CMF Question
Comments
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That's lousy that your insurance doesn't cover wigs. You should also try Look Good Feel Better. Put in your zipcode at the link to find the next event in your area. Wigs are distributed at some (but not all) events. Call ahead and ask which one to attend to get a wig. Even without a wig, these events are well worthwhile as they give tips on how to look good even while going through chemo. I think the American Cancer Society distributes wigs through the Look Good Feel Better program, or maybe they do it separately?0
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I think I need a little pep talk. I just had my 6th out of 8 CMF treatments 3 days ago and I'm tired of not feeling like myself. Yesterday, the usual "down" day for me, I slept the majority of the day which made it so I wasn't able to drink the usual amount of fluids I should have been consuming to flush my system. I have also been plagued by diarrhea this time, which adds to the misery. Is is alright to take Immodium if necessary? I know chemo is cumulative, so this all is most likely to be expected at this point. The past treatments, I was turning the corner on the 3rd day, so this one seems to be dragging on. I know I am on the home stretch at this point, but today I wish the finish line was a little closer.
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Fad 60- I am only on regimen #2 and I am already sick of it. The 1st round I had nausea and hair loss, but was not as tired. I had the infusion on Tuesday and yesterday it kicked my ass. I slept for 12 hours. I have no energy today and that is not like me. It is also really hot and humid here, so that doesn't help. I am plagued by constipation. There is a virus going around. My daughter is an ER nurse and said she has seen a lot of people with fevers and diarrhea lately including my little 18 month old granddaugher.
You are getting closer to the finish line. I don't cross the that one until October 17the, not like I am counting it down or anything. When is you last round? Have you counts been staying in the normal range. Do you have to do radiation after chemo? I have to do 28 rounds. I am looking forward to January even though I hate winter.
Keep the faith and know that you are over the hump of this crap and I hope you feel better.
Diana
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Diana - Thank you for commiserating with me - we were both receiving our infusion on Tuesday. It's not like me either to not have energy and to be completely satisfied with napping. You will cross the finish line just about when I will be done with the radiation. My last CMF treatment is on August 13th. I will find out when they do the mapping in radiation whether I end up being a candidate for the shorter 3 wks or the full 33 treatments. I have pretty much resigned that I will not get off easy - lol! In the beginning, I thought I would skate right to radiation, but then my Oncotype came back at 25....so it was on to chemo. Like you, I am tired of feeling nauseous and that "yukky" taste in my mouth. At least we will both be done for the holidays : ) I have also been getting the Neulasta shots after my numbers dropped after the first treatment. Have you? I am happy that I will just need one more, as I won't need one after my last treatment - there's a positive!
It's hot and humid here too! Take care...
Faith
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Dianarose: The American Cancer Society has some funding for wigs. I was offered it but never needed a wig so did not use it. I don't remember the details though so if you google wigs and American Cancer Society, perhaps it will come up. I can't remember whether Reach for Recovery might have been another program that offered funding for wigs. All the best,
Mandy
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Smva,
My Mo wants to do five years of Tamoxifen and then five years of AIs based on studies. She is big on studies. I guess the latest studies say AIs first is best but I already have osteopenia and since AIs can weaken bones that wouldn't be good. It's possible Tamoxifen could build up the bones so we're going with that first. She is aiming for ten years but if I'm miserable I'll stop sooner.0 -
Packy....I had more wrinkles when I finished the chemo than before I started it, but I just assumed that was because I was just getting older, along with everything else.
Fad60....Of course you're getting tired of the treatments. They disrupt our lives and makes us feel "icky" at times. It seems like all our activities are medically oriented and we've had enough and want to get back to a more normal state. That's only a normal reaction. Try to focus on the end. You are getting there and are now on the down-hill slide. You will feel so good about yourself when you complete that last treatment and move on. You can do it. It's pretty depressing at times and stretches our patience often, but it can be done and believe me..........THERE IS A LIFE AFTER THE TREATMENTS ARE OVER. Sometimes it takes a little while to adapt to the new normal, but we do and cancer begins to take a back seat to the other things that are going on in our lives. Hang in there, hon, you can do it! We'll be your cheerleaders if you need us! Hugs!!!!!
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Faith- I have been using Biotene and it has not done anything. I just rinsed with salt water and it seems to help more. I have not had to have a Neulasta shot yet. I hope I don't need one at all. I have chemo for 14 days. An infusion on the 1st and 8th day and the Cytoxin pills for 14 days. I then get a 14 day break. When I started regimen 2 last week my numbers had gone back to normal. I would bet they have dropped this time though. I am so dam tired. My brother came and got my son on Wednesday and kept him over night. I slept for 12 hours. I wish I could do that everyday, but I have to work. Getting up at 4:30 is so tought right now. I have tomorrow off, but of course I need to go for a fill at 9 in the morning and it's an hour and a half away, so no sleeping in and my next day off is Wednesday and time for another infusion. I just want my life back and a real day off without all this cancer crap. good luck with your mapping. I think I hate radiation more so than chemo. It made me so tired and I was a lot younger than too (43). I did have a job and a 5 yr old at that time too. Now my son is 13 and has been a real trooper about everything. Keep the faith and know that when it is the Holidays this yr all this will be behind you.
