CMF Question
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ritajean- Right back at you! I am thankful for your positive, inspirational cheerleading on this thread!
So much to be thankful for this and every year. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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ritajean - Happy Thanksgiving to you, I second DesignerMom's words!! Also have good news/bad news...bad news first, it's not that bad really, due to winter road conditions my last chemo got postponed a week, good news is I get another week off chemo (see it's really all good news) and I feel great and will have a great Thanksgiving. (Only problem is after three weeks off and feeling so good I won't want to go back for my final round, but I will!)
To all, I say thank you so much for your help and encouragement through all this and I wish you most wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
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Beans - we will be on the same schedule then and you will feel well for Thanksgiving and for Christmas....this is the silver lining
Main roads up here are ok now but there is no going up and down side streets or hills without 4WD. I was feeling a bit of cabin fever last night so H took me out int he 4WD to just poke around and do doughnuts on the ice. It is what we did on our wedding day too
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Beanius....what state are you in? I'm curious because of your bad road conditions. We're getting rain here in Illinois. It could get slippery later tonight if the temperatures drop as expected but no snow for us in Central Illinois. I liked your news! A surprise break is always a pleasant thing!
Raincity girl.....I'm glad to hear that somebody else gets cabin fever. I guess I'm too much of a people person. I love my down time and alone time but I get pretty moody in winter when I don't get out very often. Glad you got out and had a little fun!
I'll check back in after Thanksgiving. I'm going to spend tomorrow cooking and spoiling my little grandsons!
Rita
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Beans is also in WA, although on the coast...
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Today is my 10 year cancerversary and birthday...it can be done!!
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Congrats SoCalLisa - knowing it can be done helps those of us who are just beginning...
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Hi everyone!
Happy Thanksgiving to my U.S. neighbours!
I just found out that I will need chemo. I am very interested in the CMF regimen. Can I ask the onc for this or will they try to recommend something else. Are some women not eligible for CMF?
Thanks!
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Good morning Cat!
I am doing CMF currently. Each oncologist has his own reasons for recommending a regimen. I was given two choices and chose CMF in order to keep my hair and because it is easier on the veins and would allow me to perhaps go without a port. Also, I understand it has fewer long term effects. That said, it could e that for a larger tumor or positive nodes, they may go stronger. Eligible is not the word I would use, but rather, approprite choice? I am happy to answer anything about CMF that you would like to know - I begin round three on Monday. As you can see from the tagline, I have a slightly different situation than you.
Hang in there.....when you hear people say doable, that is the correct description. You will come through it.
Diane
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Ritajean - have a great Thanksgiving spoiling your grandsons, sounds wonderful!
SoCalLisa - GIGANTIC CONGRATULATIONS!! 10 YEARS!!! FANTASTIC!! Keep on truckin'!
Raincitygirl - I so agree, seeing women post their success is indeed inspirational, my rad nurse is a 15 year bc survivor and she is a wonderful resource and so positive about the future...we can do this! We are on the same schedule now! You go Mon and I go Tues - yahoo, we can caca pill together for two weeks - ha ha ha! We can do this and it goes so fast!!!
Cat123 - So sorry you need chemo, CMF is really quite manageable,but I know lots of women get through other types of chemo just fine too. If you have a good oncologist they will prescribe meds that help you through any side effects. I recommend getting several oncology opinions and then deciding what feels best to you. I also looked at the chemo math web site to help calculate differences in therapies for my lifespan. My chemo decision was made after 3 oncologist opinions, a lot of my own research, zillions of questions to doctors, searching my soul, etc. Also I had a very low oncotype dx score of 6 so that factored into my decision. Had my oncotype dx score been higher I would have gone for a stronger chemo, either TC or most likely ACT. I had 2/21 nodes positive, but it looked like my tumor was more responsive to hormonal than chemotherapy. Best of luck to you and I'm also happy to answer any ??'s you may have that I can. I am concurrently getting radiation tx and have finished 5/33 with no problems, then I will be on to hormonal therapy, Tamoxifen. Alll my best wishes to you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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Cat123 - Beans has been one of my mentors - she is a good resource for you!
Check out her funny new avatar - I suspect this reflects your Rads Tanning?
Don't let that go to your big ol' head now Beans. By the way, you had a 6????? You lucky girl!
Are you cooking?
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Raincitygirl -Yes, I was praying so hard to St. Peregine and got a 6, I believe my oncologist would have been okayish about a no chemo decision, but we were both more comfortable with the "CMF insurance plan!" One of the oncologists I went to described it like a dandelion, since mine was invasive, and they just have no way of knowing if the cells went poof and where they might be trying to take up shop in my body. I just wanted to exterminate anything that was floating around and I believe my oncologist was relieved that I chose to have chemo. It's best to stamp it out as best you can early on...BTW - I love your tag line it goes so well with Carpe diem!
BTW 2 - ritajean, SoCalLisa, DesignerMom, Mandy and others here have all been mentors to me (so no big head here,) these women have pulled me through with advice, encouragment, and their own success stories. I hope to help pull others through...it's so scary and when women share about their success it makes it much less scary, then I can relax and put my top down - tee hee!!
