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CMF Question

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Comments

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2015

    Glad things look good vanmama! The magic mouthwash should to the trick! Hang in there!


  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited April 2015

    How long did everryone wait to color hair? My last tx was March 23rd: its coming in nicely, but I honestly cant stand the stark white in front and dark/ dirty gray in back

    K

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2015

    I actually colored mine all the time during treatments and had no problem. Others waited until they were through and then colored it as soon as they got a chance. How are you feeling now that you've been done about a month?


  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    I will start CMF on 4/29. Do most of you receive steroids with this regime?

    Sue

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2015

    Hi Sue. Welcome to the CMF thread. I did get steroids with mine. I felt pretty good the day of the chemo and the day after,and then if I was going to have any side effect at all, it usually came on the third or fourth day. I quickly learned how to handle the side effects and got through the treatments pretty well. They gave me compazine for nausea and I learned to take them BEFORE the nausea hit because it was so much better to ward off the nausea than it was to get rid of it when it arrived. I also asked for ice chips to suck on during the treatment (infusion) to ward off mouth sores.

    Hopefully you will find this a very tolerable treatment plan. Are you doing it all by infusions or are you taking the pills, too?


  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    I'[m doing in all via infusion. Praying for the best!

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited April 2015

    Sue - I received steroids at every infusion.  I took my Zofran and Compazine before nausea hit so it wasn't as bad. 

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2015

    I know how scary this is for you, Sue. I had myself so worked up that I threw up before I got into the cancer center for my first treatment. Then I realized how silly that was because the infusion was really pretty non-descript. I did not have a port so they had to put in an IV each time and that was the worst part of the actual infusion for me. I took somebody with me each time just in case something went goofy and I couldn't drive myself home but I suppose I didn't really need anyone. It is the unknown that gets us and the already built-up trauma caused by the actual diagnosis and all the decision making that needs to be done before the treatment is started.

    Hugs to you! Let us know how it goes! I am in your "pocket" when you go through those doors to the chemo room on Wednesday!

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited April 2015

    Sue - the unknown is scary no matter how prepared we think we are.  You will probably be much better once you have the first infusion under your belt.

    I also took someone with me during infusions for a few reasons, to keep me company, to help me unplug and plug back the machine when I needed to use the restroom and in case something went wrong and I couldn't drive home. 

    Please know that I will be thinking of you on Wednesday!!!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Thank you, guys. The waiting and decision time has been excruciating and now I'm anxious to see how I will respond. But once all this uncertainty is over, I will handle it as it comes. And I can see I was blessed with a board full of caring people who will see me through. And I promise I will reciprocate!!!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    Hi Ladies! So how much weight did you all gain on average? I start treatment 4/29,and my daughter is getting married 10/3. I'm overweight as is, and hoping I won't gain too much weight....

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited April 2015

    I don't know if my weight gain is normal or not, but I gained about 20 lbs.  Trying now to get it off before staring hormone therapy.

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited April 2015


    I gained 15.  MO said give it two months:  I am down about 7

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2015

    I gained about 15 pounds. I couldn't get it off while I was doing the Arimidex (Anastrazole) but it came off easily once I finished that.

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited April 2015

    So reading through this board, many report no nausea. Others suggest taking the anti-nausea pills to prevent any nausea. However, this often causes constipation. So I'm struggling with whether to take the pills right after my first treatment, or hold off and see if I have any nausea. Thoughts???

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited April 2015

    I always took my pills as I was leaving my chemo infusion or right before I ate the first time.  I didn't want to have to fight the nausea once it hit.

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited April 2015

    Sue, Everyone is different. The first two times I did not take the compazine (the anti-nausea pill they gave me) until I needed it. Then I found that it took at least two to three days to combat the nausea. A gal on another thread suggested that I take the pills as directed as soon as I got home from the infusion and take them right on schedule for 3 or 4 days. Once I did that......no more nausea. I also found that sugar coated Brach's Lemon drops helped ward off the nausea if I ever got that queasy feeling. Others discovered that ginger products worked for them.


  • mandy1313
    mandy1313 Member Posts: 978
    edited May 2015

    My onc actually had me take an anti nause pill right before the infusion -- I think it was kytril. So I kept the nausea under control and never waited to take them. There was a person on this board, Golfer, who suggested taking a stool softener the night before chemo and to continue it through the chemo because as you say, the meds do constipate you. The other thing I did was to eat 3 or 4 stewed prunes every night as a snack. It helped me a great deal and I like the taste of prunes so I did not mind (I stewed them with lemons which tasted good to me).


    Hope you gals in treatment are doing well.


    Hugs


    Mandy

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited May 2015

    Hi ladies. When did you find your fatigue peaked following CMF? Was it after the first few days, or at Nadir?

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited May 2015

    I think everyone is different-- did you just start or just end? For me, the fattigue is much worse with radiation than it was with CMF. I was really tired though after it ended. I am now 5 weeks out and if it werent for the fatigue from radiation I would be 100%

    Little things: weight is coming off that I gained, I feel llike body is more back to normal. Still waking up with night sweats, but that too could be radiation. I feel like my taste buds are 100% back, overall just better.

    Kath

  • vanmama
    vanmama Member Posts: 74
    edited May 2015

    I'll be doing my second round on Thursday. I'm wondering about losing my hair...my MO said he didn't think I would but the nurse was pretty insistent that I would. Today is Day 18 and I'm not seeing it yet. Wondering what others' experience is.

    Laura

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited May 2015

    I lost mine but because I was on taxol/ taxotere first. It started coming in when I started CMF, and while it may not have grown as fast as others, I did not lose on it

    I am sure others will reply: I think many just had some thinning

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited May 2015

    Vanmama - my hair thinned, but it was really only noticeable to me, my husband and my hair stylist.  It was also much softer while on chemo and continues to be.  I don't know if it is just natural progression of age or chemo, but I got a lot greyer during chemo.  My stylist said she will let me know when I can color it, but all the yuck has to grow out first.  Since me hair is super short, it shouldn't take long.

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited May 2015

    MI, did she say how long?  I am desperate to get my colored:  still wearing wig full time, hair white/ grey  

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited May 2015

    Toby - she said normally 3 - 6 months, but because mine is so short, it could be longer depending on how long it takes to grow out.  I have noticed the hair loss has slowed considerably since my 4/20 treatment.

  • amyfsw
    amyfsw Member Posts: 51
    edited May 2015

    Hi - glad to find this group. Starting CMF tomorrow. After lots of mixed opinions about which protocol to use, I'm going with CMF thru Sloan Kettering . Very nervous about what to expect but really happy to see you all here.


  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 106
    edited May 2015

    I hope your first infusion goes as well as mine did. Little side effects. Keep us posted.

  • moderators
    moderators Posts: 8,739
    edited May 2015

    amyfsw, welcome to BCO, and please do keep us posted!

  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 190
    edited May 2015

    Amy - I hope your infusions go well.  Please keep us posted and ask questions! 

  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 578
    edited May 2015

    CMF for me was heavenly compared to the cytoxen/ taxotere/taxol. I had a reaction to those. Really glad you found us, and do ask questions!

    Kath

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