CMF Question
Comments
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Thanks for the link Mary. I'm going to look it up right now.
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Ok, let me tell you a little something...taking methotrexate and large doses of tylenol can damage the liver...so watch out for taking vicodin or the acetamine combos....
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Good to know. Thanks SoCalLisa!
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Mary - thanks for that. I think you are absolutely right. One thing I must get into my regimen is a daily mind/body exercise. I have joined Gilda's Club here, although since everything has been so cancer-centric in my life, I've just opted out of things there. Now that it's just Chemo for now, I will go explore their offerings. Thank you.
Good tip Lisa - any suggestion on pain meds during this time? Would you say an occasional Tylenol is okay, or is there something less scary out there for us?
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Sara, I took tylenol when I needed it and had no problems. I just didn't take it everyday. If you get to the point where you need something everyday, I would ask your chemo nurse for other suggestions. Hope today is a good day for you.
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Thanks Ritajean. I felt great today. I spoke to another patient who sees my MO and she's on #6 of dose-dense CMF - and she's sailing through it with minimal SE's. I am so inspired after talking with her. My confidence is up and my pity-party will have to take a back seat for now.
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Hello I hope everyone is doing well. I
have noticed that my ankles are a little swollen since the last few TX. Has anyone else noticed their ankles being swollen and if so what did you do for it and ow long has it lasted. Thanks Patty0 -
Patty: call your onc and tell her about the swollen ankles if they have not gone down. I had edema in my lower legs (foot, ankle and calves). My onc prescribed a diuretic for it the first two times (I had it exactly 9 days after each tx). After the second time, I went for acupuncture which helped with the edema. Take care and feel good.
To everyone who is in the path of Tropical Storm Irene, stay safe. It has passed by me with very little damage...some dampness in my basement after my hubby and I spent a few frantic hours bailing out a window well that was filling with water. Now we are waiting to see if the river that is across the street from us will crest and flood our house....but I feel optimistic and just do not believe that this small storm would cause the worst flooding since 1869. Will report back tomorrow.
Take care all.
Hugs
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Hi, I hope everyone is doing well. I went for my CT scan to start ads. When I was done I looked at the computer scene and I asked the Dr. "Are those two black dots the markers the BS left in" ? He said no that is your abdomen. Now I'm scared shitless. I had an ultrasound of my abdomen in June and all is well.
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Patty - what are the updates from your scan? I'm worried... but hopeful. Let us know
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Sara-I have no idea they never called me. I read some where it could be a gss bubble or air pocket so I'm going with that!!!!! When do out start again?
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Patty: It is probably nothing if they haven't called. But you should call and ask for the results of your tests. Lots of times things get put on the "back burner" and you are entitled to know exactly what is going on.
Cheers
Mandy
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Patty - Am with Mandy that you should call to get the results of your scan, but it is probably nothing to worry about.
Am over a month post-chemo and feel great! Today, I have an appt. with the Nurse Practitioner at the Cancer Ctr for a "survivorship meeting" at which time they will also do blood work. I wonder if my counts are up to normal again. They should be. I saw the surgeon last week and everything was ok. Will have an ultrasound the end of Sept. Hope everyone is doing well. Keep in touch!
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hello, has anyone in the group had a body scan/
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Patty, are you talking about a bone scan? I've had one of those but I also know there are other types of scans....like CT or MRI full body scan, which I have not had. My onc has not even mentioned doing one of these. Have to admit, sometimes I would like one and then sometimes I'm thankful that I haven't had one. It's one of those mixed motion things. My bone scan was because I was having pains in my rib area underneath my left breast (which is where my cancer was) and they wanted to rule out bone mets. Did you have one or are you suppose to have one? Feel like I've missed a post or something. Hope you're still doing well.
Sara, how are you doing?
Hope everyone else is doing okay......
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Hi ladies-
Hope everyone's getting to have some fun this weekend. 2 of 8 dose-dense CMF done! Less fatigue this time than last... now 10 hours after Neulasta shot and no bone pain - I credit this to the Claritin - the only thing that's weird is that I'm shedding A LOT of hair - isn't that unusual for this early in the game? Are there any pretty wigs I could look at that don't cost $1,500?
Patty - please do find out about the scan you had. There's power in knowledge.
And kudos and hooray to you GolferGrandma - one month out and doing great. Will you be on any AI's or anything going forward, or are you done treatment?
Cabmom - thanks for asking about me. It's nice to get special shoutouts around tx time.
Thank you all for caring...
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Hello, I hope everyone is well.
Sara-I went to the hospital and got a copy of the bone scan it was normal. But I recently had a car accident, hurt my knee the Dr. Sent m fo a MRI and I have a torn ACL the MRI also stated there was atypical marrow varient pattern. I have to tell you I'm scared. I go back to Or tho on the 8th, not a good day to begin with as I lost my daughter on hey date. I did read that the neulasta may be the cause but can't find too much info on it. I go for the simulation on Tuesday, I think I will have my first TX that day. I started shedding after my first tx' you may notice it on an off. I have very thick hair t shedded a lot but I still managed to cut it twice during TX. There is a nice beauty supply store in the Palasade mall over the tappan see bridge, they sell really nice wigs starting at $25 on up. I don't think you will need one.0 -
Golfergrama are you on ant AI's. So glad you are feeling well.
