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CMF Question

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Comments

  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 916
    edited October 2009

    Hi ladies!  SoCal Lisa, I hope this new med will adjust to you in time so that things work better for you!

    Rita, good to hear you are getting the better of that back!

    Hi Cabmom; good for you that you are seeing new oncs...I'm sure you will find a more "user friendly" one.

    Stay well everybody, they now have swine flu at my daughters school.  And they are so tough on it, if the kids get any kind of flu like illness, home they come!   Not that I'd mind that at all, but I'd sure prefer them to not get this thing, it's pretty scarey.

    love to all

    annie

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited October 2009

    cab... the methotrexate can be toxic to the liver, so can tamoxifen..sooo

    who knows what the combination was but the result was liver damage

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited October 2009

    the  swine flu is scary, annie...especially to the kids..

  • elisheva
    elisheva Member Posts: 38
    edited October 2009

    Hello everybody,

    I want to do a little survey here: did all of you had to have Neulasta shots? (It's given when white blood cell count is too low, and it encourages the creation of new blood cells by the bone marrow.) I hope you great people are all doing well. Thanks, Elisheva.

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited October 2009

    Elisheva,  I only had to have one Neulasta shot, between my 5th and 6th chemos.  I'd heard nightmarish comments about the shot but didn't have any problem at all with it and it did the trick.  I finished my last chemo right on time and my counts were up.

    Rita

  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 410
    edited October 2009

    Elisheva, I was "lucky" enough that I did not have to get the Neulasta shots.  My white count was pretty darn low but seemed to settle at an acceptable level.   Just one treatment #11 of #12 had to be postponed for myself.   

  • samiam40
    samiam40 Member Posts: 93
    edited October 2009

    I only had the shot once, when my counts were too low before one of my treatments.  I had the option of delaying the infusion a week to see if my counts went up on their own or getting the shot.  I think that was my 2nd or 3rd tx.  Didn't have any problems from the shot and never had ny problem with my counts after that.

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited October 2009

    I had many neupogen shots..same idea

  • Annabella58
    Annabella58 Member Posts: 916
    edited October 2009

    Hi all!

    I had one, after surgery, post root canal, pre chemo just to be on the safe side...no issues other than achey legs that night.  They told me it was good, that I was making red blood cells.

    No big deal for me.

    Anyone else have swine flu news?  Daughters' college had 20 sent home w "suspected" but so far, no confirmed.  4 type A flus, but not swine.  I think I now own stock in Purell.

    Stay well, all.  Anyone heard from Cabmom re: new onc?  I hope she gets a nicer guy! Or lady!

    love to all

    annie

  • colleen1960
    colleen1960 Member Posts: 107
    edited October 2009

    I had to get a neuopgen shot every day for 7 days in between 10 days of treatment.  I think it is the same concept.  I did not have to many problems with it, a little achy.

    Swine flu - the paper just said that there are not to many cases on long island and NYC which is good news.  Last spring they closed my daughters school for 3 days.

    Also my daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis.  Its weird she will be 14 next month and no one ever picked it up.  Makes me angry, because the dr. said she has had it for a while.  But we will meet with a pediatric ortho next Thursday to see what we have to do for it.  I am hoping it is not that bad and she will not need surgery.  There is never a dull momement.

    Colleen

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited October 2009

    Hi Ladies!

    Just returned from a visit to my 24 year old daughter who lives in San Francisco. She moved there last year for work and I miss her alot.  We took a girls road trip south along the Pacific and I rented a beach cottage in Cambria....for this East Coaster just seeing the Pacific was great.  We did a day trip to San Luis Obispo, went to an olive farm and had fun tasting olive oils, and then back to San Fran.  My last night I treated us to dinner at Chez Panisse--Alice Waters knows how to take simple fresh ingredients and make them into something amazing.  Six days was not enough so I am planning my next trip---if she can't get home for Christmas, I am thinking that we should all visit her.

    Cabmom:  I hope you find an onc that you are comfortable with.  I had an onc who I thought was on my wave length. At my last visit with her she started yelling at me and I now feel that I need to find someone else. I haven't figured out how to start that search yet or whether to go back and see if she is still having a bad day.

    Anyway, I missed you ladies and wish you al a wonderful day.

    Mandy

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited October 2009

    Hi Ladies!

    Just returned from a visit to my 24 year old daughter who lives in San Francisco. She moved there last year for work and I miss her alot.  We took a girls road trip south along the Pacific and I rented a beach cottage in Cambria....for this East Coaster just seeing the Pacific was great.  We did a day trip to San Luis Obispo, went to an olive farm and had fun tasting olive oils, and then back to San Fran.  My last night I treated us to dinner at Chez Panisse--Alice Waters knows how to take simple fresh ingredients and make them into something amazing.  Six days was not enough so I am planning my next trip---if she can't get home for Christmas, I am thinking that we should all visit her.