Cookin steaks, mashed taters n gravy, peas, german red cabbage, cranberry sauce, olives, dinner rolls, bread pudding and fudge brownies, also got a bottle of Gewertztraminer wine from Chateau St Michele. I don't usually like sweet wines, but lately sweet is really in!
What are U cookin?
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Beanius- I'm LOL at your turkey in a bikini!! Eat some of that gooooood German red cabbage for me!
cat123- It is a very personal decision with many factors to weigh. You might find the cancer math site helpful. You can plug in all your specifics, node status, tumor size, grade etc.... then you can choose different chemos etc and project your outcome. I found it very helpful when I was trying to decide on my treatment plan. I chose CMF, I only had micromets in one node and my Oncotype test was low. Are they doing the Oncotype DX test on your pathology? That gives more excellent information. These ladies are very helpful if you have more questions. Wishing you clarity and peace with whatever decision you make.
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It's true - ritajean, SoCalLisa, Designer Mom have all offered words of encouragement - probably Mandy too and I have just missed her so far!
I wish I were having steaks! We are going to a friend's house so I only had to make desserts and I will make the gravy when I am there. I made the Kentucky Bourbon Derby pie and the DH made a cranberry/blueberry pie. His looks more impressive which sucks since it is his first pie ever!. I definitely plan to have a glass of pinot.
So far, I am continuing with the CMF insurance plan on Monday. Back to caca time which we will share - your last, my halfway. Maybe this will help me get through #3.
I will see you at the bar later....you know, for a nightcap.
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raincitygirl - we'll hold hands thru 14 caca days...I think you will see after #3 you are on easy street, 4 and 5 breezed by and by # 6 you will be elated and just skate through! See you at the bar!!
PS - I was so envious when DesignerMom finished (glad for her but still whining for me), she just went flying through - wow, so now it's time for the rest of us to fly through too!!
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Good morning ladies! I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! We had lots of fun but this Grandma was tired when everyone left on Sunday morning. However, I wouldn't have given up one minute of the visit!
Cat123.... I imagine that your oncologist will give you chemo suggestions. If you are interested in CMF, just ask if it would be a workable treatment for you. It is usually used for early stage cancers, but every oncologist seems to have their own opinions about the type of chemo that they prefer. It never hurts to ask!
You're right, Beanius.....you and raincity are also flying through these treatments. It won't be long and you'll both be singing the "No MO' Chemo" song!
SoCal........gosh what can I say? 10 years! You go, gal! You've always been an inspiration to me and you give us all so much hope and faith in the CMF treatments. Now you're working on your next 10 years! That has got to feel good! CONGRATS!!!!!
Well, I'm off to regroup. The frig needs to be restocked. The laundry pile is humungous and I need to get away from this computer and get busy.
I hope everyone has a good day!
Rita
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Good morning ladies....been a while since I've been on but just finished catching up on everyone. Been a tough month for me but thankfully all my blood counts are back in line and the knot that had appeared in my neck is GONE.....YEAH! I am so thankful. I don't think I realized just how much I had missed being on this board until I was reading this morning......all you guys are such a blessing. Personally, I know that without this board, I would have been LOST! So happy to see all the cancer anniversaries so congrats to each of you and Happy Birthday to SOCALLISA and Benius! Glad everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hope everyone on treatment is doing okay this morning.......
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WOO HOO, CABMOM! What good news to start off our day! I am SO glad that the knot is gone. Now you can concentrate on the upcoming holiday season and on moving on with your life. I am so glad to see a post from you. There hasn't been as much activity on this thread lately as there was in the past, but that can be good. Usually it means that everyone is doing well and getting through the treatments and stress. That's what we want for everyone!
I have a free day today so I'm going to try to wrap a few more Christmas presents and pick up the clutter around here. I loved having my kids for Thanksgiving but I'm still finding little surprises under chairs and behind the toybox.
I hope everyone has a great day!
Rita
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cabmom - hurray! no knot and white counts good!!! Yippeee!
ritajean - I am so excited about my countdown, but don't wanna bug everyone with it...but here it is anyway: 10 more days of Cytoxan pills; 1 more chemo infusion (next Tues); and after today I will be 1/3 through rads (doing #11 of 33) - all so far so good! I got my prescription for Tamoxifen but won't be starting till after rads. My rad onc says I will get pretty tired, so far I'm doing okay and no skin problems, got toes, fingers, everything I can think of crossed...
Happy Friday to All and Have Fun Shopping!!!
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YEA BEANIUS! I think you should be the poster gal for CMF! You've done great and you're about done. I'd be marking these last pill days off, too with bright RED marker! LOL The rads did make me tired toward the end but I learned when I needed a rest and it didn't seem so bad because I COULD see the end. You go, gal!
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cabmom- Whoo hoo on your good news!
Beanius- You're catching up with me. Soon you will be all done! I bet I'll hear your celebration shout all the way in NYC!
