CMF Question
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Good Morning!
codavis - sorry to hear of you SE's, but glad to hear your 1/2 way, that's great, I haven't started yet, so have no experience to share...hope it clears up soooooon!
Well, tomorrow I go to the oncologist to see if I'm cleared up enough to start. My husband and I keep wondering which way she'll decide. The surgery spots all look really good and healed up to me, but I'm still on antiB's for 4 more days (over half way on that, hurray). I've been keeping the yeast at bay, barely with tons of yogurt and acidophilus. I feel great and would like to start, but not if my immune system isn't ready. Does anyone know if they start you when you are still on antiB's? I guess I can just wait and see tomorrow, but you know, I wanna know now - tee hee!
Hope you all have a wonderful week!!
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I'm almost four months post completion of CMF. My periods stopped about halfway through and have not returned. I'm 41. Did anyone have theirs start up again after this kind of hiatus?
I suppose it's not the worst thing for various reasons (including the fact that my cancer was highly ER/PR positive), but for goodness sake, I'm a bit young to be menopausal . . .
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Let me update, my oncology apt for tomorrow has been cancelled because my oncotype results won't be ready till Wed and because I'm still of antibiotics till Thurs. So I really think I start next Tues. 7/6 just after the holiday.
Kate2z80 - I'm 52 and was told the chemo would most likely put me into menopause, at my age I don't think periods are expected to return. I just don't know at your age. I wish you the best.
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Beanius- You're getting closer! It must be so hard to have these delays. It won't be long now. Try to enjoy your very own personal Independence Day. Tuesday will arrive soon enough and you will be in the saddle with all the rest of us. I'm going for CMF #2 this Friday 7/2. I have a feeling I won't feel like fireworks this year. It is beyond sweltering here in NYC. I'm hostage in the AC, feel like a bat in my cool, quiet cave.
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DesignerMom- You are so sweet, such a nice person. Thanks for the encouragement! Yeah, I should be happy to have another week to recover and have everything sort of normal before starting. Sorry it's so hot in NYC. It's very cool over here on the north pacific coast, but we have so many gray days, I'm hoping for some sun. Good thing you have AC!!! Good luck with #2, I'm sure you will do great and each one gets you closer to the end of it - hurray!
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Kate, I was 42 when I went through CMF (08) and I did a fair amount of research on this. At our age- early 40s, we are very much on the fence. I don't have all the data handy anymore, but I seem to recall that about 2/3 of women in their 40s do go into early menopause. My period disappeared for a month-- but did return in my case. I am, however, pretty certain that I'm in perimenopause as my whole pattern is different now and other reasons. I expect I will be going into menopause earlier than I would have otherwise.
I have heard of some women having their period return as far as year out-- so you never know. I would mention it to your oby-- I believe there is a bloodtest you can do to see where things are. Have you started to have hot flashes yet?
Just thought I let you know my experience... for whatever it might be worth.
-julie b
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Thanks, Julie B. The hot flashes--which occurred about 4 times per hour for several months, have subsided. That was tremendously annoying. I'm long overdue for the gyn, so that is good advice. With my other health issues the past year and all of the cosmetic surgery to put me back together, I haven't gotten around to it. I'd better get on the phone.
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DesignerMom........Thanks for the kind words. You made me smile this afternoon!
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kate2z80, just like you my periods stopped mid way through and have not returned. I am 4 1/2 months out from chemo and actually it's been 6 1/2 months since it actually stopped. I was 43 when diagnosed. The doctor told me that it was really hard to tell at my age but could take up to a year to come back or it MIGHT not come back at all. I enjoy NOT having my monthly visitor but hate all these wonderful menopausal symptoms. Good lord.....they are terrible! Bottom line, I don't think the doctors have a clue because it's such an individual thing that they can't really pin it down. Just know.....I'm feeling your pain as well (literally)
! Good luck to both of us !0 -
Mandy1313
Thank you for your sweet thoughts about my foot. I am getting around, rented a knee scooter which gives me so much more mobility, but also continuing to elevate when I can to try and prevent swelling !!
Codavis
I hope you are feeling better from your se's.... I am sending you lots of hugs and positive energy
Designermom
Looks like we have a little break from the heat for a few days.... Hopefully you can enjoy the outdoors today and you have an easy time on Friday and the days after... Will keep you in my thoughts for an easy 4th of July weekend. I am scheduled for my 5th of 8 treatments on Wednesday.
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Ladies, I am wondering if anyone had noticeable skin sensitivities or burning from the sun and being outdoors... My onco told me this could be a SE... I was walking outside before I fractured my foot and wore a hat and sunglasses and tried to keep as covered as possible. I am using a 30 sunscreen but now with my building pool open am wondering if I can sit outside and read with just the sunscreen or do I need to still be extra careful and coverup? I don't want to end up with a major sunburn0
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chanellygirl - I've been cautioned to keep out of the sun and use sunscreen. I think a little sun is good, but I'm no expert, I'm really fair so I'm planning to keep covered up.
