CMF Question
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Kath! You did it! YAY! I'm so glad you rang that bell! Hugs to you as you move on with your life....because lifie is good after this journey! Please keep in touch with us and keep us updated on all the fun things that you will be doing! Have fun in Tennessee.
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MI, my soul sista for life! today is usually my Sunday after tx. tough day. nausea, but worse that darned bloating, gas, etc. Don't need to tell YOU ALL
I feel like a double tick today!! Wish I had a picture to post
Went to "staging" for rads today: think too soon emotionally, but won't start until April 13th after going to TN where I won't work for two days, and don't have to wear a wig!
MI, right behind me: am waiting for you at the finish line
Kath
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Tobycc, Rang the bell too, 6 times for every month I was there! Took treats to my nurses also, they were all sent from God to get us through this! On to radiation starting around 4/7 I think.
Have a great trip, you owe it to yourself. Enjoy spring and have a blessed Easter. Diane
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YAY Diane! DONE! You've now joined the NO MORE CHEMO CLUB! I think you will find that rads are much easier.....just a pain to have to show up everyday!
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Yay Diane and Tobycc!! You are done with chemo. Like Rita, I found rads easier than chemo in terms of side effects and everything. I hated the lack of privacy at my particular cancer center but outside of that, it was ok....I had the same rads techs each time and they were really sweet and supportive.
Hugs to all1
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Hi ladies,
I've been given a choice of TC or CMF. I need to let my MO know this week.
Thanks for any advice you can give.....
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HI Allicat!
Sorry to hear you have joined the club that no one wishes to join. Anyway I had the same choice that you did and chose CMF for a variety of reasons. While CMF takes longer to receive, in general it does not seem to have the same harsh side effects of CT. For one thing, I kept most of my hair and never needed a wig---now my hair did thin but in the end I was fine and kept my hair. For me that was important. For others not so important.
If you read the complaints of the gals who are more recently on CMF, you will see that the chemo is"doable." I guess all chemos are "doable" because people do them. How many tx is your doctor offering. I had 8 tx given every 3 weeks by IV. I never needed a port and that was another thing in favor of CMF. Read up about it and read the CT thread. For me CMF was fine....I am almost 7 years out and I had one positive node. I also had two grade one tumors. My oncotype was 15. I don't know if my stats help you any but if you have questions come back again and let the gals here know what you are wondering about.
This is also a very supportive thread and the women here helped me get through chemo and listened to my endless complaints.
I know it is hard to make a decision about chemo--come back and let us know what you decide.
Hugs
Mandy
PS Just wondering where in New Orleans you are being treated? If you don't want to go public about that, then send me a private message.
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Hi Allicat!
I too had the option of TC or CMF. I chose CMF for a few reasons. I chose to work through out my treatments so I needed something that was just as effective but not as harsh. My treatment plan was 8 treatments of CMF every 3 weeks via IV. I did have a port placed, but it was removed because of a malfunction and going the route of IV in the arm is doable, just harder for them to find a vein for me.
My hair has thinned, but I do not have to wear a wig and no one really knows. I still have eyebrows and lashes, but no leg or underarm hair. Weird, right? I experience a lot of fatigue, but that is normal. My periods have stopped too and that is all normal. During the first few days after chemo, I do have my bouts with nausea, but that can be controlled with medication.
I will have my last treatment on April 10th! Whatever your choice, you got this!
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Hi Allicat, like the others said, welcome. I could not do Adriamycin due to cardiac issues. I started with Cytoxen and Taxotere and after three tx developed a horrible burn from inside out on hands and feet. Switched to Taxol: same thing after 3 x.
So, did CMF six rounds. Just finished last week. It was MUCH more tolerable. I use the patch for nausea (my biggest SE), I have worked full time since onset. Missed a coupld of days only. I did have weight gain on CMF. My hair I lost on the taxol family, but it is coming back.
No metal taste, minimal mouth sores.
Hope this is helpful
Blessings,
kathryn
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Thanks ladies!! I sincerely appreciate the info!
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Allicat, Sorry you had to join us, but hopefully you will have an easy road with chemo. I was offered TC, but after reading about SE decided I would not do it. Then my Dr. offered oral CMF, and after reading about it decided this was my best option. I work in a Drs office, and have for 25 yrs, did not want my patients to know I was getting chemo. I had 6 months of 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off chemo, and found it very doable. Did not need a port and only had to delay 1 treatment due to low blood counts. The oral Cytoxan caps worked better for me than the pills, I had stomach issues with those. I was able to continue to work, and only missed a few days when other people were sick. Have kept my hair, tho like the other ladies doing CMF it has thinned, but only my hairdresser knows! If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I finished chemo 2 weeks ago, now on to radiation
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Maryland...keep us updated on your radiation. Hopefully you will find it much easier than the chemo. Hugs to you!
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I am scheduled to start CMF on Thursday, the 16th. My onc tells me this one will have much less side effects than Taxotere/Cytoxan.
On April 2nd, I had my first chemo infusion. Had the anti-nausea meds, the steroids, and then a flush. As the nurse started the Taxotere, she said to mention anything I felt, even if it didn't seem relevant. I told her I felt short of breath, she jumped up, and I went full-blown anaphylactic! I've never done that before! My head felt like a balloon being inflated, it was red hot, my tongue was swelling, more short of breath, and my hands were inflating! Suddenly, I had four calm nurses working with me, oxygen, a flush then Benadryl...whew!
