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CMF Question

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Comments

  • mom2acat
    mom2acat Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2010

    Beth, I hope you got through your treatment ok and are feeling better now. I agree the first one is the worst, anxiety wise at least. For me, it was the not knowing what to expect as far as side effects.

    I just had CMF#3; my onc. thinks it's too hard on my WBC to do it every 2 weeks, so now I will get them every 3 weeks. 

    I just noticed this week that my hair is starting to thin out now.

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited May 2010

    Beth, good luck with your treatments.....

  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 734
    edited May 2010

    Hang in there ladies, it will be over soon and you will feel good about having done this. Gives me a feeling of extra insurance.

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

    Beth, I'm betting that you will have a much easier time on the 3 week schedule.  Hang in there, gal! 

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

    How's everyone doing?  I hope that the lack of activity the past few days means that everyone is doing great and marking those treatments right off the calendar!

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited May 2010

    Hey all.....hope everyone is doing okay with their treatments. 

    It's been a tough week for my family.....we lost my uncle in a head on collision last Wednesday and it's been like a bad dream since but we're strong in our faith and will get through this tragedy....it's just been really hard.  Keep us in your prayers.

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

    Oh cabmom.........I'm so sorry about your uncle.  I will indeed keep your family in my prayers.

  • mom2acat
    mom2acat Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2010

    I have been having some "good days" lately; started getting my flowers planted outside this week.

    My last CMF was May 11th, and my next one isn't until June 1st. This is the longest stretch of "good days" I've had in a long time.

  • codavis
    codavis Member Posts: 48
    edited May 2010

    cabmom: I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope that you find comfort and support in your family and friends.

     mom2acat: I'm glad you're having some good days and are able to work on your garden.

    I'm waiting to see my onc and then I'm heading to the treatment center for my 9th of 26 treatments. It seems to drag on and on... The nurse that took my blood pointed out that I'm a third of the way through. That's  positive way to look at it.

  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 486
    edited May 2010

    Cabmom: so sorry to hear about your uncle. Thinking of you at this difficult time.

  • poohbear21
    poohbear21 Member Posts: 23
    edited May 2010

    Hello everyone.

    Cabmom: so sorry to hear about your loss. Prayers to you.

    I have completed my first "cycle". 1 down 5 to go. I hope everyone is doing well.

  • Aussiemumof2
    Aussiemumof2 Member Posts: 13
    edited May 2010

    Cabmom - I'm so sorry to hear about your Uncle. - Will keep you in my prayers.

     Mom2acat: Glad to hear you've had some good days & hope it continues to improve

     codavis - third of the way through is better than a quarter way thru but I remember feeling the same. Just hang in there & you'll get to the finish line like I did.

    Vicki

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

    And how are you doing after that first cycle, poohbear?   Good, I hope!

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

    Just bumping up our thread so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle!  I hope everyone is doing well today!

  • poohbear21
    poohbear21 Member Posts: 23
    edited May 2010

    Hello Ladies. Hope everyone is doing well. Haven't seen many postings recently I guess everyone is keeping busy.

    Have a great holiday weekend:)

  • mom2acat
    mom2acat Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2010

    I'm in the last week of my 3 weeks in between chemos; my next one is Tuesday.

    Been busy trying to get all the flowers planted my yard, and doing a good house cleaning. I know I won't be feeling good the 3 days after my chemo, so that way I can just be lazy spend those days reading or watching tv or movies, and it will make me feel better knowing those things are as caught up as they can be.

  • cabmom
    cabmom Member Posts: 291
    edited May 2010

    Hi ladies....hope everyone is doing well.  Thanks to each of you for your thoughts and prayers.  It's been a difficult time for our family but it will be ok with time. 

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

    Hey mom2acat....I read alot of books during my chemo months.  However, I must not have been tracking too well when I read them (although I seemed to enjoy them at the time.)  You can't imagine how many books I've picked up in the past year to read and then get about a fourth of the way through, only to discover that I read them during the "chemo days" and didn't remember much about them.  I never did remember some of the endings so I just went ahead and finished them again.   Smile

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

    So how did everyone do over the holiday weekend?

