Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?
Share with us: What are your proudest moments of 2024 and personal goals for 2025?
Take our poll: How are you feeling as we near the New Year?

CMF Question

1…2223252728…282

Comments

  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited May 2007
    Anyone else going through "chemo pause". Those darn hot flashes are driving me to distraction. Did anyone who did CMF have their period return afterwards?

    Just wondering,
    Ginny
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    CONGRATS CY on your one year out anniversary. You go, gal!! This is what we like to hear!

    I started week 4 of the rads today and am still hanging in there!

    Just think, Ginny. You're about done with the chemo phase! A celebration will be in order!!!!

    The sunshine is beckoning me!

    Rita
  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited May 2007

    I did menapause early before chemo even so can't help you there but the hot flashes are a pain! Talk to the doc about it they can give you something to help

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    Hi all!

    Ginny, I can't help you with the "chemo pause" as I had a hysterectomy when I was 50 and was finished with all that stuff when BC hit. My oncologist told me that I'd be taking Arimidex when all my treatments and rads are finished and that it could cause hot flashes. I certainly don't want to have to go back to having them. Is there anybody out there who has experienced hot flashes while on Arimidex?

    Hope all of you are handling the chemo treatments well. Hang in there and let us know how it's going.

    Rita
  • SCMartin
    SCMartin Member Posts: 112
    edited May 2007

    Hi Rita and all the CMF girls! I started Arimidex last November and have had an increase in hot flashes. I am 53 and started menapause 3 years ago. I was just about done with hot flashes when I began the Arimidex. I hope they will subside with time as I am not willing to switch to another AI. The only side effects I have are the flashes and some hip stiffness. Some friends the are on Arimidex don't seem to have any problems. If it truly cuts the recurrence rate then I am willing to stay on it. I run every day and play golf four times a week so I am active which helps. Best wishes to all and I see some of you have completed CMF. Congratulations! things will be so much easier now. Good Luck to all. Susan

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    Hi Susan,

    Thanks for the input on Arimidex. I really didn't want to hear about the hot flashes, but like you, I think they're worth the insurance that Arimidex provides. Still...I hope I escape them. I'm glad that you are doing well other than that. I will be so glad to get through with all this and move on. I'm sure most of you feel the same way.

    It was a dreary day in Illinois today but we needed the rain and at least I didn't have to water my flowers. I must admit I got quite a few things done in the house.

    Hope everyone is feeling O.K. We haven't heard from a few of you who have had treatments this week. How is it going?

    Rita
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited May 2007
    Thanks CY, I will talk to my doctor, good idea. I hope this is just temporary though.

    Hi Susan, nice to hear from you again. I think being active must help. Looking forward to getting back into shape.

    Still wondering if there is anyone out there who has done CMF and had their period return?

    Rita, sounds like you are doing well with your rads, that's great. How many more?

    I have my last chemo next Wednesday--hurray!!! My port will be coming out a month later--hurray. I will be starting rads June 25. In between will be having mamm, ultra sound and mri for my remaining breast---really nervous about this!!!

    It is rainy here, but that is so good for the garden and trees! Hear the weekend is going to be great. Hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful spring weather and sights!

    Ginny
  • catgirl
    catgirl Member Posts: 9
    edited May 2007
    got back from florida at 2am. had a great time with my kids! on the plane down the woman across from me was`sneezing and coughing and sniffling! Aaarrgh! I developed a scratchy, sore throat Mon and am a little stuffed up. No fever so I guess it is just a cold. Hopefully won't last long.
    LR.... I will be turning 40 in June! There was a time when I didn't think I would see my 40th. But I am hanging in there thanks to the chemo. I will be having a CT in a few weeks and hopefully the liver mets are continuing to shrink and disappear. I guess if the chemo is working there then it is also working on the brain mets. I don't have any more headaches so onc says that is a good sign.
    Congrats to all who are finishing treatment and doing well! A great inspiration to everyone!
    Hope everyone had a great mother's day. I know I did having both my kids with me was awesome!
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    Hi ladies,

    Marguerite, I'm so glad that the headaches have subsided and that you had a good Mother's Day. So what day in June are you celebrating your big 4-0? We need to celebrate these big events!!!

    Ginny, The rads are going well. When this week is over, I have only 13 more to go,7 of which are boosts. Then I need to decide what I am going to do about the last two CMF chemo treatments. There always seems to be decisions to make along this journey and I keep getting worse about being able to make them.

    Melanie..so you are haf-way done, eh? That's great. How is the hair doing? Have you lost alot or only a little?

    I hope everyone is weathering their treatments well. Hang in there girls!

