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CMF Question
Comments
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Glad to hear that everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer weather. I started my 3rd round of tx yesterday had 5th infusion. Now just have to do the 14 days of pills. I went to doctor prior to infusion and he stated that he doesn't know if he will have me do 6,7 or 8 cycles. This was really upsetting since I went there thinking after 14 days I will be 1/2 done. He could not give me a reason as to why he might extend my my tx from 6 to 7 or 8. Has anyone else that did the pill form have more than 6 rounds?? I don't think that I will agree to extend this for 2 more months as it has already been a long time and not quit 1/2 way done.
Graduation party went well. Now focusing on the college plans. He will be going to be a secondary math teacher with a minor in coaching. He will also be playing baseball for the college.
Glad to hear everyones doing well and happy birthday cheryl.0 -
Well tonight I will BUZZ the hair it's just coming out so fast. I'm OK with it though cause it means this chemo is in my system and they said I'd lose the hair. My counts came back up with the nupogen shots but they want me to keep taking them for a few more weeks and then well see.
I had 7 trips to the center in 6 days last week but am doing better this week.
I think about you all and keep you in my prayers. Stay strong you can do this! We are there with you!
hugs & Prayers0 -
Hi ladies,
Melanie, ((hugs)), you are getting through this!
Cathy, you need to pursue this with your doc and ask him for his reasoning. It would be easier to do more if you know there is a really good reason, weighing the benefits with the cons. Hope you can get some answers and therefore peace about this.
Cy, so sorry you are going through all of this! Hang in there and know we are praying for you and wishing you better days ahead! You are an incredible person and have been an inspiration. Take good care! (((hugs)))
Hi Rita too, this has been quite a beautiful summer. So what is next for you?
I had my port removed on thursday---a milestone, I am grateful for it and thankful I could get it out. Rads start Monday. Looks like I have to have a biopsy done on my thyroid goitres again--yuk. Anyway, better to check than not to. Looking forward to medical procedures slowing down by the end of August.
Continue to cherish each day and its blessings, even when they sometime appear hard to see---they are there!
Ginny0 -
Hi everyone,
I visited my friendly oncologist on Friday and learned that he felt I should take the last two chemos for "clean-up" purposes in case there are still any loose canceer cells floating around anywhere. I was really bummed out as he'd said there was a chance that I wouldn't need to do anymore. He did give me the final say but has scheduled them for July 12 and Aug.2nd. I am feeling so good right now that I hate to go back to the chemo feelings.
Ginny, glad that your port is out and that apparently the removal went well. I'm anxious to hear your rendition of rads as I thought they were easy compared to chemo...except for the fact that you had to show up every day.
Cheryl...hang in there. You continue to amaze me! I think about you all the time and hope things will progress smoothly for you. You are alot like me. We don't like to be inactive, but now is the time to rest and take care of yourself so your immune system stays as strong as humanly possible as you go through this. We are here if you need us and please do not hesitate to vent here if you need to do so.
Melanie, hope you're still doing well!
Hi to everyone else. For those of you with treatments next week......good luck.
Rita0 -
Ginny, having your port out is a milestone! Congrats! Rads will be done before yo know it!
Rita, at this point I would do the extra just to be able to say "I did everything I could" But that's just me.
I never wanted to look back and say "what if"
I slept and sat in my chair playing with the youngest granddaughter yesterday. That was kinda wierd not to do anything! but I feel better for it.
Spent this morning with MIL for her 80th birthday then finished moving her stuff out of the old apartment. then drove another hour to go to youngest grandson's baby shower and then 2.5 hours home in stop and go traffic! man am I glad to be home!
Hope those that are still undergoing treatment are doing well and anyone that is new to CMF feels they can come here and let us help them through the treatment!
You gals are great!0 -
Hello, everyone. New to this post. I am 29, had lumpectomy 2.2cm, margins negative, SNB negative, er/pr +. They put me on CMF treatment, every friday MF infusion, and Cytoxin 100 mg every night. Seem to be doing ok so far, slight nausea, fatigue, heart burn. Having a gard time making myself drink fluids. No matter what flavor, I just can't seem to get it down. Have to turn to popsikles. Also purchased Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste. I listed to all you ladies talk about it. Next step will be purchasing Nioxin hair products, I am afraid of losing my hair,so whatever it takes. Also, my oncologist said that after my chemo and radiations I will be on Tamoxifen for 5 years. I am hearing that some women stay on it for only 2 years or so. How does that work? Thanks, Sandy
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sendija, be careful taking the pills at night. you want to make sure you drink enough that it doest irritate your stomach and bladder!