    Cabmom:  I hope you find an onc that you are comfortable with.  I had an onc who I thought was on my wave length. At my last visit with her she started yelling at me and I now feel that I need to find someone else. I haven't figured out how to start that search yet or whether to go back and see if she is still having a bad day.

    Anyway, I missed you ladies and wish you al a wonderful day.

    Mandy

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited October 2009

    Mandy1313, are you serious?  Your onc actually yelled at you?  I can't remember but are you finished with your treatments?  Why would she do that?  That is unthinkable.....I don't understand these oncs....just don't get it!  I actually hope that I will find a new one this coming week, I have lined up one for Wednesday and one for Thursday, I'm just praying for the best.  I know that this time, I WILL NOT be pushed around.  I want proof of what and why I need specific treatments and my concerns will be heard.  I know I sound mean and forceful now and I'm praying that I can just be kind but assertive when I'm doing the consultations.  I just need to know that whoever I chose, cares and is concerned about my overall (before, during and after) well being.  I'm not going to settle for anything less.  Thanks to some of you ladies on this thread.....I've come to realize that I have to look out for myself and let my feelings be heard!  SO THANKS AGAIN!  I'm still terrified of what's to come but thanks to all of you, regardless of which treatment it ends up being, I know that I will be OKAY! 

    anniealso, I sent you PM....thanks!

  • samiam40
    samiam40 Member Posts: 93
    edited October 2009

    Annie, we've got so much swine flu where I live that the doctors aren't even testing for it anymore.  I think my 6 year old had it last week, because he had a high fever that went away for a few days, and then came back.  Most people deal with it just fine though.  Don't get me wrong, I was worried, and kept a close eye on him, but I suspect the news media needs a good story so it is blowing it out of proportion.

    Mandy, welcome back.  Glad you enjoyed your trip!

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited October 2009

    Are any of you going to get the swine flu vaccine?  I am trying to figure out what to do

    And thanks. My trip was incredibly wonderful.  

    Mandy 

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited October 2009

    mandy1313, I forgot on my last post.....happy to hear that your trip was wonderful.  I've never been to Cal but was suppose to go this past summer and bc decided to visit so our trip was postponed.  I hope I'll get to go this next summer.  Everyone says that it's a great place.  I'm sure the best part for you was being with your daughter :)! 

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited October 2009

    Hello ladies!  Well since it's 4:05 a.m. cst and I've been awake for hours....I'm sure it's obvious that I can't sleep.  Was anxiety this bad with any of you?  After what happened with the last onc, I think I'm just anticipating the worst with this next one.  I know that's negative and I"m trying so hard not to be.  It seems like I never sleep for more than 2 or 3 hours and then I'm up.....if I'm asleep I'm dreaming about what's going to happen.......any advise?  I don't think I can survive like this much longer.

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited October 2009

    My anxiety was so bad that not only did I have sleepless nights, but my heart rate went way up.  Drink a cup of warm milk, get a book out and just read until you feel sleepy.  When you go to the new onc have your list of questions ready. 

    My onc and my consulting onc originally suggested CT and AC respectively.  I found CMF and read up on it quite a bit and then asked "what about CMF"?  The consulting onc said immediately, "that would be a good one; we just tend to use AC and your hospital tends to use CT".  My onc agreed that CMF would be good but she said that she had found that many found the 8 tx to be so long that they did not finish---that was her objection to it.  So be ready to ask questions and to explain that it is CMF or nothing.  Don't worry. CMF is a good chemo...I read up on it quite a bit before and during my chemo.  It does get to be a drag if you have the 8 doses like I did, but you will finish it.

    I don't have too much other advice.   It is normal to worry.  So don't worry about worrying.

    Cheers

    Mandy

  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 410
    edited October 2009

    Cabmom, I too had difficulty unwinding and getting a good nights rest. Ended up getting a script for Lorazepam, and a half dose does the trick. I've also tried Ambien with not as much success. From a gal who never took any drugs other than birth control...I now have a lil weekly pillbox!!! Mostly for vits ... as well as Femara and a sleep aid. The new norm seems to be life through chemistry !!!!



    Onward through the fog my friend !!!!

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited October 2009

    ...Hello all:

    Sorry I have been MIA lately.  I've been working more lately...  UGH...  but it's a little pocket change, I guess...

    I am probably going to switch from Tamoxifen to an AI, probably either in December, or the 1st of the New Year...  My onc is the one who suggested it, but I see that there were some studies that showed it may be beneficial for us ER+ gals who are post menopausal to switch after two years to an AI...  I can hardly believe that it's been almost two years, that I've been on Tamoxifen.  WOW!  The time sure flies!! 