Just wanted to share that my oncotype score came in low so CMF is definietly a go for me July 6. Also found out my mom was treated with CMF in the 70's. She was stage 4 at dx and after surgery, CMF & tamox, she never had a bc recurrence.
Have a wonderful day!!!
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Chanellygirl: I was told by my onc that I could be outside but to protect my skin with sunscreen and hats. I go walking outside everyday and to the pool. I wear a hat to protect my face and 30 SPF. I am very freckly and fair so I am careful with the sun. I get outside and get as much Vit D as I can. It keeps my spirits up.
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Oh and I did notice that if I don't wear the sunscreen my skin will burn quicker than before. So I guess the CMF can cause photosensitivity.
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Beanius, wonderful news on your low oncotype score and that is also wonderful news about your mom. So happy that she's done so well.....I know we're all hoping for the same results
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Beanius - thanks for sharing about your mom. It's good to know.
One or more of the drugs causes sensitivity to sun (can't remember which one, but it's a warning on the pharmacy sheet I get or I read it online somewhere). I don't go out without suncsreen even though I live in Seattle and we've had lots of cloudy days so far this summer! I also have bumps on my hairline, which look like acne but don't behave that way and I've never had them before. And I have a rash on my back and chest--so I think CMF must cause skin sensitivies in general.
And to chime in on the absence of periods - I am 44 and had them for the first two months of treatment, but haven't had one in 7 weeks. My onc said the same thing that all of you have heard, that CMF can push us into early menopause. I was concerned because after CMF, I'm going on 5 years of Tamoxifin and it's specifically for pre-menopausal women. My onc said that if I haven't had a period in a year after CMF, they'll do some blood work to see if I'm really in menopause. And if I am, then they'll switch me to an aromatase inhibitor.
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i haven't been on here in ages - things have gone super smooth for me on cmf. minimal side effects, i haven't even had issues with nausea at all. some stomach cramping, but it comes & goes and i got a great script for it. my blood work has been fantastic every week, i haven't lost any hair at all (no more shedding than normal), and i haven't lost my period either. i have days of being really tired or not feeling well here & there, but it's not consistent.
best part - last mf treatment is july 14th! then i take the cytoxen for a week more & i'm done! the hardest part of all of this is the length of it all, 6 months has taken a huge toll on me emotionally at times.
so i think i'm going to do radiation, and then the tamox, obviously. i'd rather not do the radiation, but the local reoccurance rate without it was pretty staggering to me.
my biggest issue right now is that since i haven't had any changes in my period, my doc is concerned that tamox may not be enough for me and has suggested 2 yrs of lupron in addition to stop me from having my period. the list of side effects that concern me - weight gain, mood swings, loss of sex drive, acne, dizziness, joint pain - all listed on the drug manufacturer's site as "common". she said they would all go away when i stopped taking it - but i really don't want to put myself through that for 2 years. i'm only 37, i'm thinking i need some estrogen. tamox doesn't stop your body from making it or absorbing it, it just binds to any tumors & blocks it from using it to grow. i guess there is some study out (still in clinical trials but they are releasing prelim findings) that suggest that stoping the period of premenapausal women for 2 yrs lowers the chance of recurrance. but i don't think it's worth it. makes tamox sound like a walk in the park though! my doc doesn't think i'll have many side effects with it because i had none with the cmf.
hope everyone is well! woohoo on finishing merrilee!!!
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oh, and here is something i learned totally by accident - around treatment 14 i was beginning to feel really horrible the next day (the day after i always felt sort of flu-ish, but not terribly so, like you feel right before you get sick, but it was getting worse). the treatment center was really busy & i ended up getting a FULL bag of saline. the next day - felt so good. so my nurse put in an order for me to always get it and we did it the next week, same result. and so on and so on. it's made things a lot easier. plus it helps to flush it out of you sooner. it can mean extra time in the chair, but i have the nurses turn the iv up to 500 and it only takes about 45 minutes from plug in to run through the bag. (my m&f are a syrnge push & my cytoxen is oral)
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Beanius; I'm not sure how many treatments I am getting; just was told it would be about 6 months. I started in April and have had 6 so far. Hair is still thinning out, but so far, haven't had to use my scarves yet to hide it. I still keep forgetting to put something on my head though when I'm out working in the yard. I am kind of wondering if some of those spray on sunblocks would work to spray in my hair.
My oncologist said something about doing scans next month; I think they wil be scheduled during my next appointment with him in July. I don't know if it's just going to be a bone scan, as usual, or if he's going to do a PET scan too.
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js...so glad to hear from you and so glad that you're doing so well. You are just moving right through these treatments. It was also interesting to hear about the saline benefits! That's a good thing to know. I hope you continue to do as well for the remaining treatments! Hugs....