Your hair will thin but you shouldn't lose more than about 30 - 60%
Eating in small doese also can help with the nausea.
We'll be with you as you go through this!0 -
Sandy, Although nobody wants to be here, you have come to a good place to find answers, companionship, advice, and others who understand what you are going through. I'm glad you found us. CMF is quite a bit different from AC. As Cheryl said, you will probably not lose all your hair. It does shed quite a bit...especially in the shower, but only my beautician and I could tell a big difference. I used the Nioxin products because they helped to stimulate new growth and make my hair look fuller. Most CMF patients do not need a wig, which is comforting.
Chewing or sucking on ice chips or something cold while you're getting the 5-Fu portion of the chemo will help ward off mouth sores, which are a common side effect and the Biatine also helps.
As for the Tamoxifin, I'm not sure about that. Maybe somebody who is through all the treatments can step up and answer your questions on it. I am post-menapausal so I will be taking Arimidex when I am done with everything. They all have different side effects, but I think the side effects are worth it if they keep the cancer away.
We will be here to help you. Check in often and let us know how you are doing and ask any questions that you have. There are no dumb questions when it comes to this and probably all of us have had the same questions.
Cheryl....glad to see that your attitude is still so positive. What difference have you seen in the side effects between your new chemo and CMF besides the hair loss. Remember that we are here for you, too!!!
Well, I'm off to a golf outing today. Hope everyone is doing well.
Catch you all later.
Rita0 -
Welcome Sendija,
I wish you the best.
I had my 4th out of eight treatments last week and I feel like I just started. Before you know it you will be half way through and then finished.
I will be taking tamox. for 5 years. That is all I had ever heard of.
Good luck!!!
-melanie0 -
Hi,
Just had my second rad treatment. I think the hardest part will be the 1 1/2- 2 hour drive each way! For the first 2 weeks a friend and I are both doing radiation together, so it is actually fun!
Cathy you are a real go getter, like Rita. I'm glad you are trying to take some time to rest.
Rita, I will be finished my rads August 2, when you have your last chemo. So we will be finished this part of the journey the same day! I'm glad you are going to finish your treatments. Remember you have the "chemo holiday" in between! Before you know it you will be finished.
Melanie, isn't it a great feeling to know you are half way done! Nice to see the other side of the mountain.
Take care everyone,
Ginny0 -
Sandy, sorry you have to join this club. Did your docs explain to you that there is a greater chance of going into menapause with CMF? You are young, so the % is not as high, but something to ask them about. I see in your info that you were planning to have kids.
They can prescribe something that really helps with heatburn. I agree with CY, you really need to drink tons of water/liquids. How about herbal teas (ginger/mint)or putting half a glass of apple (low acid) juice and water?
Try not to worry too much about your hair. I lost about 50%, but most people would never know it. By the way, it is a gradual loss, so the 30-50% is not fully till the last treatments. I had my hair coloured 2 weeks after my last chemo and it looks pretty good. I use lots of conditioner and smoother, as chemo really dries out your hair.
Hope this helps.
Ginny0 -
Melanie, I'm so glad that you're getting through the treatments so well! That's super!
Ginny....hey, how about that??? It's really ironic that we finish on the same day! We certainly will have something to celebrate, won't we? Do you have to take hormones when you are finished?
Cheryl....sure hope you're doing O.K. Take one day at a time and keep up your positive attitude. I think about you every day!!!
Well, I have lots to do today so I'd better get moving. Hang in there, gals. We are getting through this!
Rita0 -
Hello everyone,
I am glad to hear that most of you are doing well.
I just completed my 5th treatment last Friday. I am trying to get over the tiredness. With work, household chores, and trying to take care of my daughter along with the side effects of chemo, everything is kind of getting to me.
Melanie
congratulations on being half way done! You will get through it.
Ginny, Happy Belated birthday...seems like I missed alot since my last post. It must have felt soooo good to get your port out!
Sandy, don't worry about losing your hair. I have hardly lost any hair at least not that anyone would notice. I have also continued to color my hair throughout chemo.
Rita,
You are having great weather for golf! Learning is on my "to do" list.
Thanks for always giving great advice and always being there for us. Glad to hear you are done with rads
Talk to everyone soon!!0 -
Hi Fellow CMFers..I just wanted to say hello..on 8 August it will have been six years since I had my last chemo(six months worth)...then I did one year of tamoxifen and four of arimidex and have been off those now for a year..CY good to see you posting here..hugs to everyone..SoCal
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SoCal Lisa....Thanks so much for stopping by to let us know that it's been nearly 6 years for you! Wow! That's so wonderful! Another CMF success story! That makes me feel a little better about having to take those last two chemos!