Mandy- thanks. I will ck those sites out. I did apply to a program here in Maine and if funding is available they do help out some with the wigs. I should know in about a week.
I've complained enough, sorry to vent so much.
Have a great day everyone.
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Ritajean - thank you for all your positive words and thoughts : ) You are absolutely right about keeping the focus on the end! I look forward to cancer taking a backseat. I have tried hard to keep all other aspects of my life as normal as possible thoughout this detour. It was nice to wake up yesterday and feel more like myself once again. It just took an extra day this round. I enjoyed getting out on the golf course today with my husband and son! I appreciate your "cheerleading and hugs!"
Diana - I hope you get the rest you need. I have been trying to not fight the fatigue and just give in to it. Hopefully, your numbers will be fine and you will not need the Neulasta shots, but other than the inconvenience of returning the next day for the shot, I have not had any of the side effects. I'm just happy it brings my numbers up - I don't want anything to jeopardize delaying any of my treatments. I'll be thinking of you....
-Faith
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Diana: the chemo is cumulative---so you may feel more tired as it goes on. But as Ritajean said, there is an end and you will be able to feel better and get on with your life. So don't get discouraged; get the rest you need now and look forward to being over chemo.
Hugs
Mandy
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Dianarose,
finished my CMF June 18. I had a treatment every 3 wks-except for twice when platelets were low, and I had to wait an extra week.
I was lucky to not have many side effects. It was a little different each time. was a little queasy after first treatment....used ginger candy, gingerale, and ginger snaps which helped, and I had no need for antinausea meds. Then, felt a little more tired the day after treatment on some times more than others.
hope your hair loss will stop. I didn't lose any until about half way through, and not enough to need a wig. I guess everyone is different.
Hopefully things will get better for you as go forward. i think it is good you aren't having nausea this time. as others have said, it is important to drink plenty of fluids
wish we could hear if anyone else has had problems with wrinkles
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Dianarose,
finished my CMF June 18. I had a treatment every 3 wks-except for twice when platelets were low, and I had to wait an extra week.
I was lucky to not have many side effects. It was a little different each time. was a little queasy after first treatment....used ginger candy, gingerale, and ginger snaps which helped, and I had no need for antinausea meds. Then, felt a little more tired the day after treatment on some times more than others.
hope your hair loss will stop. I didn't lose any until about half way through, and not enough to need a wig. I guess everyone is different.
Hopefully things will get better for you as go forward. i think it is good you aren't having nausea this time. as others have said, it is important to drink plenty of fluids
wish we could hear if anyone else has had problems with wrinkles
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Hi everyone- I hope others can share some crazy chemo brain stories and I am not the only one with this issue. My PS wrote me a script for some numbing cream to put on my arm an hour before chemo because the nurse sucks at putting the IV in. I went to the drug store and handed the script to the guy behind the counter and he had a strange look on his face and then he was trying to plug stuff in the computer for about 10 minutes. Then he went over and talked to another guy and came back and said I had to go to a medical supply store to get it filled. I asked why would I have to do that just for some numbing cream. He handed me back the script and then put my glasses on to read it. I had given him an old script for mastectomy bra's which I never got filled. I was so embarrassed.
I went for another fill today. When she did the right side I was fine. When she did the left I said OUCH. OMG- I have feeling back. Pain is a good thing in this case. I always feel good after a fill. I am really liking how they look. She had some photo's to show me today of her reconstructed nipples and tattooing. They looked great. I wasn't going to have her do the nipples, but I have changed my mind. She says she does it right in her office. Something to look forward to next yr at this time.
I hope everyone is having a great day.
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Oops....didn't mean to post my message of a few minutes ago twice.
also, my computer didn't show messages after July 5 until after I posted my message.
Diana, I also hope you can get the rest you need. It is no fun to feel worn out all the time. If possible, try to a least take a nap if you feel really wasted. Also, as I said, staying hydrated is important...along with eating right. I wish all the best for you.
Ritajean, thanks for weighing in on this wrinkle thing. Maybe you are right.....I am older of course!
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Oh DianaRose......still laughing hysterically about your prescription problem. Thanks for making my day! I can't begin to tell you all the stupid things I have done that I attribute to chemo brain! Just think......at least that poor befuddled pharmacist had something to tell his wife when he got home that night!
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Hope everyone is coping well! Have a good weekend!
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Just a quick question. For those who did lose their hair or had a lot of thinning, did it come back curly?
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Dianarose - Hope you're doing well! My hair thinned quite a bit during CMF so that I needed to wear a wig, but it came back quickly and was very curly! But thick! Also, haven't really noticed more wrinkling. Your story about the script was a hoot!
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Golfergrandma-I was in Khol's yesterday and the girl at the counter wanted to know who did my hair. She said she loved the red highlights. She was so surprized when I told her it was a wig. She was very nice and we had a great conversation. She gave me a military discount too because my son-in-law is an active marined. My 50.00 bracelet ended up costing 16.00. Sweet.