  • DesignerMom
    DesignerMom Member Posts: 730
    edited June 2010

    Oh I am so happy to find this thread!  I am scheduled to begin chemo on June 11.  My Oncologist wanted to use TC. After reading SO much about possible permanent side effects (baldness, neuropathy etc) I asked if there might be another regimen that would be comparable.  A friend who researched a lot (her friend is a big Oncologist at Dana Farber) chose CMF.  Her Onc friend said it would be comparable and is the least toxic.  My Onc says she will do it if I want.  I did get the feeling she was sort of reluctant because it is not the newest.  For me that is a plus because we know more about it!  She said she would do every 3 weeks X 6.  I see here, all of you seem to be getting different regimens.  Is there any rhyme or reason to this?  Should I get a second opinion?  Boy am I tired of all this research!  I wish I could trust that someone knows what is best!

  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 486
    edited June 2010

    DesignerMom: TC, AC and AC/T are the regimens that are more standard nowadays, esp for node-negative, premenopausal women. There is the risk of neuropathy with the taxanes, so for that reason esp if you have reason to believe you are high risk for neuropathy, adriamycin is an alternative. However, that in turn is hard on the heart. In my case I opted for AC as I was already suffering from neuropathy and didn't want to aggravate it any more. I had ACx4. The onc decided to give me CMFx4 as additional insurance.

    It is a hard decision to make. I figured choosing an onc would be easy - that they would all have the same recommendation. I saw two at first - one wanted to give me TCx6, the second one wanted to give me ACx4, then Tx4. So in both cases they were recommening a taxane, which I was scared would increase my neuropathy. So I went to see a third onc. She decided to order the oncotype test and when that came back with a score of 18, she suggested that I might want to forgo chemo altogether. That was very tempting but I felt I didn't know enought to make that decision. So then I went to a fourth onc who said that since I was node positive, she would definitely advise chemo. She brought my case up in front of a tumor board, so I felt secure knowing that I had the collective opinion of a group of people. I was content (and still am) that I made the right decision for me. I think if you have any doubts, you should definitely get another opinion. 

  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited June 2010

    I had the CMF that went for six months...long time for sure, but that was over nine years ago now..

    BTW, saw my onc today and he says all looks good to him, but he did do some bloodwork..

    he did say, come back in six months...this is a good thing

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

    Oh Lisa..............I've been thinking about you today and am so glad that things looked good! 

    Designer Mom....I had the same regiment as is being prescribed for you:  6 treatments every three weeks.  It is very doable and supposedly just as effective as the other regiments for early stage cancers. The gals on this thread will help you through and try to answer any of your questions.  Come back often!

    Rita

  • DesignerMom
    DesignerMom Member Posts: 730
    edited June 2010

    T hank you MaryNY and Ritajean,  As my Oncotype score was 16, they told me that it wouldn't be totally unreasonalble to decline chemo.  As I had one positive node, I am not comfortable with that option.  However, I am not comfortable using the big gun taxanes either.  I"m still trying to make this important decision.  I THINK CMF will give me the same benefit as TC without the more severe SE. I use my hands a lot in my work, so neuropathy would be awful.  the scary posts about permanent hair loss are devastating. I need to tell my Oncologist by the end of the week.  Do I need a second opinion?  She said she thought she would recommend a port as it would be more infusions.  Can some of you experienced CMFers tell me what I should expect?  Hair loss?  When?  Nausea, tiredness?  I feel anxious all over again because this is so unknown.  Glad to have found you!

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited June 2010

    Hi. Sorry I've been awol for a bit. But I have been reading everyone's posts.  

    Designer Mom:  Like you I had a positive node and a low oncotype (15).  I decided that I would not feel comfortable if I did not do chemo and after consulting decided on CMF.  I had 8 doses 3 weeks apart with radiation during the chemo.  In any event, I did not need a port.  They were able to get my veins without difficulty (except for one nurse who could not ever get them; but everyone else had no problems).  I was glad to be spared the extra surgery of a port.  So if you have "good veins" you might consider trying to go without a port. You can always have one put in after a few tx .

    Best to everyone on this thread. Hope you have few side effects!

    Cyber hugs

    Mandy

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

    Designer Mom.......I didn't need a port either and did just fine.  Like Mandy, I was thrilled that I didn't need the extra surgery for the port.  As for a second opinion, get one if it makes you feel better.  I was told that 6 CMF treatments are equal to 4 of the other treatments.  We trade in a few months of our time for less side effects, which was fine with me.  The CMF regiment is quite doable for most of us.