    Rita
  • iamonly39
    iamonly39 Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2007
    I had my 3rd treatment last Friday. It wasn't too bad. I think I can pretty much count on not feeling better until Tuesday. But when Wednesday rolls around, I am back to my old self.
    As I mentioned before, I haven't noticed any major changes since I started- besides the dry mouth.
    My hair doesn't really seem to have thinned (god forbid I would lose body hair and take a break from shaving), I am still getting my period- for now.
    Spring is here. I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather. This experience will soon be a memory
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    Hi ladies!

    Hope everyone is doing well. It always took me a few days to get back to my normal self after a treatment, Laurie, but it was doable and so much better than what some have to go through. Hang in there!

    I just finished 4 weeks of rads and have two days off for the weekend that I don't have to go into the cancer center. It's a true vacation for me. So far, my skin is turning brown but I've had very little skin problems. Even if it hits me next week, I think I'm lucky!

    So do you start rads this week, Ginny or do you have a few more holiday weeks?

    Hope all of you are doing well. Post often and keep in touch. I'm off to enjoy the sunshine. Hopefully it will warm things up around here. It was cold in Illinois this morning!

    Catch you later,

    Rita
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited May 2007
    Hi, I wish I was half way done (actually it hasn't been so bad). I have just had 2 of my 8 treatments.
    Lots more fatigue this time, but less mouth sores (pretty good trade off). No changes in my hair yet. I don't know how, but i actually lost a little weight (not complaining).
    Hang in there everybody!!!
    Melanie
  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited May 2007
    Hi Susan,
    So glad to hear from you.
    Hi everyone,
    I am a CMF alumnus. I am 53 and started arimidex this past January. So far, just hot flashes which I had anyway. Went through changes at 50.

    Keep positive--this all goes faster than ou can imagine.

    Hugs and prayers,
    Candie

    ---------------------------------
    life is a long song
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited May 2007
    Catgirl, I'm so glad you had a great holiday with your kids! I hope chemo is going o.k. and that it is shrinking everything!

    LR, I'm so happy everything is going well with you. Biotene is good for dry mouth, you can buy it at the drug store.

    Wow Rita you have finished 4 weeks of rads--your almost there! Only browning of the skin----that's great! Hope I can get through rads like this. I don't start until the end of June. My last chemo is this Wednesday, then a month break.

    Melanie, your sounding good. Don't worry, enjoy this beautiful spring weather, and before you know it, you will be done!

    Candie, I know what you mean by the hot flashes! I am now in chemopause and experiencing them for the first time. I think I going to pick up one of those battery operated hand fans

    Hope everyone else is hanging in there.

    Blessings,
    Ginny
  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited May 2007
    Hi ladies. I hope and pray that you all are doing well.
    The beast came knocking at my door and snuck in when I wasn't looking. Please pay attention to anything different and make the Dr's listen.
    I will start a new round of different chemo's starting May 25th. I only tell you this so you will be vengulant (sp). You are your best advocate!
    I started having soreness in my ribs in late Dec and feeling like I was very full after eating only a few bites and like my bra was a size or teo tight by the end of the day a couple months ago. The thought it might be just my side being irritated from all the coughing from the pneumonia and blood clots. then they thought gall bladder. turns out I have tumors on the liver. and it's the same as my Breast cancer samples from Oct of 05. So now I fight again. I will check on you all as time permits and I'm strong enough to do so. This round of chemo will be weekly and a lot harder on me than the CMF was. CMF is a good combination! just not for me.
    Keep up the fight and never stop fighting,
    love hugs and prayers to you all!
  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited May 2007
    CY...You have been here for us. Although we wish it was different, it is now our turn to be here for you. Please let us help you. Hugs...prayers....and many caring thoughts are being sent across the country to you! Hang in there.

    Rita
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited May 2007
    CY, I am so very sorry to read about what you are going through. I will send extra prayers your way.
    -Melanie
  • Cathy07
    Cathy07 Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2007

    For those doing CMF (Cytoxin pill and IV M&F) What was your dosage of the cytoxin pill per day. I am ready to start my second round on Wednesday and curious as to everyone else's pill dosage.

  • ranchette
    ranchette Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2007

    I am on CMF treatment also. #11 next week Can't wait to be done! i am taking 50mg. of the cytoxin pill. What is your dosage?

  • Cathy07
    Cathy07 Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2007
    I have #3 on Weds.. Best to luck with your #11.
    I am taking 3 50mg a day for a daily doseage of 150 mg. are you only taking 1 50mg tablet a day? Reason for my question on dosage is I know that dosage goes by weight. but no where can I find any info on mg per weight. I am 130 lbs. and since Tues. I have been having back spasm. This is during my last of 2 weeks off and wondering if this is a side effect or is my dosage to high. Go to onco on wednesday before treatment and will inquire, but it is always nice to get info from those going through this before hand. Thanks!!
  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited May 2007
    Double check your potassum. Low potassum will cause cramping!

