CMF Question
Comments
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I woke up this morning to a winter wonderland....Philadelphia had 23.2 inches of snow in this storm. Since I had no where in particular to go, I had a wonderful day of cooking "comfort food" and enjoying the beauty of the snow.
And on that note, I want to take the time to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and a new year of health, happiness, and peace.
Hugs to all of you.
Mandy
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Wish I had know that Harley
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Anyone here used Astragalus?
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Lisa,
Don't you wish that ALL the drs. knew this stuff?? But, you had your tx the year before I had mine... so, maybe they knew more when I had my tx... and I bet they know even MORE now, two years after I have finished chemo.
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I had my first CMF treatment today. I was given 12mg Decadron and Zofran (not sure of dosage) prior to treatment. I will not be getting Emend. Treatment went fine. I did feel a bit nauseous afterward, but I think I was still feeling slightly nauseous even beforehand because of whatever AC was left over in my system.
I go for a Nuelasta shot tomorrow. The onc told me this is necessary as I'm having the CMF every two weeks and there wouldn't be time for my WBC to recover on its own.
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Hi Mary,
I had my third CMF shot today, along with the decadron and Zofran. I'm wide awake from the Decadron! I'm also scheduled for my first nuelasta shot tomorrow. I will try the Claritin that Harley mentioned in a previous post, to alleviate any bone pain that might come with the Nueslasta. CMF is not too bad. I sometimes feel crummy or like I have a bad hangover but I think that is because of the low wbcs. I hope it will be easier on you than the AC. By the way, if you are in NYC and going to MKSC, we can meet up if you want. I spent all day there today and have to go back tomorrow around 4. Stay well and I hope everyone here is feeling good in time for Christmas!
CG
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I will be starting CMF on Jan7. In the mean time I am taking a trip to Mexico and will be back on the 4th of Jan. I will get 6 tx 3 weeks apart. Have a fabulous holiday everyone.
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Merilee....You will be doing the same CMF treatment that I did! It is very doable! Have a great time in Mexico and post when you get back! As for the astragalus, I asked my onc about it and he preferred that I didn't use it while doing the treatment. He told me to go ahead and try it after all treatments were over if I wanted to but I never got around to doing it then.
Rita
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Ugh. A few mintues after getting up this morning, and before eating or washing my teeth or doing anything to trigger it, I threw up. Eight weeks on AC and this never happened to me. When the infusion nurse was going through the CMF side-effects yesterday, she mentioned vomiting but said that would not happen in my case as they gave me Zofran. I have an Rx for Zofran since the beginning of chemo which I never needed to use. I guess it's time to open the bottle now.
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Mary.....I learned the first time to stay ahead of the nausea. Be sure to tell them that you're having problems with it. I was given compazine tablets to take at home after the chemo for the nausea. I started taking them the very minute I got back in the door after chemo and kept taking them for about four days, regardless of how I felt. It worked for me. It is much easier to ward off the nausea than it is to stop it once it starts. I also found that lemon drops helped ease that nauseous feeling. You have to remember that you are being hit very hard with first one type of chemo and then a different type. There's nothing in this game that says we have to be heroes so take those anti-nausea meds faithfully.
Hugs to you. Hang in there. I think you will quickly learn how to ward off the side effects of CMF.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, dear sister.
Rita
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Rita: I've taken a Zofran. All I've eaten today is half a banana. I'm being cautious. I might try tea and crackers now.
I felt nauseous immediately after the treatment. I was imagining some of the old drugs were in my system and fighting with the new drugs arriving. I didn't feel like eating lunch but later had a bagel and tea as someone said that was one thing they could eat when nauseous. After that I felt fine and for dinner had a salad followed by chickpea curry and rice. I think the curry was a mistake.
How does Compazine compare with Zofran?
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Two cents worth ... I had good luck with Zofran, and took it faithfully every day if I felt crummy of not.
Hang in there gals!!!0 -
Golfer: You say you took it every day? Dosage instructions on mine are one tablet three times a day as needed. Did you literally take it three times every day or just for a day or two after treatment? My Rx only has 10 tablets. I would need a horseload of these if I was to take it every day for two months.
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Rita
Thanks for responding. It helps to hear positve things from those who have been there done that.