Laurie, I can't imagine how tired you must be! You've got a lot on your daily agenda, gal. I was tired and I wasn't working (unless I wanted to) and didn't have a little one keep up with. Hang in there. You've got 5 of them down now! How I admire you!
Cheryl....hope you're still doing O.K. Keep in touch. You're always in our thoughts.
Ginny...are you handling the long drive for the rads? That would really make a long day, EVERY DAY, until they are done. Take extra care and rest a little more as you will probably find that the rads make you quite a bit more tired just by themselves.
Any of you U.S. gals have big plans for the 4th of July?
Good luck to anyone who is having a treatment this week.
We can do this, ladies!
Rita0 -
I have to admit the last two chemos were the hardest for me ..but Rita..you will do well..hugs
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Hi all,
Rita, I will not be taking any hormones, as I am hormone receptor negative. As much as everyone worries about side effects, really it is a blessing to be able to take something else that can prevent a recurrence---wish I could. For hormone receptor negative the suggestion is to maintain a low fat diet and exercise. Chemo is supposed to be quite effective for us hormone negative gals!
Nice to hear from you again LR. Thank you for the birthday wish! Yes, it is great to have the port out (end of that chapter kind of thing), although I am still sore---but just a temporary thing. Soon what used to be my bionic boob will be all back to normal
Do you have a port?
Sounds like you are almost half way done? I hope someone can come and give you help with your daughter so that you can rest. Enjoy your "chemo holidays' in between and before you know it you will be done. Can't believe it has been just over a month for me! Hang in there. I will say a prayer for you.
Hi Lisa, congratulations on your 6 years finishing chemo and being NED---how wonderful and encouraging for all of us here!
Rita, yes the drives are long and so this takes up most of the day; however I have been going down with a friend who is also doing radiation, so it has actually been quite fun. We are the "rowdy gals of radiation" at our hospital!
I'm starting to get a slight bit pink after 4 treatments---so I'm praying my skin will hold up o.k.
Cathy, you are in my thoughts and prayers too.
Ginny0 -
Hi Ladies,
Today has been the toughest day for me but it could be that I've done 5 hours of overtime this week. So after three hours at work I came home and went to bed.
This bigest difference in this treatment is how fast things are happening. I have lost most of my hair in one weeks time. I keep looking for new scarves to wear! What happend to nice plain scarves? Most of the ones out there have som many wiered designs on them now!
I am also very tired today. I'm only 6 weeks into this treatment. I didn't feel like this until I was in the last 6 weeks of CMF.
There isn't much nauesa with this one though and that's nice.
Well i'm a bit tired still but wanted to check up on all of you.
Ginney Rads will be done before you know it!
Rita those last two will be over and done before you know it and then it will be on to getting stronger and feeling better.
So to all of yo CMFers, Hugs and Prayers0 -
Hi everyone!
Can you believe that the 4th of July is creeping up on us already? Where is our summer going? When I was teaching school, the 4th meant that summer was about over and on the downward slide.
Cheryl, It sounds like you're getting very aggressive treatment. Although it isn't much fun, that's what you want. It sure would be great if they could come up with a different way to eradicate this disease without causing all the side effects. I think you are like me. We keep going until we just can't go anymore and I'm not so sure that is good. I should send you that book.......Women Who Do Too Much!!!! :-) (After of course, I read it! )
Hang in there. We can beat this!
Ginny, How are the rads going? Are you feeling any of the fatigue yet?
How are you new gals doing? Keep posting and keep us up to date.
Michelle....You're moving right along with all this. Do you have to do rads when you're through with the treatments?
I have decided to go ahead and do the last two treatments. I certainly don't want to do them but you've all talked me into it and I know it's the best thing in the long run. Thanks for your advice and encouragement. That means I have about 1 1/2 weeks yet of chemo holiday before they start in.
Hope you're all doing well and have neat plans for the 4th...even if they're just R & R and fireworks!
Rita0 -
Hello Ladies! I have not posted for a while but I do read the posts and keep up with the CMF girls. Tomorrow will be my one year anniversary. I use the date of my second lumpectomy and SNB as my anniversary. I have thought so much about what I was going through last year at this time and how I was feeling.
I can remember reading posts from people that were at their one year mark and thinking how much I wished I could be there. Well, now I am and all of you will be also.
