CMF Question
Comments
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Hang in there Julie! Once you finally get this MRI done you'll have a great excuse to treat yourself to donuts or some delicious treat!
Cabmom...didn't you have an onc appointment today? How did it go? Did you like this one?
Rita
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Ritajean, yes I did have an onc visit today and it went GREAT! This onc was so kind and compassionate. He presented me with facts and percentages on each of the chemos and how they relate to my situation. It made it so much easier for he and I to make a decision based on the facts and best outcome for ME. I have decided not to see the additional onc and go with this one. He really, really did care about me and even though I know that this will not be easy, I know that I'll get through it......thanks for thinking of me
! Thanks to all the great ladies on this thread, you made a really bad situation much better for me and I am very thankful to all of you for that. 0 -
WONDERFUL! So cabmom, what did you decide to do? I'm so happy that you found somebody who could really help you and was willing to listen and give you good info. I thought about you off and on all day yesterday!
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CabMom ... Just the news "we" we're looking for ... Onward my friend !!!!
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Hi all! I've decided to go with CMF and I have to do 6 treatments. Can't say I'm not still a little scared because I am but I know that I will get through it. I'm going to go back through the thread now that a decision has been officially made and reread about the side effects and what to expect. Just so happy that this guy was so nice. Yesterday, the plan was to begin on the 11th but due to a change in my husband's schedule, I will now begin on the 4th. So.....I only have a few days to worry about it. Any advice on what I should have on hand here at home or what I should take with me to the treatments. I asked the nurse but she said NO that they would cover everything with me regarding SE's, etc on the day of the 1st treatment but since all of you have been there, do I need something before or during?
Also, I was suppose to get my hair highlighted on Monday of next week.....should I not do that now? I don't think it will hurt but I just don't know.....not wanting to do anything dumb now that I've gotten to this point.
Ladies, I am so ready to get started so I can get this behind me and so many of you were right, now that I have a plan in place some of the anxiety is gone, not ALL but definitely some
! Thanks again for being there for me through this part of my journey......now just a few more months and then chemo will be behind me too !0 -
Sure Cabmom....get that hair highlighted. It's not going to hurt it at all and you're going to feel a lot better.
I'm so glad you have your plan and will soon be getting started. It is quite doable and you should have very few side effects. I would purchase some Biatene mouthwash and toothpaste to use everyday once you start your treatments until they are finished. They will help keep away the mouth sores that are possible. Also ask for ice chips to chew or suck on while you are getting your treatments. They also help ward off the mouth sores.
CMF often causes constipation so you might want to get a good laxative to have on hand. I used Senakot and it worked wonders but any good one should do the trick.
You will need to drink lots of fluids. Water is the best but sometimes it gets to tasting pretty yucky after you've drank lots of it so Crystal Light can be used to give it a different taste. I also found that lemon drops helped to soothe my stomach.
One of my friends had her first CMF infusion last Thursday. She took her anti-nausea pills immediately before the symptoms started and has had no side effects at all. Everyone is different but I think you'll be amazed at how doable this will be.
Rita
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Thanks Ritajean for all the advice....I'm keeping my pad and pencil by my laptop so I don't miss anything this time around. Now that know I'm doing CMF......I want to be sure that I'm ready. I'm hoping that the SE's will be minimum and I'm happy that your friend did so well.
I purchased the shampoo and conditioner today that everyone told me about so I'll be sure and get the other stuff in the next couple days.
As for the highlights......I'm going to have it done and I know it will make me feel tons better. Just happy to know that you guys don't think that it will cause any problems!
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Hi All,
I have been absent for a while, but I'm still reading all of your messages. Cabmom - good luck with your treatment. You made the right choice. I hope your side effects will be minimal (like mine.) Nausea seems to be the biggest problem, but as Rita said you can conquer that if you take your medications before you feel any, immediately when you get home from treatment, and then continue for a couple of days. I developed a schedule when I alternate between my 2 prescribed pills, taking one every 6 hours or so. And it works.
The hair treatment should be OK. It can't hurt, especially if you do it before starting treatment. Talking about hair - I started wearing a wig a week ago. Finally got up the courage to do so, after going around with shabby, scant hair for weeks. Probably lost more than 50% of it, and it was thin to start with. Wish I had done this earler - I'm getting nothing but compliments. I must say I never had such good looking hair in my life! Maybe I should continue to wear it after my hair grows back....
