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CMF Question

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Comments

  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited April 2007
    Melanie, I'm not sure what to think that you get so many different thoughts, but I'm sure you will make the right choice for you.

    Cat.. sorry to hear what yuou're going through. I did the pills just fine. Just remember lots of fluids.


    Prayers are with you all
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2007
    Good morning everybody!

    CY...how is your Dad doing?

    RAE..Thanks for letting us know that there is life after BC.

    Gailigirl....I did the CMF without a port and got along just fine. The key is to drink lots of water before your treatment. Most oncology nurses have so much experience inserting IV's that they have little trouble getting them in.

    Catgirl...I'm glad you found us. Isn't it strange that day 3 always seems to be the worst. It was the same for me. I've never completely figured out why, but overall, CMF is very doable! You will do just fine as you progress through the treatments.

    Ginny...how's the hand? When is your next CMF?
    Carole...are things still going O.K. with you?

    I'm off for coffee with a friend. Then I'm going to take another friend to a doctor's appointment and for lunch after. Such as stressful day!

    My radiation appointment is on Monday. I'll know more about the scans and radiation procedures after I talk with him on Monday. The start of something new...especially the fear of the scans....has me nervous again.

    Have a good day girls and an even better weekend.

    Rita
  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited April 2007
    Hi all, I'm still plugging away at taxes but decided I needed a break.

    Dad is doing well. He still has a lot of swelling in the leg that they took the veins out of but the Dr. wasn't surprised by it. They are looking forward to coming up here for the baby's birth. I keep telling them no hurry he has to be doing much better before traveling!

    Remember to drink lots of fluids and remember this to shall pass and life will be good again! I'm 11 months past my last chemo and no one would guess I had done it at all!

    Hugs & prayers
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    My Onc is giving me a choice between CMF 8 cycles 6 months or CT 4 cycles only 3 months (def. lose all hair). She said that she is comfortable with either.
    Any suggestions?
    Thanks ladies,
    Melanie
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007

    oops, I meant TC, (not CT)

  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited April 2007

    The CMF may be a longer treatment but it's easier to take and very doable!

  • ShariPDX
    ShariPDX Member Posts: 7
    edited April 2007
    I had the 4 to get it over with, didn't have to have the "port" in my chest either. It went fast and painless, with no sickness
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2007
    Melanie, I don't know anything about the TC but know that the CMF is not that bad and you have very few down days with it. Most of us have kept our hair, too.

    Rita
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    thank you ladies, really.
    i need to find more info on how bad the other TC side effect are (aside from the hair issue).
    i'll do some web surfing.
    xxx
    melanie
  • Sue227
    Sue227 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2007
    Melanie,
    I also had the choice of TCx4 or CMFx6. Also, could have just done Tamoxifen or Tamoxifen and have my ovaries shut down. My oncotype score was 21. I picked the CMF because I had read what the one dr told you that they don't really know if receptor + tumors that score in the middle range actually benefit from chemo but I wanted to do something to fight it. It is a hard decision just make sure you are comfortable with whatever your decide.
    Hope everyone is staying dry.
    Sue
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    Sue, Thank you.
    I think that I am going to be doing CMFx8.
    But I do go back and forth. Now that it is Sunday and treatment is Tues. I guess I'll have to decide for sure pretty soon. I guess in my heart I feel that Tamoxifen would be enough followed by AIs. But, obviously not willing to take the chance.
    Thanks again,
    Melanie
  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited April 2007

    Melanie, We will be praying that your Dr and you decide on the best choice for you. There is a great group of gals that have done or are currently doing the CMF treatment. I wish they had been here when I was doing it, it's nice to know someone else is doing the same treatment. Although I have yet to find anyone that did the weekly treatment like I did. This is an awesome group!

  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    Thank you.
    I think that i am leaning towards the CMF. I change my mind with the winds (which sure were howling in NY this weekend.) I also have terrible, terrible seasonal allergies. i was checked on Friday b/c I thought it was a bad cold. It is truly the first time through all of this (mastectomies etc.) that i felt sorry for myself. Starting chemo Tues and not being able to breathe b/c of allergies all weekend. I was gagging all morning and I have not yet started treatment. I was really hoping to rest comfortably this weekend in preparation....oh well. I guess it is really still just the fear of the first treatment.
    Thanks,
    Melanie
  • Sue227
    Sue227 Member Posts: 45
    edited April 2007
    Melanie,
    Just a heads up with your sinuses. The c in cmf is cytoxan and it can really do a number on your sinuses. Have them adjust the drip so it goes in slowly. Tell them about your sinus issues. I also have allergies and I also had 2 sinus infections during cmf. My internist and onc decided I should start taking a decongestant a few days before each treatment and continue for a week after to keep my sinuses draining. I took liquibid D. The cytoxan can give you a wicked sinus headache right between the eyes and also in me anyway, it increased the amount of drainage I had. I also took tylenol right before they started each treatment to help with the headache. The tylenol and a slow drip helped alot. Good luck and keep us posted. You will do fine!
    Sue
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2007
    Hi gals....I think you've all given Melanie some good advice!

