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CMF Question

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Comments

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited December 2012

    @curveball...similar to me but you have no break?

  • Atall45
    Atall45 Member Posts: 43
    edited December 2012

    Good Morning Ladies and Happy Saturday!!!!

    @Traii - Looks like we start our treatment the same day Jan 2nd. I will have the oral cytoxan and infusions of the M & 5-FU once a week for 6 months no breaks, just like curveball. My MO said I would not need the neulasta this time since it's lower dose but he would keep an eye on my counts and see.

    @Curveball - When is your next treatment? I know you only have 2 left, so happy for you!!!

  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 1,583
    edited December 2012

    @Traii, yes, just like you except no break. Also because I get the meds continuously, I may be getting less in any one dose than you are. I suspect that may be part of the reason my SE have been so relatively mild.

    @Atall45, I also get my treatment on Wednesdays: next treatment Jan 2, LAST!!! treatment Jan 9. My AI prescription just came in the mail from the pharmacy. My onc was originally going to prescribe tamoxifen for 2 years, then AI, but there is a small possibility I have a clotting disorder, and also my gyn verified by blood test that I am definitely post-menopausal, so I am instead starting straight in with an AI. I need to read up on that next--I haven't studied the different AIs at all to see what side effects they can cause. Fortunately I have very dense bones for my age. I know bone loss is one of the SE from any AI.

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited December 2012

    Atall45 ... oh yes same day..well I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday.

    I'm going to ask my onc why I'm having a 1 week break, I'll find out the dose I'm having so I can compare with you ladies....I'm only having 3 x CMFs so will be done by 15th March I think it works out to be (well thats the oral part done by then and the IV a week earlier)

    I too will have my bloods monitored too, so at least I know you won't be having the Neulastra shot either, gives me a peace of mind as my onc 'wasn't sure' whether to give it to me or not and opted for 'not' !

    Yeh I'll be thinking of you too Curveball, our first treatment will be on your 2nd last one :)

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited December 2012

    Traii....I had the neulata shots when my counts dropped.  This was after my 4th infusion.  I was so worried about it because I had heard such horrible stories about the side effects and was prepared for the worst.  I had no side effects at all after the shots. I think everybody's body reacts differently to the shots and treatment.  I have also heard that Claritin does help those who do have side effects.

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited December 2012

    Thanks Ritajean if it was up to me I would opt to have the Neulasta shots. I had them with my Taxotere and had minimal SEs. Worried this time bc onc said not to have them :(

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited December 2012

    Traii: I went through CMF (though the IV every 3 weeks forma for 8 doses) and never needed a neulasta shot. I am certain if your counts are funny, your onc will do something.  He or she just does not want to do it unless needed. Try not to worry about it. 

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited December 2012

    Thanks mandy for sharing, guess i just dont want it to delay my treatment if i have low wbc

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited December 2012

    Happy New Year to all of you!  Best wishes of happiness and health for 2013!

  • smva
    smva Member Posts: 24
    edited December 2012

    Thanks Ritajean, and the same to you and your family. Happy New Year to all the ladies on this forum. May you all have a happy, healthy New Year.

  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited December 2012

    A new year is about to begin--a reason to renew one's hopes for happiness, peace and health for all. Sending warmest hugs and greetings to all of my fellow CMFers.

    Mandy

  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 1,583
    edited January 2013

    Happy New Year!

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Happy New Year Curveball and all other fellow warrior sisters. I hope you had a great NYE celebrations.

    I'm back to the chemo ward tomorrow, first chemo of CMF......nervous but positive this has got to be better than Taxotere!!!

    Enjoy your New Years Day !

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited January 2013

    Don't be afraid, CMF is not that bad and in the end you are killing what is bad.  Good luck!

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Well had my first CMF... so far so good :) lets hope it stays this way. Lol

  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 1,583
    edited January 2013

    @traii, I'm glad your first infusion went well. Thank heaven I only have two left, one today and one next week. I went to my house yesterday to make sure everything is OK. I drove down and my mom drove back, about an hour each way. Now I feel (as my college roommate used to say) "like I've been drug under a door", totally tired out. But I'm glad I went, I hadn't been there since the 17th of December and wanted to make sure there were no problems due to the recent freezing weather. There weren't--hurray! My mom says she will drive me to chemo today, I am so beat she worries about me driving myself. She is being such a sweetie. 

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited January 2013

    Try to stay in the moment and not anticipate.  This will pass.  You will be amazed by how quickly it will pass.

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Wow Curveball...2 more how awesome hun....so glad you got back home and no probs....hooray indeed :)

    My dad took me yesterday while mum looked after my son. Hubby was dropped off at the eye m ear hospital to get steel out of his eye....being male well lets just say i am doing much better us girls are just tough cookies...lol parents are cuties arent they, mine are my world,my rock, my everything ♥



    Well i must say...Day 2 and so far so good and I woke about 530am....had lots of water, more pee time (sorry tmi..lol) back to bed and feel awesome...and no furry tongue like Tax did to me:)



    @timbukto...definetely staying on this moment girl ;)

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited January 2013

    Traii...so glad all is going well!  That is such good news.  Just don't over-do for a few days.  Hugs to you!  I found it helpful to keep a journal of my chemo days.  That way I could compare the treatments as they progressed and I always had it for reference later.  I've used mine after the fact to help others who followed me with the treatments.  We don't think we willl ever forget the experience but some of the details do fade with time.  Yeah for you!!!!