    Thank you for your well wishes and hugs I can sure use them right now.

    Keep your heads up and keep fighting!
    Love hugs & prayers!
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited May 2007
    CY, I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through! My prayers and best wishes are with you. You have been such a great support to all of us here. Please know we are here for you too! I pray that you get through your chemo, better than you can imagine and that the beast is knocked right out for good! I found, later, that steroids really help, maybe this will be helpful for you. You are a fighter and with your compassionate spirit, I know you will be taken care of. We have never met, but I care for you and will be rooting for you!
    Love, hugs and prayers,
    Ginny
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited May 2007
    Re: dosage. I was on 175mg a day (my weight has fluctuated 140-125-137). I did 2 rounds of this form of CMF. I know cytoxan can be hard on the bladder and kidneys, so please check this out with your onc. I switched to all infusions, due to problems with the pills. Not everyone has problems with them and they are slightly more effective. Hope everything turns out o.k. for you new ladies.

    I have my last CMF chemo tomorrow. Thank you for all of the kind support here through this part of the journey.

    God bless everyone,
    Ginny
  • SCMartin
    SCMartin Member Posts: 112
    edited May 2007
    Hello everyone, Well, you are all making great progress. Ginny, I'm so happy to hear your last one is this week. Congratulations! Have a great month off before rads which is truly so much easier- just annoying.
    Rita, Almost done with rads!! Good for you. don't worry about the Arimidex. I think I am tolerating it well and I can put up with the hot flases(which seem to be decreasing) and some hip stiffness.
    Cy, I am so sorry to read of your recurrence. I pray the chemo will do the job for you and you will be freee of all cancer. I know it is always in the back of our minds- cancer returning. It is a scary thing. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Get well and stay well.
    Candie, So good to see you are doing well. We sure went through all this together. Love to all, Susan
  • ranchette
    ranchette Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2007
    Hi Cathy,
    Sorry for the misunderstanding.I am taking 50MG.3X A DAY for 14 days. Do you have problems with your eyes tearing? I am going crazy with this. Can"t wear any makeup and I feel very tired.
  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited May 2007
    Ginny--congrats on finishing chemo tomorrow. I remember how happy I was on that day. I took cytoxan pills--3 one day and 4 the next--alternating--50 mg per pill.

    Cy--my prayers are with you.

    Hugs and prayers,
    Candie
    -------------------------------
    life is a long song
  • Cathy07
    Cathy07 Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2007
    Ginny, Way to go you made it. I have read along with all of you while going through your treatments and it really has helped me now that I have started mine. Thanks to all of you.
    Ranchette, Yes I do have problems with my eyes tearing it was not so bad this past week (on my Chemo holiday as Holly would say. My biggest problem is the hair thinning. I have only had 2 tx and it is falling everywhere. Can't imagine having any left by the time I finish. You are almost done so hang in there.
    CY, I know that I have done more reading than posting on here. You have been a support to many people on this thread. Now we will return that support to you. Stay strong. You are in my prayers.
  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited May 2007
    Ginny, Your last treatment...WOW great for you.
    It is funny to hear you guys talking about the eyes. I have "goop" in the corners of my eyes since my treatments started, I wasn't sure if it was the chemo or not.
    This morning for the first time in the shower I think a lot more hair than usual came out, ot too much, but surely more than usual. My 3rd treatment is Tues.
    Feel good ALL
    -Melanie
  • Cathy07
    Cathy07 Member Posts: 20
    edited May 2007

    Melanie, I can't say it is from chemo or not but I had the same problem. I would wake up in the morning and my eyelashes would be matted shut.During the day they would go from being dry to instantly watering that it actually ran down my face. I start my 3 tx today, didn't notice any thinning until this past weekend and boy is it comming out. Best to luck to you with your 3rd tx.

  • b445
    b445 Member Posts: 980
    edited May 2007
    The tearing in the eyes is from the chemo. I would suggest getting Natural Tears drops. I know sounds funny tyo put more solution into eyes that are already wet. They are we cause they are dehydrated. The tears are trying to keep them hydrated. It will go away after you are done with the chemo!

    Ginny so glad this is the end of the chemo road for you. Rads is a sinch but annoying that it's done every day.

    I'm going to keep an eye on you gals. It's important to keep this thred going so that new comers to CMF will have a place to go since there are as many that do this combonation.

    Got to run grandbaby # 5, Hayden was born this morning and I need to go hold him!
    Hugs & Prayers to all my lovely sisters!

Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.