CMF Question
Comments
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Hope that the inactivity on this thread means that everyone is doing well! I am enjoying this Indian Summer in Illinois but it looks like it might be coming to an end.
Everyone enjoy the weekend!
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enjoying my 3 weeks between chemo and radiation. I start on tuesday this week. Hoping for smooth sailing. Lots of an st in my house with college applications and general teen stuff.hope all are doing well. Does anyone else get a little annoyed with all the pink ribbon stuff this month? I mean, I'm glad of brest cancer awareness, but there's really no glamour to getting hrs the treatments, etc. Just saying..... sigh
Amy
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Hi Amy!
Agree with you on all counts. Hope your rads treatment is as uneventful as mine. It really was the easiest part of my treatments. But feel free to come back here if you have any questions or complaints.
Senior year of high school and those college applications can cause alot of angst. How are you doing? Are they mostly finished? My kids are older so when we did the applications, we still had to mail them in. That meant that one new years eve, I stood on line at the post office with a number of other moms who were making certain the applications had the December 31 post mark. Now you just push click and they are gone. Still happy to answer any questions about them if you private message me.
Take care and let us know how that first rads treatment goes.
Hugsss
Mandy1313
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Hey, Mandy! I am 8 treatments from being done with radiation, and the last of my format treatments. Then on to the AIs.
I did relatively well. Developed a rash on my chest that itches somewhat, but to be expected.
Good luck to you. If you have any questions, we're here for you!!!
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I'm glad you ladies are doing okay with rads. Each treatment is one closer to being done! I didn't have radiation so I'm on to AIs.
I'm taking letrozole. It has its ups and downs.
Looking forward to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
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I guess I must have confused some people when I said my rads were uneventful. They were in 2009 and I have finished them years ago. Compared to chemo and surgery, I found rads easier but everyone is different so some might disagree.
Hope all have had a nice weekend.
Hugs
Mandy
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Hey Mandy. I also found the rads much easier than chemo. Glad that the rads are going pretty good for you otoher gals, too.
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had set up appointment this aftetnoon. It was really difficult. I had to stay in an awful position for almost an hour. I as in so much pain towards the end my arm was involuntarily shaking. I had tears in my eyes. I know actual radiation will be much shorter, but this was really hard and they may have to do more tomorrow because I may have moved too much at end. I wasn't expecting this to be so hard. The 1st appointment was long and tiring, but I could rest my arm once on a while. Just want this to be over. Ugh!
Amy
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Hang in there Amy. The actual rads take maybe 5 mins.
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Mandy, pls tell us more about your experience with AIs. I think I'm dreading it almost more than any other treatment.
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I have been taking letrozole for almost 6 months. The side effects are manageable for me, but they are definitely there. I just keep thinking...less chance of recurrence...less chance of recurrence.
Almost from the start, I could feel changes in my joints. Going down stairs, I could feel it in my knees. Instead of zipping downstairs, I just take my time. Stooping down and getting back up was more of a challenge and now I have to brace myself to get up. After sitting for awhile either at work or at home, when I get up, my feet and ankles are really stiff and I walk funny, like my ankles are too stiff to bend and I look like a penguin for a minute or two. Recently, the joint pain has moved into my hips, elbows and sometimes my wrists and hands. Most days, I feel older than my 47 years. With that said, I still feelthat the SEs are manageable for me compared to other women who are completely debilitated.
Another SE for me are hot flashes. Now, I had them anyway because of chemo pause, but when I first started letrozole, they were HORRIBLE! Now that I have been on the medicine for a bit, they are definitely not as bad as they were.
I also find that I sleep better since starting letrozole whereas some women sleep worse. I take my pill at night along with my calcium and vitamin D3.
I definitely wish I didn't have to take any pills, but I guess this one is manageable. I don't know many women that get away with no side effects from AIs.
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Amy, I also hated the "set up" for the rads. I almost walked out on them it was so annoying. But when it came to the actual rads, it was pretty easy. My technicians were really nice and made sure I was comfortable before the rads began. And it is true- my rads including getting me in position and the treatment itself probably were about 5 to 10 minutes at most. I know I walked in and out of rads, including checking in, changing, checking out, etc. in 30 minutes or less so the treatment could not have taken very long at all. Let us know how the actual treatments are and if your arms are that painful, don't be afraid to let them know. Hugs.
Mandy 1313
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thanks all. 1st actual rads went fine. About 20 minutes and this team of techs was much nicer. 2 teams work at same time, in different rooms. Just random who you get. Glad it went better than set up, just majorly uncomfortable. I expect it will get quicker as we get more accustomed to awful position.
Amy
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Amy are you prone or on your back? I didn't find it uncomfortable, but I wass upine.
Mandy, do you find the AI makes you tired? On the March chemo board, a gal who had just started the AI said she's just exhausted. Shoot, I guess no celebrating I'm done with treatments for another 5-10 years!
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Yes - Femara makes me tired that's why I changed to taking it at night. I started taking it after breakfast, but I found I was too tired at work. Now, I take it after dinner and I usually go to bed anywhere from 10:30 pm - 11:30 pm and get up at 6:00 am.
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sue, positioned prone. With most weight on 1 hip and both hands over my head. Right hand holding handle and right elbow flexed with head facing left. Very awkward.
after about 10 mins my arm starts to shake. Good thing treatment doesn't last that long. Not liking this but counting down daily, only 18 to go.
Have a good weekend everyone!