Today I did my last rads. DONE! I am so happy that my treatments are done, but I do have a funny feeling that they are finished too. I guess it is time to get back to my "normal" life!
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Designer Mom: Wahoooooooooooooo!!!!! You have finished treatment!!! That is terrific!!
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YEA Designer Mom! Done! Good for you! You did it! I know that funny feeling that you're talking about. While we are in treatment, we know we are doing something to counteract the problem. Then when the treatments are over, it's almost as if we're "all out there on our own." Will you be taking tamoxifin now or any other "after treatment" drug?
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DesignerMom - HURRAY FOR YOU BEING ALL DONE!!! Maybe you will still stop by to chat, you graduate!!! I am so happy for you and now get back to normal!!! You made it, we kept saying we'd make it and now you're through and I'm doing the final countdown, so yes, right behind you. As of today: 1 more syringe push of zofran, decadron and 5-FU; 8 more days of cytoxan pills; 21 more radiations...so far so good, considering all I feel great! One thing though is I have my prescription of Tamoxifen to start when rads is through, proly Jan...I'm scared as I've been reading the SE's. Looks like some women have no SE's and other have a tougher time. So, I will bravely start this and deal with it, whatever happens...My oncologist is testing my hormones to see where I might be in the menopause realm - I was pre-meno but chemo stopped my periods (can't complain about that one bit, now that I'm 53) - she said she will check my hormone levels periodically and if we're sure I'm through menopause maybe switch to something else in a couple of years??? To be determined...Congratulations again and thank you for being my friend through this time and sharing what's up with you!!
Happy Blessed Sunday to all - big hugs and XXXXOOOO's!!
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Yeah Benius on your countdown.....that is awesome and all of us know how exciting it is to be getting near the end.
DesignerMom.....YEAH, YEAH, YEAH! So happy for you! Being done is such a great feeling.
Thanks to each of you for the well wishes and sorry I've been absent for a while. My life has been a little crazy but I know how wonderful everyone is on this thread so I knew everyone in treatment was being well advised
! Hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday!!
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Well I am probably repeating myself (do that alot these days) but it is official. The plane ticket is purchased and my older daughter is flying in from the West Coast. So hubby, the two DDs and I will be together joined by hubby's sister for Christmas! I am flying with joy!
To everyone in treatment, hope you are doing well and that you know that we are here for you, even on the holidays. I promise to check in on Christmas to see how you are doing.
And love to all of my sisters on this thread.
Mandy
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Mandy, awesome news! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family!
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Oh what good news, Mandy! You will have a very special holiday this year! Hugs!
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Thanks all you lovelies for the congratulations. Tomorrow I begin a fresh, new week with NO doctors appointments. YES!
Ritajean- To answer your question. After enormous soul searching, I have decided to decline hormone therapy. I have a minor, non symptomatic blood clotting disorder, so Tamoxifen is not advisable. As I am perimenopausal (3 periods in last year, none since June), my Onc wanted to remove my ovaries. I thought this was overkill. I am 55 and hadn't had a period for 6 months when diagnosed. Then she suggested a shot to shut down everything and Arimidex. After WAY too much research I just can't get comfortable with it. There have been no long term studies on Arimidex. It usually causes osteoporosis etc.....I will continue to use nutrition and lifestyle strategies to help prevent recurrence. It is such a personal decision. There is just no guarantees. My gut tells me this is the right choice for me.
Mandy- I'm doing the happy dance for your joyful full house during the holidays. I'm having one of my best friends come to stay with us. Nothing like company to kick things into overdrive!
My oldest friend just called and said she wanted to treat me to a trip to Paris with her in January to celebrate. I am touched by the gesture (not to mention I would love to go), but with this friend, usually things get complicated. Every time she offers to "treat" in the end she asks me to chip in. Financially I am in no position for exotic travel....not to mention it would irritate me if I got to Paris and she asked for my credit card when we got to the hotel!
Happy Holidays to all of you. I don't know what I would have done without you all these crazy months.
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Thanks everyone for your great responses regarding CMF. My original tumour size was 3.5 but after surgery, the path report said 6.5! I was shocked but after my left mx there was also DCIS so I guess they add it in to the total. I have four positive nodes. My onc (who I really didn't like) is pushing the ACT. I like the CMF as there is less cardiac toxicity and heart disease runs in my family. Plus, I really want to keep my hair as I was laid off of my job three weeks before diagnosis and I would like to look healthy with hair when I go looking for another job....I'm single and getting a job is a priority. The onc dismissed the cardiac toxicity but that is not what I have read. When I used the cancermath test, the difference between CMF and AC was 10% in terms of mortality at 15 years. I don't know....10% to me isn't that bad. I asked the onc what would happen if my cancer came back in my breast or somewhere else and I had already used ACT and she said don't worry about that... we are preventing reoccurence.....Ha....it can always come back with some women. I have read that once you use one of the harsher chemos...you can't necessarily use it again. At least with CMF, it seems that if something happened, I could move up to bigger guns if necessary. Geez, this is all so confusing.
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