancer (stage IV). Financial assistance is granted to those who meet pre-determined eligibility criteria. 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). Se habla español. |
Susan G. Komen®‘s position on fairness in oral cancer drug coverage |
Although most chemotherapy is given by vein (through an IV), a few chemotherapy drugs are pills (oral chemotherapy). Insurance coverage of oral cancer drugs Insurance policies haven’t kept pace with treatment advances. IV chemotherapy is usually covered under a health insurance plan’s medical benefit, but oral chemotherapy is usually covered under a plan’s prescription drug benefit. As a result, people often find themselves facing high out-of-pocket costs when filling prescriptions for oral chemotherapy. Sometimes this can cost 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 chemotherapy than oral chemotherapy. 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 chemotherapy as they do for IV chemotherapy. This would help ensure 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 01/21/22