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Sue, don't stress too much about the Ai's. Everyone is so different. I had the joint problems but they were doable and I learned how to work around them. I made it 5 years on Arimidex (now generic). It took awhile once I got off of it for my aches and pains to disappear but they are pretty much gone now. However, one of my very good friends has had NO side effects of any kind from Femara. Another of my friends is on her fourth year and her main side effect involves sleeping issues. She golfs and is very active. It just depends upon the person. Those who have the most problems are the ones that post the most about the side effects as they search to find an answer to their problems. The rest of us just plug along and get through it without too much turmoil and we don't hear too much from these gals. In fact, many of them have left this site and moved on to getting back to their "new normal," so don't worry about the side effects or look for them because you may have very few! Just take one day at a time. If you do find that you are having some side effects, you can deal with them then or chnge to a different AI. Hugs to you!
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Thanks Ritajean. And that's exactly how I'm going to approach it.
Appreciate your input, and love this board.
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Just checking in to see how the radiatio gals are doing! Hope all is going well!
We are enjoying exceptionally warm weather here in Illinois for November. It looks like it may turn cooler this weekend though! I sure hate to see the temps drop!
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hi. Doing ok. Done with 7 of 20 rounds of rads. Hating the few minutes of painful contortioning, but not too bad overall. Just a little tender and sore in u shoulder and under arm. I took a zumba class this week. 1st serious exercise in months. I avoided jumping around and took it slow. So crazy tired after. Maybe I'll try once a week. Only good thing is that I get home from work and rads by 430, usually 630. Kind of nice in a way.
Amy
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Glad you are doing well, Amy. Did they give you cream to use as you get farther into the rads????
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Hi Amy
Glad that things seem to be going well with your rads. Is the shoulder pain from the position? or from the rads themselves? Is there anyway they can prop you up with towels or a pillow if it is the position? You never know, they might be able to do it. But from my counting you have now done 8/20--before you know it you will be able to put this behind you.
Hugs to you and to everyone else reading this thread.
Mandy1313
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hi.
Mandy, they didn't give me any cream but recommended calendula cream. I had bought the girls cream as recommended. So far no serious skin reactions.
My discomfort in my shoulder is from my prone positioning. They said there's nothing they can do to help that won't Block the radiation. Sucks, but almist half way there.
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Sorry about the discomfort to your shoulder Amy. But prone positioning really is good since it avoids much of the radiation scatter experienced by those of us who were traditionally radiated. I had actually requested prone radiation in 2009, but it was not available for me. So as you say, you are almost half way there! Glad you are not experiencing skin reactions so far--as I used to say, just keep on trucking!
Hugs to all.
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Just joining this thread-- still catching up on what's already here, but my oncologist has recommended that I choose between TC and CMF. Looking to learn more about why I might choose one or the other. The nutshell variables seem to be length of time and extent of hair loss. Any other considerations? Anyone else in their 30's/40's weighed this choice?
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Jenny - I was 46 when I made the decision for CMF. There are more things to consider than just duration and hair loss. Time is definitely a factor as TC is 4 treatments (I think) and CMF was eight for me. TC as I understand it is a little harder on the system as far as side effects (neuropathy, nausea, cardiac, etc). You would have to speak with your MO about recurrence rates for your situation between TC and CMF, I don't think they are that different, but everyone's situation is different. You may also want to think about whether or not your will work through treatment, recovery time in between treatments, whether or not you have a good support system to help.
I am sure that others will come along and offer more information.
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Jenny, did you have the Oncotype test? I'm wondering if that is why your MO suggested chemo, or if it's your age.
I had similar stats as yours, although my tumor was 1.5 cm and I was HER2- (and I'm 57). Because I had no lymph involvement, and due to the size of my tumor (and Oncotype 20), I chose CMF, since one MO felt chemo was optional, but the other strongly suggested chemo (CMF). It is much easily tolerated, and less toxic than TC. My MO felt very comfortable with that option.
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Hi Jenny! I found CMF on my own years ago--the institution where I was just automatically did TC. When I asked my consulting oncologist what about CMF,she said that was a good idea in my particular case and that Sloan Kettering did alot of CMF. I still remember wondering why no one had suggested it for me, either at the cancer center where I was treated or the cancer center where I consulted. For that, the consulting onco said that cancer centers just get in the routine of using the same chemo---whether true or not, that is what i was told. I still do not regret my decision to take CMF--it was a little gentler than TC and since I had alot of side effects from CMF I don't know how I would have managed with a harsher chemo. Some places now give CMF every 2 weeks but I had mine every 3 weeks with 8 treatments..I had my chemo IV and did not have a port (which was suggested too but I said let's try IV first and IV was fine). .I did have time to bounce back in between. If you have any questions, private message me. All the best to you while you make this decision. Mandy1313
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Hi all,
Havent been on here for months as we were in crisis, lost housing (boyfriend lost his job was connected to our housing) and were living in motel//trailer park most the summer...ugh. I would of just up and left and took my 2 yr old son to live with my mother 800 miles south of where I live, but couldn't as I was still in middle of chemo...ugh. So now we are back to normal and have a new apartment. Wanted to ask...have any of you had your onc recommend you do Zometa infusion ...after your chemo was done? It is a preventative to discourage future cancer spreading to the bones. I dread getting it but I guess I will do it as my cancer had an aggressive grade, (grade3 and high oncotype). Was wondering if anyone else went on this?If so what was your experience like? I go back to work in 2 weeks and am scared I wont be able to keep up with the fast pace...as my short term memory is crappy half the time and I forget things shortly after I think about a task Im going to do and then it just "evaporates"....the thought and thing I was gonna do. I don't know if this is chemo brain...but Im worried I wont be able to do my work, lots of organization, prioritizing, detail, paperwork involved etc...--barely get a lunch. Anyone at this point...fearful you wont keep up with your work...Ive been off for 8 months...ugh...
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just dropped in to say that I had cmf for trip neg back in 1990... Seems to have worked so far.
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