Rita
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Hi Everyone,
Had treatment #1 today. Feeling stressed and jumpy right now, probably because of the steroids. js37, it was encouraging to see that you;ve done so well. Hope things go okay fo rme too. Thanks to all of you for the encouragement.
CMZ
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js37 - FANTASTIC NEWS! Thanks for sharing!
mom2acat - I was reading about CMF and it looks like it's a good idea to keep out of the sun and/or cover up and use sunscreen. I'm not sure about the spray on kind, it would definitely get to the skin on your head that way, but would it feel too greasy? I've been reading to not mess with hair too much and that may help keep it from falling out. I'm no expert, but I think I'd opt for the scarves or hats when going in the sun and then put the sunscreen on my face and hands, etc. That's good they are scheduling another scan. How are you feeling about it? My doc had me in for PET/CT and bone scan a month or so ago. The tests weren't too bad.
cmz - Congratulations on getting #1 done!! Hurray and I hope you continue to do well.
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cmz - i was told that steroids weren't really needed on cmf & i never got them. maybe try a treatment without them and see how you feel? it's an individual decision, but i just felt as if they give people steroids because, well, that's what you do when giving chemo, you give steroids. i didn't want that stuff in my body because even after you stop taking it, it lingers in your fat cells for anywhere up to 6 months (found this out the 1 time i had to take them for really bad pneumonia). i hate how they make me feel so i just said no, and my onco said no problem, not needed.
i hate the iv treatments most of all, but only 2 more left! the pills have been a breeze for me, everyone is super surprised about that. i never have to take any zolfran at all, except the night of treatment & the next morning for slight quesyness. i think my dr's in general are super suprised by me all around. although, i will say, i think it would have been a different story if i had gotten the traditional regime of every 3 weeks. i get such minimal amounts at a time that i think the impact on the body is much easier to tolerate.
everyone will get through this. i'm thankful that cmf was an option for me every day. even though there are days that are tough (mostly emotionally tired of feeling like a cancer patient), things could be a lot worse.
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I was 40 when I was diagnosed (1996) and went thru CMF treatments(after a mastectomy and reconstruction). My periods stopped after 3 treatments. Kept wondering when they would start up again as my onc was pretty sure they would due to my age, but they never did. Went thru several years of the typical hot flashes -- and all the other assorted menopausal symptoms but the periods never came back. Guess that was good since I am ER/PR +. Hope all else is going well and you have many years with NED!!!! I suffered a recurrence last fall, had my implant removed followed by rads and now Arimidex...... Now doing well. God Bless!!!!
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Thanks Beanius! One down. Also, I agree with you about sticking with hats/scarves for head protection from the sun rather than sunscreen. I too am going to be very gentle with my hair. I'm going to wash it in the sink in cool water with Nioxen and just fluff it dry. I tend to shed a lot in the shower and even though I know this, it will just add to my stress level to see it all over the place in there. I hope you're doing well.
JS37 Thanks for the info. on the steroids. It's been less than 24 hours, so hard to tell how the nausea will go this time, but if I do well this time, maybe we can skip it next time. I've been up since 4:00. Nothing like getting a jump on the day!
Have a good day, both of you.
CMZ
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annie1273 - Sorry to hear of a recurrence but you sound great and like you caught it very early. That's great to hear!!
cmz - I couldn't find nioxen at 2 pharmacies, I guess I'll have to look online.
To all, have a wonderful, safe, fun holiday weekend!!
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Hi Beanius, Go on their site, www.nioxin.com, and you'll be able to find where it's sold in your area. They have different "systems" for different hair types. I had to call around a little bit, but I finally managed to find it at Trade Secret. Good luck!
cmz
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Beanius; right now I am not stressing about the scans. It used to be, as soon as my oncologist even mentioned,the word, I would start getting nervous and worrying right away. But gradually, I got to the point where I don't worry too much about them ahead of time.
The day of the test, I'm ok; til it's over; then I am so anxious while I am waiting for the results!
I am hoping that if I do get a PET scan, I don't have a hassle with the bill like last time. It was preapproved by the insurance, but the hospital I had it done at sent me a bill for the full amount, saying the insurance didn't pay. It took me two months to get that mess straightened out. I still had to pay a percentage of it, but it was better than paying the full amount.
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cmz - thank you for the nioxin site, much appreciated.
mom2acat - yes, I guess after so many tests we get a little more used to the next one, but waiting for results is such an awful time. Glad to hear you have insurance, this stuff gets so expensive, so if you just have to pay a percentage that's much better than the whole thing. I have met my max out of pocket for the year, but my treatment will go into next year and who knows what to expect then. Oh, well, it's all kind of one day at a time any more. When do you go for your scans?
Wishing all a very wonderful holiday weekend!!!
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Happy to help, Beanius. Also, since I think you're starting this week, I just wanted to let you know that yesterday I didn't feel too well, mostly stomach problems and fatigue, but today, I'm pretty much okay. Hope that makes you feel good.
Cheers,
CMZ
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