  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 1,583
    edited January 2013

    @traii, what ritajean said, twice. Deliberately under-do. My experience during CMF (at least the first five months) is that I didn't feel like I was overdoing it until the next day, and then I'd be super-tired, but by then it was too late. It took me a while to get "calibrated" i.e. to learn how much I could do without wiping myself out. So do less than you think you can, until you learn what you can expect in terms of fatigue.

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Thanks Rita & curveball....think i may slow down then considering ive already washed and hung 2 loads of washing...cleaned a little showered, make up all while dh and ds snored all from 530am and its now 930 so sitting down havin breakfast .... its going to be real hot here so day in at home with aircon is in store me thinks !!

    Thanks ladies...ive always been go go go so need to slow down

    Yes i had journal with rtax and doing same with this.

    You girls rock ;)

  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 1,951
    edited January 2013

    Hi ladies, trying to catch up on the reading. My computer screen died on Christmas morning and I just got her back today. On the 5th I will be 2 months PFC. I am one of the lucky ones who had to be different and lose her hair. The hair that is growing back is weird. I can't do a dam thing with it. I wear hats or I clip a fake ponytail on the top towards the back and use hair spray to calm the rest down. I had lunch with my brother yesterday and he said he couldn't tell it wasn't real.

    I have done 19 of 28 rounds of radiation. I am really crispy now. They called in a prescription for severe burns. They never told me that it would burn me clear through to my back. My back actually has blisters. Well, 9 more to go so I will just suck it up and keep going forward.

    I hope everyone that has just started does well with few side effects.

    Have a good night, Diana

  • Atall45
    Atall45 Member Posts: 43
    edited January 2013

    Hello Ladies....first CMF treatment today. SE better then taxotere for sure but still don't feel great, nauseous even after two zofran. Just took lorazepam, ready for sleep!! 1 down 23 left...I /we can and will do this!!!



    Curveball.....congratulations only one left...yea!!!!



    Trali- glad your treatment went well and you feel good.

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited January 2013

    Atall45...I found that sucking on Brach's lemon drops helped with that nauseous feeling.   You are so right!  You can do this!  Hang in there!

    DianaRose....I am so sorry that you have burnt so badly with the radiation.  I guess I was lucky because the radiation was much easier for me than the chemo.  Hang in there, hon, you are getting to the end.  Hugs

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Atall , do you have chemo tomorrow ? I do and I've been having the oral C part so far for 7 days today and feel good.

    How are you feeling so far ?

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited January 2013

    Traii....love your avatar.  You are SO cute!  I'm glad that things have been going smoothly for you and hope that you do just as well after this last chemo.  You go, gal!

  • Atall45
    Atall45 Member Posts: 43
    edited January 2013

    Traii...yes I do have another treatment tomorrow. I'm super glad that you are feeling good and not having many SE. For me it's a bit different, the first few days I slept 12 hours a night and took a nap, and just so you know I don't sleep much and naps are a NEVER so for me this is huge!!! Then had the big "C" so that was awful. Sunday and today have been my best days. I'm learning how much zofran to take, which days and how much "softener" to take with the Zofran. I have to say taking pills or any type of medication has always been a chore for me always makes me sick so this is just a learning process to see what works. I'm determined to not be sick half the week every week for six months!!!  Good Luck to you tomorrow!!!

    To Everyone else have Ritajean....I will try the Lemon Drops, I will try almost anything to get rid of nausea, thanks for your experienced input!!

    Curveball.....Your last treatment tomorrow!!!! yea...CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    I have found a few positives of being bald:

    1) You can get ready SUPER quick

    2) Showers, wow wash your face, body and no shaving, Five minutes in and out :)

    3) Your hair always looks great

    Side note: I had other chemo before CMF that's why I'm bald I hear many people on CMF don't lose their hair so I don't want anyone to panic :)

    Have a great evening everyone.

  • traii
    traii Member Posts: 379
    edited January 2013

    Thanks RitaJean, not sure about 'cute' but i'll take it...lol (not that I feel like that anymore!!)

    Avill45 , thought you were today too....sorry to hear that you have felt nauseated and tired. I feel nauseated for about 30mins - 2 hours after I have the oral C bit but apart from that, I'm an insomniac, thought I as mean't to get fatigued on chemo.....well thought I had a chance of balancing it out, insomniac + fatigue = 'normal' but nooooo!! can't sleep before 2am and up by 6:30am....and constant go go go with my son and work 3 days a week part time!

    This regime is 200% better than my last chemo.

    I too lost 'most' of my hair with the previous treatment , kept eyebrows well they only thinned a little and eyelashes there too. Everywhere else, i thank I don't need to shave or wax Wink

    15mins and shower and makeup done, clothes on, hair on and i'm done !

    I've heard and onc has seen people can get their hair back on CMF if they've lost with previous treatment....so that would be a bonus for us, though I'm not holding my breath for it, 'tis what it 'tis I say.....lol

    Congrats on last treatment for tomorrow curveball...how exciting Laughing

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited January 2013

    curveball...........Been thinking about you.  Isn't this week your last week for chemo?    YEA!!!  Let us know how it goes so we can celebrate with you!

  • Dianarose
    Dianarose Member Posts: 1,951
    edited January 2013

    Curveball- congrats on being at the end of your chemo Cool. I have 2 more rounds of radiation and then I am done with both. Pretty sick and tired of it all. My hair is starting to get a little thicker. Still very weird hair. It's about an inch long now. Do you have to do radiation? My skin is really burnt now, but the end is near. I will have my exchange in 4-6 months. It is such a long process.

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