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CMF Question

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Comments

  • Aussiemumof2
    Aussiemumof2 Member Posts: 13
    edited March 2010

    socallisa - thanks for your suggestion. I'll ask the nurse to slow down the push & hope that is easier for me.

  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 734
    edited March 2010

    Off to a Shamanism class today. Should be a trip.

  • Janina
    Janina Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2010

    Let the shedding begin...

    This weekend, my hair has shed tremendously!  More than I expected.  Of course one cannot tell...but at this rate, I will be bald in a month!!

    Going in this morning for IV #1 or cycle 2.  Dizzy the past 2 days when laying down or getting up, the room spins.  Hands have felt numb as well.  But haven't had any other SEs.

  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 734
    edited March 2010

    Still good blood counts. I also will end my chemo one day earlier than I first planned.

    Whoo hoo, even one day early seems like a gift. 2 more to go.

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited March 2010

    Only 2 more for Merilee!  YEA!!!!!   You're doing so great that we're going to add you with Carol as our "poster children" for CMF!   She breezed through it, too with just a few irritable side effects.  I'm so glad that you're doing so well and nearly finished!  You go, gal!

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited March 2010

    Yeah Merilee!!! So happy that you're still doing so well.  Only two to go.....it will be over before you know it.....

    Janina, sorry that you're having a hard time and I do understand the scare with the SHEDDING....it is no fun and definitely a little scary.  Praying for the best and that it lets up for you.  Mine came and went with the shedding so maybe yours will to.

    Good luck to everyone that is still doing their treatments....hope everyone is still doing great!

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited March 2010

    I just had my breast MRI and it is clean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So almost 1 2/3 years after the bad MRI that brought me here!!!!  I am tearful with relief!

     Love to all of my CMF sisters,

    Mandy

  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 734
    edited March 2010

    Mandy

    This is very good news.

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited March 2010

    Mandy.....I am so happy for you :)!  That is wonderful news!!!!!

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited March 2010

    Thanks merilee and cabmom.  And actually it is 1 3/4 years since I had my diagnosis...so almost at my 2 year point.

    Hoping you gals in treatment have few side effects (I had them all except I did not lose my hair).  

    Love

    Mandy

  • labarbera2006
    labarbera2006 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2010

    I am glad to hear everyone is doing pretty good.  That make me think I will get better soon.  I had my 2nd chemo today and it slammed me.  I am having almost every side effect from CMF.  But I am encouraged by onco.  She really believes that my Meniere's Disease is going bezek also.  So trying to figure it all out is taking some time.  She decided today that I will go in everyday this week and Monday for IV infusions.  She is going to try some different things to see what will help.  I think she is so wonderful, and I know we will get a handle on this so I can continue tx.  I appreciate all the support from everyone.  Take care all.

    Hugs

    Labby

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited March 2010

    Oh Labby, hang in there!  I am so sorry that you're having such a rough time of it with the CMF.  It sounds like you have a great onc who is trying to get you regulated on this regiment.  At least you know that she cares!  Hopefully she will find the magic combination for you and your next treatment will be easier on you.  Keep us informed!

    MANDY...........YEA!  Breathe in.  Breathe out!  Super MRI results! Now just keep plugging along and putting those years behind you.  It sure doesn't seem like it's been nearly 2 years for you. ...although at times I'm sure you'd disagree!  Hugs to you dear sister!  We love good news on this thread!!!!

    Rita

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited March 2010

    labarbera:  it sounds as if your onc is wonderful.  Try to bear it. I had every CMF side effect except that I kept my hair and my counts were good. I had ones so rare that my onc had to do research to see what they were from.    I also was exhausted from my chemo; by the last tx, I could hardly walk around the block.  But things will come back and you will feel better. You are not alone---lots of us had side effects.  Take care.  Many hugs to you.

    Ritajean: yes, what a relief.  Those MRIs can show things that are cancer and things that are false positives. I was blessed not to have even one false positive....just a clear MRI!!! Can't ask for more than that!!!  It is hard to believe that I finished my CMF last May.  And thanks to Ritajean, Carol and some other ladies here who helped me when I was down.  

    Love to my CMF gals,

    Mandy

  • Janina
    Janina Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2010

    http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/asparagus.asp

    Looks like I will start "liking" asparagus beginning tomorrow!!!

  • labarbera2006
    labarbera2006 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2010

    mandy, rita

    Thank you for your encouraging words.  I was transported from my onco's office to the hospital yesterday morning.  My side effects from CMF continued to get worse, so I went in at 10 Am, to get my infusion for side effects.  When I finished I began having severe chest pains.  I was rushed to hospital.  They began running test last night and agai this Am.. It appears I was having an Heart attack, but the nitro pills stoped it.  There is no heart damages, just that the heart was strained severely.  So out the window goes the CMF chemo for me.  Onco is meeting with the board of concologists  at Vanderbilt and we make a decision whether to continue chemo or just move on to radiation.  I believe they said the drug that affected the heart was the F one.  Anyway I just got home and very drained but it appears everything is under control for now.  Will go for an infusion toorrow for continued side effects.  I know things will get better I jus always fall in that percent that it is unlikely to happen to. LOL

    Take care and pay close attention to your side effects.

    Love you all

    Labby 

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited March 2010

    Labby,

    I sent you a private message.    But I am on board here to wish you well.  It sounds as if you have a terrific medical team at Vanderbilt and that everything will work out for you. 

    You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Love,

    Mandy

  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 486
    edited March 2010

    Labby: yesterday must have been so frightening for you! Bad enough to be undergoing chemo, but to have life-threatening SEs added on top of that is too much. Hope your medical team come up with a workable plan for you.