    Rita

  • Judy1973
    Judy1973 Member Posts: 51
    edited June 2010

    Designer Mom...my oncotype came back at 18 and I was node negative, but my onc didn't feel comfortable sending me off without chemo, so I did CMF x8.  I have #8, in fact, on Monday...YAY...Can't wait to be DONE!  I have actually felt progressively better...believe it or not. I didn't lose any hair and I've only really felt a little nauseous (and that's gotten better as the treatments went on and I no longer take anything afterwards, so go figure).  I would say the only side effect I notice is feeling tired and I have a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old, so it's hard to differentiate between chemo tired and my normal tired.  I occasionally get this yucky post-nasal drip chemo taste and smell in my mouth, but it passes.  I never got any mouth sores and I was really dreading that and constipation hasn't even been an issue for me.  Seriously, if I didn't know any better, I'd think they gave me placebo meds and the side effects I did experience were psychosomatic.  I'm not in a trial, so I know that's not true, but CMF is VERY doable.  I take it easy my "chemo week," as I get my treatment every 3rd Monday, so that has helped.  I work weekend nights from home, so by Friday night, I'm feeling only tired and any nausea I might've had has passed.  It's just finding what will work for you.  Everyone is different, so if you experience more side effects, do NOT think you're crazy or being melodramatic.  I'm hoping you have it just as easy as I think I have, though!  Laughing

    Best of luck to you and I hope everyone else is doing great!  Oh,and no port for me either!  I will say my left arm is TIRED of the pokes and prods, though.  I'll be happy when that part is only once in a while, rather than 2 weeks on and one week off.  

  • DesignerMom
    DesignerMom Member Posts: 730
    edited June 2010

    Judy, Rita, Mandy!!!  Thank you SO VERY MUCH for the reassurance.  Also thanks for confirming that some of you are getting 8 rounds.  My Onc said only 6 and I will ask her why.  Also thanks you for the port feedback.  As I had nodes out of one arm, I only have one arm to work with.  After the 2 surgeries, I would STILL rather avoid another surgery if possible.  I will probably try the veins first.  I HATE anesthesia!!  I am off to my new primary doctor as  my other one has been MIA throughout my BC diagnosis.  I am also going to ask her about a pap as I am overdue.  I read we should get one before chemo as the cell changes can cause false positive readings for quite some time.  Did any of you hear this?  Blessings to all of you! 

  • in_cognito
    in_cognito Member Posts: 87
    edited June 2010

    Designermom - Hi - I've been lurking on this thread and the TC thread - doing my research as to which chemo combo is best for me and gathering questions for my Onc . . .anyways, my OB recommended getting a pap before chemo as well.  She did not say why, but the reasoning you wrote about makes sense. 

  • Janina
    Janina Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2010

    Hello Ladies..it has been a while!

    Ok, I have 4 cycles behind me with 2 more to go (done end of next month..yeppie!!).  My cycles each consist of 2 treatments...as I do a treatment two Tuesdays back to back, then 2 weeks off.

    The only side effects I have had are fatigue (only recently) and the taste of chemo drip in my mouth thorughout the week of treatment).  My hair has thinned very much, no bald spots, but I do look like I have the mange if my hair is pulled up, as you can see my scalp and my hair part is very visible.  I hate it!!  I cut 4 inches off due to shedding, but it has slowed down quite a bit.  After my 2nd cycle it fell out in clumps and was shedding a lot that month.  It has truly slowed down, but has yet to stop shedding completely.

    I am wanting to STOP now.  Wondering if anyone has stopped early.  It is all psychological, but I am not use to dragging.  I am now taking naps, going to bed by 10 p.m. (I use to stay up until 1-2 a.m.).  I make my living doing crafts and have not had any energy to do even that.

    I'm miserable over fatigue alone!!  I do still train (work-out), but I am having to make myself..and that is becuase I don't want weight gain.

    I am just ready to throw up my arms and say "no more"!  The tumor was removed, the one lymph node removed was microscopic..so as far as I am concerned, all cancer was removed.  Yes, possible that one cell broke off and got into my bloodsteam, but surely after 4 cycles (8 injections), I should be ok.

    Sorry...babbling, depressed over all this...I just want to be ME again!  I want my life back.