Had my appointment this week to discuss--doc has never had a patient react so violently to T. I'm hoping CMF won't give me quite the fight!
Laura
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Vanmama, How scary! Good thing you noticed the shortness of breath, and told them right away.
Hopefully you will find the CMF much easier. I just finished my CMF treatments( 6 months) on March 19. It was a good experience for me, much better than the horror stories I had read about TC. Now on to radiation, which is much easier than chemo.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Good luck to you. Diane
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Thanks Ritajean, yes radiation is MUCH easier than chemo, no problems! Va. Beach Mandy was to finish her last chemo last Friday, hope it went well for her! Happy spring, Diane
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CHEMO IS DONE!!!!!
I had my last infusion last Friday. My wonderful daughter went with me. I didn't get to ring the bell as they don't do that at my infusion center, but they do give everyone a tiara and a boa while they take a picture.
I am glad for so many reasons that that chemo is over, now if I could just start feeling better. My stomach is just not good, but I know it will pass.
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Mandy, It won't be long and you'll be feeling better. There is still a lot of chemo left in your body and it just takes some time to work through it. We have that last treatment and we're so excited about it being OVER that we want all the side effects done, too. Give it a little time and you'll be pretty much bac to normal. Life is good! Congrats on finishing the chemo. NO MO' CHEMO, GAL!
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Vanmama....sorry but I just saw your most recent post. I think you will find the CMF chemo much easier to handle and will be looking for an update alter on Thursday.
Please refresh my memory. Where are you located in Central Illinois? If you don't want to announce this on the thread, you could always send me a PM. I am in Bloomington.
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ritajean, I'm in McLean. I work in Bloomington.I'll update sometime on Thursday. I'm a little apprehensive because of what happened with the Taxotere but Dr. Migas has assured me it's totally different and I'll be fine. I have total confidence in him...
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Question for you ladies---since I didn't lose any hair, it just thinned, how long after finishing chemo did you wait to color your hair (if you color)? I absolutely hate looking at myself in the mirror now between the grey hair, sagging implants and weight gain.
Since my stomach is starting to feel better, I have gone back to a more paleo diet and will start beginner's crossfit on Monday. I just don't think I am ready to jump right back where I left off. That should help turn the weight gain into weight loss, with time. I see my plastic surgeon on Tuesday so we can talk about revision surgery to fix the girls. The implant on the non-breast cancer side is sagging considerably. I wonder if it is from being messed with twice now for the port. The implants are also a hands width apart on my chest which just looks really odd and I don't like the projection at all. So...we shall see.
After those two things, hair is the only other thing that I need to fix.
Hoping everyone will have a GREAT weekend.
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Great question: will be looking for advice also
K
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Hi Ladie!
I think that Ritajean was able to color her hair right through chemo; I would think that you would be able to do color whenever you feel ready; I had mine colored about a month after I finished --I didn't wait for any particular reason, I just didn't do it until then(don't know if that helps). And congrats on finishing chemo!!!
Vanmama: Let us know how you do with your chemo.
Hugs to all!
Mandy1313
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Mandy is right. I colored mine all the way through and no problems of any kind. I think you can color it as soon as you'd like.
Vanmama....you have the BEST oncologist! That's who I see also and I just love him.
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Rita, I agree! He IS the best!
The CMF went fine. I had started the day off with a headache so ended with it worse, then felt somewhat nauseated and uncomfortable before the evening was over. No sleep on Thursday night, but last night was much better. Woke up today with no nausea, minor headache, and still body aches but they're manageable.
My elderly mother insists that we meet at our local McDonalds at noon EVERY Saturday and I was able to do that. Not sure I'm up to much else today but thought I might go sit outside for a few minutes.
Laura
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Glad that you were able to tolerate the CMF Vanmama. Hope this continues for the rest of your treatment. I also was tired afer each tx--everyone is different so you will have to see how you do each time.
All the best.
Mandy1313
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So glad Vanmama!!! Keep us posted
Hugs
Kath
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Still doing OK, vanmama????
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I am doing ok. Mouth and tongue are sore and I seem to have a sore throat. I haven't missed any work this week though my morning routine seems to be taking longer and longer!
Saw my surgeon yesterday and was telling him about my soreness so he checked out my tongue, did a little research while I was getting dressed, and had the nurse call in to the hospital pharmacy to get the "magic mouthwash". I love this man, who just wants to help!
I see Dr. Migas tomorrow for my day 8 check-in.
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Vanmamma, that's great that your doctor got right on it and ordered the "magic mouthwash". Some of us have been able to keep those mouth sores away by sucking on ice chips (or in my case on lemon ices since for some reason I could not stand the taste of plain ice during chemo) during the chemo infusions. So if you are able to bring some ice pops with you to the chemo infusion, it might help prevent the sores later on. I also found that acupuncture helped keep mouth sores away.
Hugs
Mandy1313
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Mandy1313, I did do the ice chips. My mouth has been ok, but just not my tongue. Not sure why! We're on the down side now but I'll be glad to have the magic mouthwash for the next infusion. I can't easily bring ice pops because now I'll be doing chemo in the afternoon so will be at work in the morning. That's a great idea, though.Saw my MO today and my labs all look good!
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