I have only two more treatments to go, last one will be at the end of November. Looking forward to it! Best wishe to all of you great women. Elisheva.
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Elisheva .... can you see my flashlight .... it's that light at the end of the tunnel ... although maybe a bit faint ... it's getting brighter and you'll have your last two txts under your belt with the blink of an eye and that light will be shining quite bright.
As you mentioned to Cabmom which I feel is good advice .... stay ahead on your nausea meds. I personally was on 15 days of oral cytoxan and I took faithfully a nausea pill (Zofran) first thing in the morning prior to downing my cytoxan pills and chasing them with a TON of water. On infusion days, which for me was day 1 and 8 of those 15 days, they administered a anti nausea drug in my drip which always seemed to suffice. I don't really ever recall having nausea ... albeit a few nights usually about day 2 or 3 after infusion day of wanting a rather bland meal for dinner (I was the Cream of Wheat queen). I have the hunch you will be pleasantly surprised at how tolerable the txt really is.
Now as far as hair goes .... I did start to freak after my second infusion, my hair appeared to be coming out quite alot .... yes it probably did, but ended up just thinning to maybe about 1/3 of what I had after the entire 6 months. Try not to "freak out", I do believe most on CMF just have hair thinning .... although some maybe a bit more than others.
Constipation .... been there done that !!!!!!! Personally found Miralax to be beneficial ... although it probably took me my entire 6 months to finally regulate just how much and when I needed it !!!!!!! I know Rita had her suggestion as well. Bottom line ... try and not wait until a se has become a problem .... be one step ahead and your going to be just fine.
Drink, drink, drink .... that would be H2O !!!!!!!
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...I just gave a speech on breast cancer...
hi everyone... hope ya'll have a great day!!
HUGS
xoxoHarley
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Hi ladies.....Ok, I'm starting to get nervous again. Wednesday is quickly approaching and my stomach is tying in knots. Normal, right? Trying not to think about starting chemo but as you all know that's almost impossible to do. How did you guys stop the nerves or did you?
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Cabmom....it's so normal to be nervous, hon. We all were! The actual infusion (treatment) is really nothing. They will sit you in a reclining chair, insert an IV if you don't have a port, and you'll just be there for a couple of hours while they push in the chemicals and let them drip in. I was so nervous that first time that I made myself sick before I ever got there and I was pleasantly surprised to see how painless and easy the actual treatment is. Just remember to ask for ice chips while taking the treatment to ward offd mouth sores and to take your anti-nausea med BEFORE the nausea ever hits. You will do just fine!
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Personally took .5mg Lorazepam just to settle myself down. I always was accompanied by my dh or friend. As Rita said, it's actually pretty uneventful. Take the time to enjoy a good read, nap, or visit with a love one !!!
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Cabmom: I think we were all terrified before the first treatment. But when it is over, you will see that it was easier than you thought. You can do this.
Mandy
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Harley...where did you give your breast cancer talk and what was your main message. Gosh gal, you impress me!
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Hey Rita,
Awww....you are so sweet! I was really nervous!!
My speech was at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, in N. Myrtle Beach. The women's group had a luncheon meeting there. I was volunteered by the woman who is in charge of the Myrtle Beach American Cancer Society. She couldn't make it, so she asked me if I would be interested in going, and being the speaker.
My speech was to be anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes, and the first half of my speech was going over my breast cancer story, and I outlined some of the different emotions that we feel when we are going through this ordeal. I didn't have enough time to really delve into the different types of breast cancer, or the different treatments that are available to us.
The second half of my speech was an overview of the American Cancer Society and some of the programs that are available, to breast cancer survivors and to all cancer survivors. I mentioned Reach to Recovery, Relay for Life, and Look Good Feel Better. I figured that it was kind of important to mention the FREE wigs, and other services that would be funded by their donation. Maybe it would cause someone to give more money.
The women there were very nice. Who knows? Maybe I will do another speech someday...
Hope you are all doing well.
Hugs
Harley
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Thanks ladies.....I will be so happy when Wednesday is behind me.
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cabmom,
Mandy is right... I was TERRIFIED, before my 1st tx... but, you will be just fine, I know. I'll be thinking about you on Wed.