This summer I am having fun and making up for what I missed last summer. Mostly, I try not to be obsessed with breast cancer and am trying hard to move on. I will be the speaker at the Rally For A Cure event in August and though I am not excited about public speaking I do want to raise money for the Komen Foundation.
I hope you are all well and remember, this will end and you will be saying one year ago today.....
Take care and hang in there with chemo and rads.
Love to all, Susan0 -
Cathy, hang in there girl! I hope you can rest more---please slow down and take care of you!
Rita, first week done. I'm a little pink, a little more tired, but doing really well. I'm so thankful for my garden and having a pool, it is great for having friends and family over to enjoy. My brother, wife and kids are coming for the Canada day weekend. Happy 4th of July for all my American friends.
Susan, so nice to hear from you. CONGRATULATIONS on your one year NED!!! How wonderul I agree, it is good to try and not be so obsessed with breast cancer. We have a choice to not let it overtake our lives. I chose to live each day in gratitude. Not to say that it can be difficult at times, but each day is really a gift for everybody! I am realistic, but hopeful and very thankful for all the good God has brought to me. I think that is one of the first lessons I have learned; not to think of what you don't have, those who don't care for you...but what you do have, the people who do love you and the many blessings we have everyday.
Phew, just had to get that out!
All the best everyone,
Ginny
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Just curious someone said CMF is a less agressive tx than TC or TAC. Is this true? How do they choose?
Thanks
JOanne0 -
Hi JoAnne....I wouldn't say that CMF is less aggressive. Its side affects are milder. My oncologist told me that research shows that 6 CMF treatments are equivalent to 4 AC treatments and provide the same effect. As for the TC or TAC, I'm assuming the same applies. CMF has been around longer than the other treatments. I think it is used now for early stage cancers and for people who have heart-related problems that might flare up or cause problems from the A in the AC and TAC. Also, since you can only have AC once, some oncologists choose CMF first and then have the "big gun" there if it's needed at some later time. Each case is different and each oncologist thinks differently. Are you trying to decide on a chemo type?
Rita0 -
Thanks for the info. I just started with TC and feel like a truck hit me. People who did CMF keep telling me they didn't think the side effects were that bad so I was wondering is this me? I am EXHAUSTED alot of the time on day 6 of my TC and wonder if I can keep up working thru this.
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(((HUGS JOANNE)))))
Everyone responds differently to chemo and different situations require different percentages of the drug. I have heard of others who have a hard time with the TC, but there are also a few who have lots of trouble with CMF. Tell you oncologist or your oncologist nurse about the side effects. There is often something they can give you to counteract the effects.
Was your tumor ductile or lobular? Size? Er or Pr positive or negative??? Stage??? Grade??
Rita0 -
It is stage II both ductal and lobular, mammary they call it and ER+ one node positive.
The grade is II-III depending on the pathologist and it was completely missed by those stupid mammograms.0 -
Joanne, please be sure to talk with you ONC Nurse and let her know how you are doing as you go through treatment. As Rita said we all are affected differently. But they can usually give you something to help you through your regiem.
Hugs & Prayers0 -
Hi there, Cheryl! How are YOU doing? Is it getting any easier? How like you to share info with others and not tell us a thing about youself!!! Hope you're doing well.
Hang in there Joanne. Come back often and vent if you need to do so or ask questions. We will try to help you. As for the mammograms, they certainly don't catch everything. Breast MRI's are much more effective, but they catch everything....even things that aren't cancer so there are alot of false alarms with them. Hopefully they'll come up with a new screening device soon. I am so sorry that the mammo didn't catch yours. That was a real bummer.......as is this whole journey.
Have a good holiday everyone.
Catch you all later.
Rita0 -
Hang in there Joanne. You have been given good advice here. You will get into a kind of rythym with treatments, and learn what helps you. Don't worry about calling your doctors a lot if you need to! I had a more difficult time with CMF, so really treatments effect everyone differently, no matter what the treatment. Your regime is a really effective one, so although I know it is difficult when you are feelings its side effects, it is doing its job of killing those stray cancer cells. Find out all you can do and take to make this easier to get through. You will get through this and be on the other side looking back!
All the best to everyone!
Ginny0 -
Hey, Ginny....how's the official "rad girl" doing? I bet you and your friend liven up the day of those who work in your radiation department! They probably look forward to having you arrive! How's the skin doing?
Hope everyone will be feeling good enough to celebrate the 4th of July. I'm just like a kid about fireworks. I just love them!
Take care, sisters!
Rita0
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