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I had pretty bad nausea from CMF. I took my anti nausea meds faithfully but zofran did not work for me (funny how different we all are). My first time I had terrible heartburn which added to the nausea. I ended up with a prescription anti acid which I took every day until about a month after my chemo ended. For nausea, emend and kytril worked best, and I took my first dose BEFORE I had the chemo. By the way if any of you are intermediate or poor metabolizers of tamoxifen, zofran will also not be your best anti-nausea medicine. As Rita said, don't try to tough it out. Those anti nausea meds are not permanent and they will make a big difference.
Mary, I am so sorry that you had the vomiting experience. I was never able to drink water on CMF and drank ginger beer (which is a strong ginger ale); aranciata and limonata which are natural orange and lemon sodas from Italy. Ginger sucking candies helped with nausea too. I ate a bland diet most of the time but had odd cravings---arugula for salad. I still am liking that arugula!!!
Hugs to all
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Mandy: I was already finding it hard to drink plain water while on AC and now it seems even worse. I've been drinking sparkling water (Pellegrino) but that can be a bit expensive. I used to like ginger ale but overexposure to it in the early days of treatment has given me a distaste for that. Where would I find aranciata and limonata? Are those brand names?
I spoke to the nurse on call today and she told me to stick with a liquid diet for the day - water, broth, tea and possibly some chicken noodle soup. A couple of hours ago, I decided to risk a cheese and tomato sandwich with a cup of tea and so far so good, no aftereffects yet.
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the compazine suppository worked best for me because it didn't have to go into my stomach to get into the bloodstream..when I was nauseated I couldn't hold it down...
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HI Mary!
I got my limonata at Whole Foods. They are made by San Pelligrino and are just somewhat sour sodas which did not nauseate me. You might also try sparkling water with a little grape juice or pomigranite juice...kind of a "spritzer". But it sounds like you are doing great with a cheese sandwich already. Speak to your onc about something other than zofran drips for nausea....it did nothing for me (and did not work at an earlier surgery). Some months later I learned that I am an intermediate metabolizer of tamoxifen and zofran is one of the drugs that I would not metabolize either. By the way, I always like sparkling water instead of regular water.
Take care.
Mandy
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Mandy: I'll look for the limonata at WF. Since my local supermarket sells San Pellegrino mineral water they might have the limonata too. I had the Zofran in tablet form rather than in drip form. I asked the nurse today if I might be better on Compazine (Rita mentioned that) and she said they find that Zofran works better. I did have the CYP2D6 test which showed I'm an intermediate metabolizer of Tamoxifen. I didn't know there was a link between that and ability to metabolize Zofran. If I say that to the onc, she won't believe me. Can you give me any further info on it?
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Mandy...Different anti-nausea meds work better for different people. If the Zofran didn't work, ask to try something different. Also, if you're having trouble with plain water, try Crystal Light, lemonade or any kind of citrus drink, or of course popsicles!
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Hi to everyone, haven't been around as the new job keeps me hoppin'! That and my daughter home from college leaves me no time.
Just wanted to wish everyone on here a very Merry Christmas and to hang in there with the active txmnt gals.....this will end and you will be sort of wondering if it happened in a year or so. It will seem like a weird dream; I remember thinking it was like a bad "movie of the week".
I don't post anymore, but if anyone needs me, give me a PM shout out!
love you all
annie
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Annie...so good to hear from you! Have a very Merry Christmas at your house, too.
As for you other wonderful ladies............Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy 2010. If you are in treatment, try to enjoy the holiday. Next year you'll be much more excited about the season and the year after that.....well you'll be back to "doing it all" again.
For those of you who have finished treatments and are working your way back into life's routine, I send you giant hugs! We KNOW how important it is so enjoy every day....not just the holidays! You are all wonderful ladies and I wish you the best of everything in 2010 and the years to come.
My family will be pulling in this afternoon and I have last minute beds to make up and some cooking to do this morning so I probably won't be back on until the day after Christmas. Enjoy your holiday, stuff yourself with good food, and hug your children, hubby, grandchildren and others that you love.
Merry Christmas!
Rita
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Good Morning All: Just wanted to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2010. I was just saying that last year I was laying on the couch really trying to be interested in the Holidays and this year I am so busy I don't have time to relax. So for all of you ladies going thru chemo now it does get better. I know when I was about 6 txs. in I felt I could not do it anymore, but I did finish and now it seems so long ago. Now everyday seems different and more rewarding. I saw the onc. last week and everything is good just waiting on my blood work. So please all have a great holiday and enjoy your family and friends.
Thanks to all you ladies who got me thru this past year. You made it easier and gave me a place I could vent when things were low. Thank you, Thank you.