Good Luck! You CAN do it!!
HUGS
Harley
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cabmom,
Mandy is right... I was TERRIFIED, before my 1st tx... but, you will be just fine, I know. I'll be thinking about you on Wed.
Good Luck! You CAN do it!!
HUGS
Harley
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Thanks Harley44, I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in how I'm feeling and that these feelings are normal. I don't like feeling like such a chicken but in this case, I am. You make me miss home....I'm from NC and love Myrtle Beach, we try to go there at least once a year. It's just a really fun and quick trip for us from the mountains there. Congratulations on your speech, I think that it's wonderful that you're able to do something like that and how you're helping all those people understand. That is great!!!!!
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cabmom, only one more day to go. But try not to worry - you'll be just fine. I find the treatment is just a lot of waiting. I probably spend 4-5 hours at the cancer center with all the different things to do - blood taking, seeing the doctor (if she's in) and then the treatment which in itself takes 3 hours, and then a lot of waiting in between. But it really isn't that hard to take. You have a comfortable reclining chair, and everybody is very nice to you and very helpful and they'll answer any concern that you have.
Many people mentioned ice chips to prevent mouth sores. I never took ice chips and never had mouth sores. I hope you'll have an easy time with few SE's, and try to relax. Love to all, elisheva.
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elisheva, Thank you for the words of encouragement and I am really trying to remain calm. I know I will just be thankful when tomorrow is over.
Ladies, did anyone take any type of med's the night before they started chemo? Just curious because I thought that if I had to take TC, there was one med the doctor wanted me to take either the night before or a couple days prior....they didn't mention anything with CMF.
Hope everyone is having a great day.....
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Cabmom .... I didn't take anything the night before chemo ... and you'll get anti nausea meds in as part of your cocktail tomorrow.
Your going to be just fine ..... try and not be like myself after the first infusion ... I was afraid to go out to lunch with my hubby as I thought the other shoe was going to drop at any minute .... never did that day or night. As with others, I did feel a little out of whack maybe on day 2 and 3. At this point you will probably want to take your nausea meds that hopefully they have prescribed.
Remember lots of water or juice !!!
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Thanks but no they haven't prescribed anything yet which is why I think I'm a little confused but I'm sure that they will do that tomorrow. Little worried about the Decadron that I know they'll probably give me on the first go around but planning on discussing that again with them tomorrow to inquire about Emend or Kytril as an alternative to the Decadron. I'm going to be fine....I'm going to be fine....I just keep repeating that to myself over and over! 0
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Cab--I did not take any meds the night before the first treatment...
Holding your hand
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Cabmom: I did not take anti nausea meds the night before. I had emend and kytril and I took them about an hour before the chemo (if I remember correctly) and then again later in the day (but I may be remembering wrong). So whether they give you a pill or whether it is in your IV, you will have enough time for it to take effect before you get the CMF. Just when you get home, be sure to take the nausea meds as directed...do not wait for nausea to set in. And one other tip, which golfer gave to me just about a year ago, take a stool softener or eat some stewed prunes tomorrow night. All of those anti nause pills have the side effect of constipation. Thanks to golfter I did not have a problem with that!!
I was able to walk around with the IV dripping so I could use the bathroom during the infusion if I wanted to. Bring some sucking candies, some italian ices, a friend, and a good book. I spent my whole time talking to my friend though I always had the book, just in case I needed it.
You will be fine. Don't worry!
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See cabmom.....we're all here as your cheerleaders, sending you off in style for tomorrow. You will do just fine! We'll all be waiting for you to announce, "It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be!" Hugs!
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Ok Ladies.....THANK YOU! I'm just going to keep repeating.....I THINK I CAN! I THINK I CAN! I'll let you guys know soon.....thanks again!
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Mandy, good reminder for Cabmom, don't let that pesky constipation catch you unprepared. I know everyone has their fav ... Mine was Miralax ... A godsend !!!
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...just as an added se, while I was prepared for constipation, I had bought BOXES and BOXES of stool softeners, I had... diarrhea after my 1st tx... go figure.. I had to call my MIL and the next morning, she came over with some Immodium... so just when you think you're prepared... you realize that sometimes, you can't be prepared for EVERY possibility!
... sending HUGS your way...
HARLEY
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