Ritajean
Cabmom
Mandy-Thank you for your concern, I have to tell you I'm a bnig chicken. My ankle swelling has gotten a little worse, I didn't"t call the Dr. I really don't want anymore bad news or tests. I hope you all have a good kend.0 -
I was feeling great until I began taking tamoxifen -- now I feel terrible! It's like I have the flu and didn't get much sleep last night. Don't know if I want to put with this the rest of my life -- life is too short! Will give it a try for a few more days and will then consult with my onc. Just don't think I tolerate it very well. Arimidex is not an option. I was on it when they diagnosed my bc last December. Is there anything else?
Patty - The nurse practitioner told me that se's could continue for a few months after chemo.
Sara - You shouldn't be losing all of your hair -- it will probably stop soon. If you go to "Look Good, Feel Better" class, they will have good info on wigs. Mine is synthetic and I love it. Have received so many compliments on it. BUT can't wait 'til my hair gets thicker. Am coloring it next week for the first time in 7 months!
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Golfergrama-how long did you have to wait to color your hair? My Onco told me two months. And why is Arimidix not an option? I will be starting it in 2 weeks. Take care .and feel better
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Sara- funny you asked about the shedding my hair shedded do much in the shower today lol
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Patty: The side effects of CMF will be there for a few months.The medications stay in your system for a while. You should check in with your onc about foot swelling or any of them.
Sara: I never needed a wig but a friend, on a different chemo, got one from the TLC catalogue, which is put out by the American Cancer Society) for $40 which she liked. www.tlcdirect.org (you will have to copy and paste that link because for some reason my computer won't let me make a link here). My friend had purchased an expensive wig at a wig shop but preferred the one from the catalogue. As well, I think you may be able to contact the American Cancer Society and even get a certificate which is good towards to price of the wig....
Hope that everyone is having a good weekend.
Hugs
Mandy
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Goflergrandma....Femara might be an option. It's a cousin to Arimidex but my onc told me that if I had too many problems with Arimidex, he' put me on Femara because the side effects weren't as harsh. You might ask about it if the Tamoxifen gets you down.
The hair always starts to shed quickly and we all panic about losing it. Few ever need a wig, but I think we've all felt that anxiety when it starts. Hopefully your shedding will taper off, Sara.
Everyone enjoy the long weekend! I'm afrait that summer is quickly departing in Illinois and how I hate that!
Hugs to all of you.
Rita
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Golfergrandma: Hope you're feeling better. I sent you a "private message" so when you check in, try to look for it.
Cheers to all.
Mandy
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You are all so good to me. I feel so needy because now I have yet another issue for which I need help... Oh boy. This time (starting a few days after 2nd CMF tx), I've started feeling this constant burning feeling in the vaginal area. It's more annoying than painful - not a terribly strong burn, but consistent nonetheless. Doesn't burn more when I pee, and there aren't any related SE's. What could this mean, and what could I be doing to stop it? My MO asks me to come in tomorrow to give a urine sample, so do you think there's anything special I should ask her to test?
I really hope that I can give back as much as I get from you wonderful ladies. THANK YOU.
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sara - it may be the vaginal drying caused by CMF. May be a good idea to use a vaginal moisturizer and see if that helps.....
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Hi all my CMF friends. I don't post often, but always enjoy hearing about what's going on.
Welcome to all the newcomers. These ladies were my lifeline when I went through CMF and are a huge source of information.
Sara- CMF or any chemo will dramatically impact your immune system. Your vaginal irritation could be a yeast infection or something else. Many people get herpes, shingles and other things due to immune system not fighting things off as normal. The urine test is a good idea because bladder infections from CMF are a possible SE. That is why it is so important to drink lots and lots of fluids, especially right after your treatment. You may need your gyno to look at it if it continues. Hang in there! Soon you will be on the other side of chemo!
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DesignerMom....so nice to see you on here. Hope you are doing great!!!
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Designermom - excellent advice and very much appreciated. I've been drinking a lot of water (80 oz per day) - maybe I should drink more?
Raincitygirl - thank you for that tip... do you have a suggestion of a good brand of vaginal moisturizer? This is new terrain for me : )
I did have a urinalysis and all is normal, and the urine culture will come back Monday to see if I have a UTI. Is a bladder infection tested within the urinalysis? (yes, I must sound stupid)
Anyway, I have to say that after tx 2 of 8, I am shedding a lot of hair - diffusely from the whole head - maybe 500 daily for the past week. At this rate, I figure I have a few weeks before I start to look odd. I don't suppose the shedding will stop, but rather accelerate at this point. Fun, fun!
THANK YOU so much, all of you, for this amazing advice and help.I get so much more help here than at the doc's office. xoxo
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Hi Sara- A UTI can be detected immediately with a microscope. Even If it shows nothing, there still can be an infection brewing so they send the sample to the lab to see if anything grows in a petri dish. If the petri dish "grows" stuff they can then do further tests to see what antibiotics are most effective to treat it. I had CMF X 6. Usually 2-3 days after treatment I started shedding hair like crazy, then it would stop. I have a lot of wavy hair and I know it thinned some, but not enough for people to notice. I did have my hairdresser go shorter and more layered toward the end. That allowed me to sort of fluff it up with gel and also get rid of the dry ends. I found my hair got very dry during treatment.
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