CMF Question
Comments
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Hi Denise: I'm sure you're glad to have the first treatment under your belt. Now you at least know what to expect the next time.
I experienced facial flushing with chemotherapy -- I had both AC and CMF and you know I'd actually forgotten about the flushing but looking back at the diary I kept I noted that I had flushing typically on the morning of Day 2 and Day 3 and I noted in one place "slight flushing after meds" and I remember thinking that it was probably caused by the steroids.The flushing used to go away gradually during the course of the day.
I would call the oncologist's office and mention it as they like to know everything that's going on. They will have given you a number that you can call 24 hours a days, so use that even though it's the weekend. Of course you may find that the flushing has gone by tomorrow. But I would still mention it in case it's an allergic reaction to something they've given you.
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Welcome rockytop. That's great that you haven't experienced any bad SEs yet. I think if you were to have any you would have experience them in the first few days after treatment. Hopefully this is a good omen for how well you will cope with the remaining treatments.
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Hi Mary, I hope this is a good omen for future SE's. Does anybody have any knowledge about blood counts?? I was wondering if the chemo was even working for me since my counts were all normal. Has anyone else had normal blood counts through treatment? Doesn't the chemo kill fast growing cells including red and white blood cells? Im just confused as to why it didn't kill mine. It's really starting to freak me out thinking the chemo might not be attacking the cancer cells. If anyone can help here, it would be greatly appreciated!
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Thanks for the advice. Today my flushing is gone however my eyes are puffy and watery. They were stinging but that stopped. I look like I've been crying for hours. I'm keeping a running list for my onc.
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Denise: the eye-watering is a common side effect of the cyclophosphamide. Did you have any immediate reaction as the drugs were being infused? On the first treatment I had sinus-like problems and stinging eyes. After that I asked them to infuse the cyclophosphamide more slowly and that certainly helped at the time of treatment -- first time it was infused in about 20 minutes, later treatments about 45 minutes. I'm not sure if helped with the eye-watering though as I remember having that a lot.
Toward the end of treatment, I was finding a lot of pus in my eyes in the morning. I ended up going to the eye doctor and he said I had blepharitis which could become a chronic condition if not treated. I'm not saying you will get an eye infection but just be on the watch for it. Eye doctor gave me some topical meds for mine and it cleared up.
Denise and Rockytop: have you joined the thread for others going through treatment in the same timeframe as you? I found that really helpful. Although other women may be undergoing different treatment regimes, you will find you have a lot in common and can help one another out. The September 2011 chemo group is here -- Is There A September 2011 Chemo Group?
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hi everyone. welcome to the cmf group. the ladies here are really great and will help you every step of the way.
upstate: i had watery eyes from the chemo and dry crusty stuff around my eyes tooo--as crazy as this sounds i found that lubricating my eyes with something like refresh eye drops helped reduce the tearing.
take care all.
mandy
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Hi Rockytop and Upstate.....welcome to the CMF thread! This is a great group of ladies. We're all here but we'll be praying that ALL your treatments go great!!
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Welcome Rockytop and Upstate. Come and post often. This awesome group of ladies will help you through your treatments! Tell us a little more about yourselves! I think you'll find that CMF is quite doable......just not something we really WANT to do!
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Thanks for the welcome ladies! This thread has provided me with a wealth of information!! I find it funny that my onc has given me no valuable info, so I am glad I found this thread! I have treatment #2 Oct 3rd and hope I do as well with it as I did the treatment #1.
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Just stopping in to say hello. To all the newbies, this is a great site to ask and find answers. I'm doing ads now today was #15 of 25 I'm red ,sore and way more tired from ads than chemo. I have an Once. appt on Wednesday for blood work, I hope she doesn't think she can check my breast being so sore and red. I have my ups and downs emotionally and can't stand it. I'm sleeping at night with taking. 05 mg klonopin. My hair is still falling out, I thought 5 weeks post chemo it would stop. I can't wait to color my hair I just don't know when it I'll be OK to do so. Take care ladies..be well
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Oh Patty, I am so sorry that you're having such a hard time with the rads. I was lucky, I guess, because I was really tired with the rads but I didn't burn. I smothered the radiated area with that cream that they gave me. In fact, I used so much that I went through nearly a second tube. I think the cream was called Biofine. If the cream that you've been given isn't working, ask for something else to relieve the burning when you go in on Wednesday. There are too many things out there that are available to ease our suffering, so just ask. Be proactive. There is no need to suffer needlessly. Hugs to you! Hang in there!
Rita
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Patty, I have long think hair and normally shed a lot each time I wash it. Since I have started chemo, I have been treating my hair like gold. I have been washing it in cold water and noticed that I don't shed the normal amount as I did before. I am also using a wide tooth comb. It may just be a coincidence but It definately doesn't hurt! I hope the shedding stops soon! Can you tell me how much hair you have shed on the CMF?
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Hi there-
I am gearing up for #4 of 8 of dose-dense CMF - meaning every 2 weeks. So far, so good actually. I do get some fatigue on day 3 and 4 but nothing too extreme. I've also been having issues staying asleep... I'd love to sleep 9 hours, but usually wake up after 5 or 6 and then toss and turn for a few more hours... Also, the hair is falling fiercely. On wash days, between showering and blowdrying - i am sure it is 750-1000 hairs. Not kidding. For now, nobody but me notices the thinning. Let's see how long I can get away with this!