My hair is very thin. I don't want to shave it though. I just tuck it up under the wig. I hope my comes back curly and thicker. I have natural curl to begin with so I am used to it. I don't like change. I guess that's a sign of my age. I have 4 regimens to go. I calculated I will be done around Oct. 17th. I might be passing some blood in my urine though. I will be keeping an eye on that today. Not sure if it's because it's the end of my period or not. Did you have any bladder troubles on CMF? I really haven't had nausea this round. I thought that was strange as I did the 1st round.
Have a great day everyone. It's hotter than hell here today again. 90's and humid.
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Dianarose....I love your spirit and positive aura! So glad you escaped the nausea this time. Just keep marking those treatments off your calendar!
I guess I was lucky because I didn't have any bladder problems while doing the CMF. Everyone's body responds so differently to these drugs.
Hi to everyone else on the thread. I hope you golfers are hitting the links regularly and shooting well! Our golf club is hosting a Ladies' Invitational on Wednesday and I am on the committee. Why, oh why, do I always let others talk me into such things???? I'm off to yet another meeting!
Hugs to everyone!
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Ok, I have another question. My MO said the chemo would most likely stop my periods. It did for the first 40 days and now tomorrow will be day 8 and no sign of the bleeding stopping anytime soon. Did this happen to anyone else and at how many days should I wait until I call the MO or is he even the one I should call. No periods was the one side effect I was looking forward to dam it.
On a positive note, I finished regimen # 2 today. Now a 14 day break and then on to #3. Can't say I had any bad side effects this time other than the whole period crap.
Hope everyone is having a good day and I am looking forward to this heat breaking on Wednesday night. Too hot here in the North East.
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Dianarose...Yes, it is hot here in the midwest,too. We have missed most of the rain in the area so we have extremely hot and dry conditions.
I was past menopause when my journey started so I can't help with your question. Hopefully somebody will jump on here soon and address the problem for you.
I am glad that you had few side effects from #2. Mark that one right off your calendar, gal! Another one bites the dust! :-) Hang in there.
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Did anyone have sinus issues while doing CMF? I have had the worst sinus headache for days. I am calling the MO tomorrow. Having no nose hairs doesn't help with all the pollen. Nothing to filter the air.
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Dianarose: I had just about everything while I was on CMF (good news is that 4 years later things are much better!!!!). Do they give you cortisone after your TX? That might help with the sinus issue--at least it helped me. I think it is the cytoxin that causes the problems--during the infusion, I would have intense sinus pains. Do go to your doctor and see what they can do.
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Ok, another question, did anyone lose their taste while on CMF? I can't taste anything at all. It sucks. I cooked a nice roasted chicken, stuffing, mashed potato's, etc... and I couldn't taste any of it. It's hard enough that I don't have an appetite, but now this. I will be 90 pounds by the time I finish.
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I was going to do the clinical trial of chemotherapy in node-positive women, but my Oncotype score was above the cutoff point to be eligible for the study. With an Oncotype at the high end of the gray area and a micromet in one sentinel node, I'd be afraid to rely on hormone therapy alone to prevent a recurrence. In a way I guess it's a blessing I got disqualified as I don't think I could have done CMF on the clincial trial. My oncologist originally suggested TC, but I read here about the possibility of permanent hair loss with Taxotere. To me, the 2-percentage-point difference in survival rates between CMF and TC was not a big enough gain to be worth taking a 3% chance of losing my hair permanently, especially since even with TC there's no guarantee cancer won't recur. I really am not sure I could cope with ending up bald for the rest of my life, and knowing I had brought it on myself. I asked Dr F what the other options were, and CMF was one of them, so here I am in the CMF thread, which I have read from beginning to end. It's amazing that it has kept going so long.
I started 6 months of CMF on the 18th--weekly infusion of MF and C in pills every day. So far I haven't had any side effects other than feeling a bit "iffy" for maybe 24 hours after the infusion.
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Welcome to the CMF thread curveball. Sorry that you are here, but you will find this to be a supportive and helpful group of women.
Hugs.
Mandy
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guess I am hung up on this wrinkle thing....but I really have wrinkles that weren't there before CMF. has anyone used any skin care products that they would recommend?
best to all
Packy
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Packy, I am sorry about the wrinkles. But I do think they are related to CMF. I noticed in my "chemo diary" that I commented after one of the tx that I suddenly had wrinkles and age spots that were not there before. They appeared too suddenly to just have been a result of aging. I have not found a solution other than lviing with them. If they bother you enough, go to a dermatologist and see what she or he suggests.
Hugs to all.
Mandy
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@packy, if you do go to a dermatologist, I'm curious about what you learn. I read the labels on the backs of my current skin care products, and they all contain parabens, which are suspected of acting like a weak estrogen. Since I'm ER-positive, I'll be replacing them as I use them up, if not sooner. It seems like almost everything has parabens in it, even toothpaste.
It wouldn't surprise me if the experience of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in general (not just CMF) adds wrinkles. I can't think of very many life events that would be more stressful than this.
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