Could anyone share experiences about this treatment? In addition, we've noticed from recent posts that some have mentioned this regimen with a lesser amount of CMF. Does anyone know about this?

-My wife is following the bonnadonna regimen. She had cancer discovered in her left breast in February. This was from a mammogram that she had because she felt a lump in November that didn't go away after a few months. She had had lumps previously that came and went, but this one was diagnosed as cancer. A mammogram 14 months earlier had not revealed anything, and the size of this cancer was about 5 centimeters. This indicates a very fast growing cancer which concerned the doctors.

She opted for a lumpectomy (partly because of the opportunity to keep the breast around for a "buffer" if the cancer were to recur. It means that a recurrence in the same breast can be dealt with by a mastectomy, whereas if a recurrence occurs after a mastectomy, the lump is likely to be in the chest wall and is much more difficult to deal with). The lumpectomy was successful, but 4 of 13 lymph nodes were infected. We got a second opinion before deciding between a lumpectomy or mastectomy. The doctors were split in their opinions, but basically very close - they concurred that it was a close call and up to her. She decided on the lumpectomy primarily on medical grounds.

The doctors were sufficiently concerned about the fast growth of the cancer that they suggested we look into the bone marrow transplant option for heavy dose chemotherapy (an experimental trial is being done in Davis, California near us) but the doctor in charge of that says they are only taking women with 10 involved lymph nodes into that program.

Her chemotherapist then suggested the Bonnadonna regimen since it is more aggressive than the normal 6 cycle standard treatment.

-I have been giving the Bonnadonna regimen to any of my younger patients with positive nodes and to older patients with many positive nodes. It is not an easy treatment. Not just fatigue and low white blood counts but mouth sores while on the Doxorubicin (Adriamycin). But I believe that the CMF by itself is a poorly effective regimen and the concept of giving Doxorubicin first in high doses makes sense to me. It's a tough treatment but I really believe that it significantly improves the outlook for cure. Unfortunately it doesn't cure everyone. I am not sure that 8 cycles of CMF every 3 weeks is the best. Giving the full dose of CMF on days 1 and 8 every 28 days for 4 cycles may be better and I suggest this for my patients. Always need to use growth factors.