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Regimen Information

For FEC, including Side Effects

FEC

Drugs in this Regimen:

For the treatment of Breast Cancer

How FEC chemotherapy is given and possible side effects.

FEC for the treatment of Breast Cancer

FEC is the acronym for a chemotherapy regimen used in the treatment of breast cancer.

Drugs in the FEC combination:

F

= Fluorouracil

E

= Epirubicin Hydrochloride

C

= Cyclophosphamide

Chemotherapy is often given as a combination of drugs. Combinations usually work better than single drugs because different drugs kill cancer cells in different ways.

A chemotherapy regimen consisting of fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide used in the adjuvant setting for the primary treatment of breast cancer. This regimen is also used for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic breast cancer.

MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF FEC

  • Nausea & Vomiting

  • Risk of Infection

  • Alopecia

  • Mouth Sores

For more information, see the 'Expert Resources' tab below.

Community Responses

Often, the most helpful information regarding treatment side effects comes not from clinical brochures, but rather from other patients like you. We've collected the most helpful community resources to help you prepare for the side effects and coping tips for your chemotherapy regimen.

What side effects did you experience while on this medication?

I'm sophia32, and I support someone with cancer

It all seems like a dream to me, I never thought that I will live on earth before the year runs out. I have been suffering from a deadly disease (HIV) for the past 5 years now; I had spent a lot of money going from one places to another, from churches to churches, hospitals have been my home every day residence. Constant checks up have been my hobby not until this faithful day, I was searching through the internet, I saw a testimony on how DR.Antogia helped someone in curing his HIV disease, quickly I copied his email which is antogiatraditionalhealer@yahoo.com just to give him a test I spoke to him, he asked me to do some certain things which I did, he told me that he is going to provide the herbal cure to me, which he did, then he asked me to go for medical checkup after some days after using the herbal cure, I was free from the deadly disease, he only asked me to post the testimony through the whole world, faithfully am doing it now, please brothers and sisters, he is great, I owe him in return. if you are having a similar problem he is the best to seek for help.

  • Thu Oct 22, 2015
Hi, I'm Grandma Ann

Hair loss and mouth sores. I wore a wig and my hair grew back in about 6 months. It was very short. In about a year it grew completely back. For the mouth sores, they didn’t start until the 3rd FEC treatment. Between treatment they would last about 5 days and then clear up till the next treatment. I used a mixture of Benedril, Malox and Xylocaine that my Dr prescribed. It was a Swish and Swallow type treatment.

  • Sun Oct 18, 2015
Hi, I'm Grandma Ann

In 2001, at 53 years old, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer that had spread to two lymph nodes under my arm.I had a lumpectomy and I had 6 FEC treatments 3 weeks apart. And then followed by 33 radiation treatments. Praise God 14 years later, at age 67, I am well and retired and enjoying life. During the treatments with FEC I lost all of my hair, and mainly had mouth sores which developed after my third treatment. For relief from the mouth sores the Dr gave me a prescription for a Swish and Swallow mixture called BMX – Benedril, Malox and Xylocaine. It made my mouth a little numb and I used it before meals and when my mouth was really hurting. I didn’t have much nausea, vomited twice and was able to work full time. In the 7 months of surgery, chemo and radiation I missed a total of 10 days off from work. I was very tired after chemo and radiation but was able to work a sitdown – admin job. I think working helped to take my mind off the treatment and gave me a reason to get up and get moving even when I didn’t feel the best. My Dr also prescribed different drugs for nausea on the day of chemo. Unfortunately it has been so long they only one I can remember was Ativan. It is an anti nausea and made me sleepy. I took it the day of Chemo which was a Thursday. I took Friday off from work and then on Sunday didn’t take anymore Ativan and returned to work on Monday.

  • Sun Oct 18, 2015

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What were the specific side effects that you experienced while taking this medication? How did you manage them?

What coping tips would you give to new patients on this regimen?

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What do you wish you had known before taking this medication? What information would you like to pass on to patients who are beginning this medication?

Treatment Overview

This chemotherapy regimen is commonly used to treat:

See Expert Resources

The Navigating Care Library includes articles about cancer, chemotherapy regimens and drugs from the the National Cancer Institute and other experts.