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Hello:-) I went to my once today and just received my blood work results via E-mail and my tumor marker came back elevated. Before I started chemo it was 17 today it came back 25. Has this happened to anyone? Take care, Patty
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Patty: the tumor markers tend to fluctuate. I wouldn't be concerned about them unless they are out of range but your onc would be the one to ask about how she interprets them. I'm guesing that like me you are tested for the cancer antigens CA-125 [Range 0-35 units/ml] and CA-15-3 [Range: 0 - 36 units/ml]. My highest level on CA-15-3 was 26 units/ml and that was three weeks after I finished chemotherapy. Next time I was tested (about three months later) it had dropped to 15 units/ml.
You should be able to see all your lab results on the MSKCC site. Click "view history" to see earlier results for each type of test. I noticed that although I was tested for cancer antigens/markers before and after chemo, I was not tested for them while undergoing chemo.
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Just want to thank everyone for the welcoming support. My blood work was good at my one week follow up after my first infusion. The NP said how you react to the first treatment is a good indicator of how following treatments will go except fatigue will get worse. So now I feel like this is doable. After four days all SE's were gone and I feel like myself. Just trying to get my best friend to stop expecting the worst and treating me like I'm sickly. Tomorrow I'm participating in Making Strides. I've done it for years in support of friends. This will be my first year in a survivor shirt. I'll be thinking of all of you.
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Welcome to all of the newbies! Have been away awhile, but thought I would check in with everyone. So happy Cabmom's tests came back good! So sorry Patty is having problems with her rads, and I don't have any input about that.
I've been going through hell trying to zero in on meds to take for the next 5 years. My onc prescribed tamoxifen which I don't tolerate very well. Then he prescribed anothere tamoxifen-type drug that would cost $385/month (that's after insurance!). I was on arimidex when I was diagnosed with my second breast cancer so my onc doesn't want me on that. Guess I'll just have to suck up and try to take tamoxifen. Bummer!
Ritajean and Cabmom - I had a hole-in-one last week!
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golfergrandma.....way to go on the hole in one!! That is awesome
....I've NEVER had one of those but I'm still hoping!! Sorry you're having issues with Tamoxifen....hope it gets better for you and you're able to tolerate it! 0 -
YEA Golfergram.......SUPER! Did they make you buy everyone on the course a drink? That's a tradition for hole-in-ones in Illinois. Our club sells hole-in-one insurance! I did get one hole-in-one in 2005 and haven't even come close since. Everyone should get at least one in their lifetime. It's just so darn exciting! I hope you kept your ball! CONGRATS!!!! Come back often and keep in touch. I've missed you!
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Hi all..long time no see..welcome to all the newcomers...I am an oldie..finished up CMF chemo over ten years ago now..never thought I would forget all the side effects but I have forgotten a few, not all..
Congrats on the hole in one..I got one way back in the 1950s when I was in high school, but we didn't tell anyone because we were broke...
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SoCalLisa - I for one am so grateful that you come and share your knowledge with us, even 10 years post-chemo.THANK YOU.
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Golfergrandma: congratulations on the hole-in-one! I'm not a golfer but am nevertheless impressed.
Hi SoCalLisa: I didn't realize it was over 10 years since you finished chemo. Were there many choices available to you at that time? -- I'm guessing AC would have been offering but I think the taxanes (Taxol/Taxotere) were not so widely used then.
Sara: have you had #4 or is that this week? Hope you are doing OK.
Upstate: How did you do on the "Making Strides" walk? I plan to do it this year for the first time -- on Sun 16 Oct. When is your #2?
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Mary, it was either AC or CMF when I was told I needed chemo, I was afraid of the heart toxicity of the AC...they didn't have taxol at least where I was treated..but CMF was longer. Not too many choices
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Oh, I forgot no ONCO DX testing then either..I really would have liked that option too
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Hi, Mary. The walk was great even though it rained. It was good to see so many people supporting the cause. I spent some time with a friend who just celebrated being 10 years cancer free. She referred me to my oncologist (love him!) and helped me through the initial shock when I was diagnosed. My second infusion is 10/13.
Golfergrandma - congratulations on the hole in one! I had one several years ago and was fortunate that the women in my league bought me drinks instead of making me buy for the entire club. It was lovely because I was a beginner and in a group that was above my skill level. Pure luck but still! I missed the last five weeks of my league this year due to my surgery. I'll get back there next year.0 -
SoCal....You continue to be my CMF inspiration! Thanks for stopping in every so often to remind us of the hope that CMF gives us. I am also enjoying your flower photos on Facebook. What gorgeous pictures!
Hey Upstate, you are so right! You'll be back on that golf course next year for sure and ready to go!
We had beautiful weather in Illinois today and tomorrow is supposed to be equally as lovely. I plan on getting out and enjoying it while it lasts.
Hugs to all of you!
Rita
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can't beat a day like today in San Diego...perfect
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Rita, so good to see you...you have been such a help to everyone here..thanks
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Lisa, that's a beautiful picture! Did you take it?
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Hello Ladies,
Can anyone tell me when they started shedding hair? I know this should be the least of my concerns, but wanted to know what you ladies experienced. Also wanted to know if it was ok to color the hair? I am on the CMF IV every 3 weeks and I am 7 days out from 2nd treatment. Also I am experiencing extreme night sweats and hotflashes and wanted to know if there was something to help this??
Thanks for all your help!
Robin
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