Common chemotherapy regimes

Cancer cells grow by dividing in a disorderly and uncontrolled way. Different chemotherapy drugs work in different ways and interfere with the cancer cells at different phases of their growth. This is why a combination of drugs is often used.

There are many different chemotherapy drugs. The most common drugs and their combinations used to treat breast cancer are:

• FEC
• FEC-T
• CMF
• E-CMF
• AC
• EC
• gemcitabine (Gemzar)
• vinorelbine (Navelbine)
• paclitaxel (Taxol)
• docetaxel (Taxotere)
• capecitabine (Xeloda).

Which type of chemotherapy is recommended for you will be based on individual factors such as: whether you have primary breast cancer, local recurrence, regional recurrence or secondary breast cancer. Your age, any previous chemotherapy you have had and other existing medical conditions will also be taken into account.

To read more about these chemotherapy drugs, please download and read our individual factsheets from the related publications section on the right hand side of this page. 

Please note, this list is not exhaustive and your consultant will decide on the most appropriate chemotherapy for you based on your individual situation.