    Lisa,

    Did you say that Tamoxifen causes liver damage?  Oh my!!  That is just what I need.  My trainer/co-ordinator for the Reach to Recovery program just had a hysterectomy... she had uterine cancer, which I believe that Tamoxifen can cause...    

    Rita,

    So glad that your back is feeling better.  I have back issues, but when I stand too long... that is my routine at work, I have to stand...  I feel better when I can sit...

    Annie,

    Thanks for thinking of me.  I've been busy trying to get ready ...   my dh and I are going into business with some friends... we are going to open a coffee shoppe/deli and it's exicting, but it's going to be alot of work...

    Carol,

    Hi  How are you doing, girl?   I've missed you. 

    Mandy,

    Glad you had a great vacation!!  Sounds like so much fun!  Glad that you are back... I missed you.

    Take care everyone.

    Hugs

    Harley

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited October 2009

    Harley..I just said it Could be toxic to the liver and gall bladder

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited October 2009

    ...yea, well.... that would mean that it can cause liver damage... if it's toxic to the liver, it will cause damage... 

    just what I need....

    good night, all!

    Hugs

    Harley 

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited October 2009

    Hi Harley...I mean Could...

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited October 2009

    ...yes, I know...  it COULD.... or it might not...   Laughing

    still all the same, I'll be glad when I can stop taking these drugs...  and hoping and praying that they work for us...

    Thanks!

    Harley

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited October 2009

    I am one of the ones who started on Tamoxifen and switched, Harley..

    figure I  covered both bases a little

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited October 2009

    Thanks, Lisa!

    You are one of the ones who've been here on bc.org for a long time now...

    Hugs

    Harley

  • PamsPromise
    PamsPromise Member Posts: 14
    edited October 2009

    Hi All:  The swine flu is everywhere here too.  My oldest son and his wife were diagnosed last week and it developed into pneumonia  for both of them, my daughter in law has it worse.  I heard on the news that one in five kids here have had it this month.  I did buy Airborne that is supposed to boost your immune system.  I sent it with my youngest son who lives in a dorm on a college campus and told him to take it too.  My right thumb has continued to be numb going on 4 weeks now.  Still in physical therapy 3 times a week but it is not helping.  I have electricl type shock feelings in my right arm now also.  My PCP thought it was carpal tunnel but I am beginning to wonder now if it is not peripheral neuropathy.  Have any of you had any symptoms such as the numbness and tingling?  Had my fourth chemo treatment last Tuesday and this one seemed to make me more tired than the rest.  I can't wait until Dec 1 for my last treatment.  Still not sleeping well.  However what is bothering me more than anything is this numbness in my thumb and the shock feelings in my right arm.  I hope you all have a good week.  Take care, Pam

  • Juliechicago
    Juliechicago Member Posts: 179
    edited October 2009

    Hi everyone!

    Haven't posted in a bit- but have been reading and trying to keep up with everyone.  Still trying to adjust to increased madness at work, having both kids in schools, all their papers, cub scouts, brownies, piano lessons--arrgh!

    Could use a few crossed fingers today. Have an MRI in the afternoon- part of my new "high risk" maintenance schedule. (makes me sound like a car.)  More than a little anxious.  Last year, two- what turned out to be fibroadenomas- lit up and I had to go thru needle biopsies to determine what they were. Pretty much had one foot in the grave going through that and fear it again.  I've since had reduction surgery on my remaining "real" side and went thru chemo last year.  This is to establish a new baseline.  But there's the menacing "what if" hanging out there and I'm worried about what might light up this time....  Nothing will happen but the test today- I'm told the films are read on Wednesday, so it will be a rough week of worry and anxiety for me.

    Sending best wishes to everyone....

    -julie the worried

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited October 2009
    Julie, you will definitely be in my prayers.  Hopefully all will turn out well.  It's definitely normal to be worried, heck I worry about EVERYTHING.  Just know that we're all here saying prayers and wishing you only the best.  This group of ladies are just great :)!  Sending up prayers already.......Smile!
  • Juliechicago
    Juliechicago Member Posts: 179
    edited October 2009

    Hi,

    Well-it's me again. Just had to CANCEL the MRI because an hour ago...I got my period!  Early. Recalled seeing something in the past about it not being a good idea to get a breast MRI at this time-- hormone fueled changes in the breast can produce too many false positives.  So- called surgeon's nurse just to check and yep, she told me to reschedule it for 10 days later.  aaaarrgh. I wasted a bunch of good worry! 

    -julie the postponed worrier

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