    Janina: I'm sure asparagus is good for us, but it's no miracle cure. The article you linked to has been debunked, which is why it appeared on Snopes in the first place.

  • chanellygirl
    chanellygirl Member Posts: 15
    edited March 2010

    Dear ladies,

    I recently had surgery and after visits to a couple of different oncologists will start CFM in a couple of weeks. The onco is on vacation and April 12 is the first day I can be scheduled. Wondering what to expect from SE on day1 and what you think about working and CMF?  I am an academic support teacher and most days my teaching time is between 10:00 and 2:00.  I will be able to be excused from meetings and have a flexible schedule.  I know everyone is different but wondering?

     Lababera... I read your post and am sending you energy and hoping you feel better soon...

      

  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 734
    edited March 2010

    Barbbp

    I have had 4 of 6 treatments and have not missed any work. Constipation is the worst side effect I have had and for that I would suggest you take something the day before and continue for a few days after. This is a very doable treatment. I am sure you will do fine.

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited March 2010

    Barbara,  Welcome to the CMF thread.  Although none of us has chosen to be here, it's a good place to be while going through your journey.  I think you will find that CMF chemo is very doable.  As Merilee says, very few gals have to quit work or limit their activities drastically during the CMF treatment.  Most have hair thinning but no major hair loss and most are able to tolerate and control the nausea.  The first treatment should be very uneventful for you.  You sit in a chair while the treatment is given.  Except for the insertion of the IV, it is completely painless.  Then you go home.  My onc prescribed compazine for me.  I learned to take this anti-nauseous pill as soon as I left from my treatment and to continue taking it for four days.  That knocked the nausea for me and it was much easier for me to prevent the nausea than to get rid of it once it started. 

    Ask for some ice chips or something very cold to suck on while they are doing the IV infusions.  This supposedly keeps away the mouth sores that are associated with CMF.  I guess it works as I didn't get the mouth sores.  Then drink LOTS of water in the days following your treatment to help flush the chemicals through your body.

    You should do fine.  We will be here to help you.

    Rita

  • labarbera2006
    labarbera2006 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2010

    Hey everyone I am doing better, out of the hospital and all is well.  Thank you again for your encouraging words.  I meet with my onco nxt Tuesday.  But currently I am getting infusion every day to help with my ses.  I don't know what to do at this point, so I will just wait and she what she wants to do about changing the chemo drugs.  I will keep you posted.

    Hugs

    Labby

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited March 2010

    Labby, so glad you are home.  Take it one day at a time.....as hard as that sometimes is!  I will be anxious to hear what your onc tells you when you meet with her on Tuesday.  You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers!

    Rita

  • Judy1973
    Judy1973 Member Posts: 51
    edited March 2010

    Wow...I'm behind.  Glad many of you are doing well, welcome to those of you that are new, and I'm sorry for those of you feeling some pretty nasty SE's (labarbera...you are one brave lady...those were some scary side effects!)  The week of chemo was pretty yucky for me, but my counts are still good (white count is still a bit low, but still okay) at my followup this week.  My doctor prescribed me some Decadron to take at home (for the next 2 days after chemo) to see if that would help with the delayed nausea.  He said it's a trade-off between not getting the best night's sleep with not having the nausea.  We'll see how that goes after #5 on April 5th.  I'm halfway thru...that's something, but I'll have to admit that after #4, I was ready to quit.  It really stinks to feel like I'm DOING this to my body...even tho' I know it's for very rational reasons.  I'm sure I'll go back and forth with that until the end. 

    Hope every continues to do well or that things improve for those of you fighting the mean SEs!  Happy SPRING!Smile

  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 734
    edited March 2010

    Hang in there Judy, we are almost done.

  • chanellygirl
    chanellygirl Member Posts: 15
    edited March 2010

    BUMP

  • labarbera2006
    labarbera2006 Member Posts: 22
    edited March 2010

    Thanks ladies, I'm sure all will be fine soon.  I will let you know what she decides to do.  I am pretty sure I had the last CMF tx.  Not sure what to do, but I'm sure she will have some excellent advice on Tuesday. 

    Everyone stay well and hang in there.

    Hugs

    Labby

  • codavis
    codavis Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2010

    I've searched through this thread (and all over the internet) and am wondering if any of you have had, or are having, the same treatment that I started last week. I am taking 100 mg Cytoxan in a pill format every day and get Methotrexate and 5 FU in a weekly infusion every Friday. This will continue for a full 26 weeks.

    So far the anti-nausea meds have kept any side effects at bay and I feel pretty good, but I've only had one infusion and 4 days of pills. 

     

  • aprilgirl1
    aprilgirl1 Member Posts: 806
    edited March 2010

    Codavis - I did!  I did that exact treatment - oral cytoxan daily with weekly infusion for 6 months.  I truly had minimal side effects - did take zofran at infusion and compazine the day of and next day.  I wonder if you are in the Seattle area - CMF and weekly CMF is very popular up here!

    Labby - so sorry that you have had a tough time - sounds like you are feeling better, which is wonderful.

    Mandy - great news on the clean scans!  Congratulations!

    Merilee - you are almost done!  Congrats on that!

    Hope everyone is doing well.  I don't pop in often, but think of you all often!

  • codavis
    codavis Member Posts: 48
    edited March 2010

    aprilgirl1

    Thank you. I take it that you didn't lose your hair?

    Yes, I'm in Seattle. I just thought it was weird that I wasn't finding much online info about it. My onc has me taking Prilosec and Zofran before the pills everyday so I don't expect much in the way of nausea.

  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 734
    edited March 2010

    Thursday will be #5 and then 3 weeks left. I am looking forward to being done. Next I will get new boobs. :) I am thinking small and perky will work LOL

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