    I just got back from the radiologist. I have a scan scheduled for tomorrow afternoon and they hope to begin radiation next Monday so I guess I'm off to the second phase of my journey. I'm a little anxious about the scan and the change of venue. Guess I'm a creature of habit and don't like the unknown.

    The sun is shining and it looks like a good day to run some errands and get outside. Hope everyone is doing well.

    Catch you all later.
    Rita
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    Thank you. I went to the internist on Friday and got Allegra. It has done nothing. I got an Allegra-D from the custodian at my school about 45 minutes ago and I already feel better. Thanks for the heads up. I will tell them about the sinuses tomorrow, although it is clearly not a secret with all of my hacking.
    I asked the Onc about taking Tylenol or somethijng ahead of time and she said that the nurses will give me anything I need when I go in for the treatment. Should I take anyway? I guess i'll carry it with my. Jeeze, i am so scared, I know that you all are doing and have done it, I just REALLY need to get this first treatment over with.
    -melanie
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    Rita,
    Good Luck!
    -Melanie
  • tanguera
    tanguera Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2007
    Uncertainty is by far the scariest part of this emotional roller coaster. Absolutely every decision feels like it has the potential of being life-and-death, and almost every treatment associated with this #$(*@#$ disease seems to have frightening side effects.

    The worst part is, you can never be sure. Of anything. In MY research (starting TAC 6/4), I have found that some people breeze through it without so much as a hiccup, while others take to their bed for a week. There is no way to predict who will react or how.

    The only thing we can possibly do is strengthen ourselves mentally and spiritually for the Big Kahuna. As my NP said during "chemo orientation", the mind is the most highly trainable muscle we have.

    That is why I've developed a mantra, which I will share with my sisters (you can use it too or find the words that make YOU strong). I repeat it on my (almost) daily hikes as I march up the hill:

    I am Healthy. I am Strong. I feel GOOD!!!
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    Thank you, thank you.
    I like that!
    Well, we have chosen CMF so I officially become a member of this wonderful/horrible group tomorrow.
    -Melanie
  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2007
    Good luck Melanie.
    I finished CMFx12 this past December. I did not lose all my hair--it just got very thin. I had my good days and bad. It is doable. I worked through most of it also. I just took a day off here and there when I needed it. The girls who did CMG+F before me or who were ahead of me encouraged me along the way with lil pointers and things too. I'll keep checking in to see how you and the other brave women are. We have to stick together. We are very good support for one another. I could not have gotten through the chemo and rads without the wonderful people on this site.

    Hugs and prayers,
    Candie
  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited April 2007

    error on 4th line --should be CMF

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2007
    Good lluck tomorrow Melanie. You will be O.K. The treatments sound much more threatening than they really are. Drink lots of water before you go and continue drinking lots of water after you leave. Ask for ice chips to suck on during the treatment to keep from getting mouth sores. You will be surprised how good the treatment will go and you will probably feel fine when it is finished. I will be thinking about you tomorrow.

    Rita
  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited April 2007
    I take the allegera and Clairatin together to help with the allergies. And remember with the IV ask them to push it in slow! If you get a headache as the to make it even slower it will help!

    Thinking of you all
    Hugs & Prayers
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    Well, I am off and drinking plenty of water since last night thanks to all of you. Thank you all and I will check in soon.
    -melanie
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2007
    Good morning everybody. I'm just killing some time and trying to work off some anxiety before I go for my scan and radiation markings today. The sun is out and there are alot of things I would much rather be doing. Sure hope I don't freak out on them during the scans.

    Where's G-I-N-N-Y and H-O-L-L-Y? I've missed both of you. Please check back in soon.

    Rita
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited April 2007
    Well, I'm officially in. What a day. But the actual treatment was so much less than what I had expected. They just had me waiting for so many hours after seeing the onc.
    Thank you all again and again.
    Rita, I hope your scans went well today.
    -melanie
  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited April 2007
    Melanie...
    From another CMFer (six years ago)..I wish you well...and hold your hand..
    Hugs, Lisa
  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited April 2007
    Melanie one done and all of us there to help you! Doesn't that feel good!

    Hope everyone else is doing good too!

    Oh, baby Hayden's Birthday will be May 23, 2007 at 9am
  • socallisa
    socallisa Member Posts: 10,184
    edited April 2007

    Oh, CY I have a grandbaby due on May 22nd when they plan to do a C section for my DIL

  • jenjen68
    jenjen68 Member Posts: 9
    edited April 2007
    Hi everyone

    I'm new here and I've been looking for information on CMF chemo treatment.
    Just recently been diagnosed with BC (pt1 n0 m0 1,2 cm. E+ P+ HERneu negativ.) I would like to know what the standard chemo is in the states. I'm from Germany and my GYN said that I should get CEF (FEC) but from what I read here lots you guys get CMF. I hear CMF is less aggressiv and I'd like to find out more about what the criteria is to receive this kind of chemo treatment.

    I'd appreciate any info

    Thanks
    Jen