Cyber Hugs to All,
Colleen
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Wow, what can I add to the last couple of posts .... amazing things certainly do come from life's little obstacles. Thanks to you all for being such a supportive part of my journey.
Here's to a very "warm" holiday season spent with those you love. Hugs from Poulsbo, Carol
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I just want to say that what you are all saying is very true. Sometimes, when I think back on my 'active tx', it really does seem like a bad dream. And, now, two years later, we are so busy getting back to our normal lives, it is really hard to believe...
I don't post very often either, but if anyone wants to reach me, they can send me a pm or send me a message on Facebook, those who have made their way to FB...
Hope everyone has very Happy Holidays.
Merry Christmas!
Harley
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Good morning to the CMF crew! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Ours was fabulous. Of course, my favorite gift was having my son and his family home for the holidays. Those little grandsons of mine made it so much fun!
Since I'm hosting the New Year's Eve party for the golfing group and my house looks like a tornado went through, I'm off to pick up the clutter and clean this morning. Hopefully I'll get enough done that I can head into town this afternoon to shop the after Christmas sales for ME. Nobody ever buys me clothes so I have the perfect reason to shop after the holiday rush!
I hope all you gals in treatment got through the holidays well. How well I remember my first two Christmas holidays after my diagnosis. It's amazing how much better this one was and much more I'm looking forward to the New Year!! Hang in there. You will get through this and be able to concentrate on getting back into your "before diagnosis" routine.
Hugs to all of you!
Rita
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Rita,
Hope your shopping went well... As I am hooked on FB, I see that it was successful!
I will be shopping with a friend today, but I don't think I'll buy anything.
My turn to clean tomorrow...
Hope everyone is doing great...
I'm counting down the days til Jan 1, as that is the day I've chosen to switch from Tamoxifen to Femara... I'm very nervous about this drug... more so than the Tamoxifen, maybe cause that drug has been studied more, it's been out longer...
Hugs
Harley
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Hello all! Haven't had Internet for a few days so I feel I've missed a lot on the board. Hope everyone had a blessed and Merry Christmas! NC was great and loved all the snow from the big storm. Looking forward to New Years!!!! Next treatment is Jan 6th and hoping my blood pressure will stay under control. Still fighting it now. I think it's from the weight gain. I am definitely heading back to the gym......I'm going to take my chances with the germs.......anyone have advice on going to the gym before treatments are complete? Welcome to the newcomers, CMF is definitely doable.....not fun at all but doable.
Think I'll head out and do some shopping, it's pretty and sunny here! Hope everyone has a great day!
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Had my first CMF treatment a week ago and finding the aftermath very difficult. At first there was the nausea and vomiting. Now I just have a general feeling of malaise, I want to curl up in a ball under the blankets. I still don't have my appetite back and I'm feeling cold and shivery all the time. Yesterday evening my temperature was all over the place, it varied between 96.3F and 102F. I took two Tylenol and it's now 97.1F. My onc's office said to go to the emergency room if my temp goes above 100.5F and it's after hours. But there was no way I wanted to go out and drive myself to ER in the freezing cold at 1AM in the morning as I'm sure that would have done me more harm than good.
When I had this particular treatment, they ran the cyclophosphamide slowly -- over 45 minutes, but I still had an uncomforable sensation in my nose and sinuses. Since then I think I can still feel the same sensation there (or maybe it's my imagination playing tricks). My nose keeps bleeding all the time too. Did any of the rest of your experience that and have any remedy for it? I've constantly watering eyes too. I'm blaming the cyclophosphamide for all this as I'd already developed these symptoms on AC, but now they are so much worse.
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MaryNY-
I'm so sorry you are going through this aftermath....as you have been through 4 AC, I'd be willing to guess that you are right about the "C"-- the effect does build up. Just a thought---after my first treatments- both on A/C and CMF- I reacted violently enough- some of it similar to what you have described- that they lowered the dosage. That did seem to help. Something to ask about? I also had the C drip for over an hour- I would get a sinus type headache otherwise. Everyone is so different- 45 minutes may be good for some-- but ask to have it even slower if possible.
I never had much of an appetite the first two weeks post treatment-- it would recover the third week, just in time for the next one.
The watering eyes may be a response to dry eyes-- I found that liquid tears (I used Thera Tears) helped actually. Seems strange-- adding tears to tearing eyes- but it helps counteract your body's reaction to the dryness, I think. Wondering if your nose might be bleeding because of dry membranes too....
hope this helps- maybe??
-julie b
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