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CMF Question

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Comments

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited December 2007

    Hi a quick stop by...

    Diane, I had that regimen...when do you start?

    I got results...colonoscopy found 3 polyps--2 B9, 1 pre-cancer!!

    Doc says all is well there,tho. He got them out. Now I go for colonoscpies every 3 years.

    Endo...all ok there. Just hiatel hernia...gave me meds for that. He says it will heal.

    Hugs and prayers to all,

    Candie

  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited December 2007

    Yes Rita I got your wonderful Christmas card!  How thoughtful! Thank you so much!  Yes, my last name starts with a "T".  I want to thank you, too, for helping me get through this difficult journey.  You have always been a ray of light and warm support!  2008 is going to be a great year!

    I hope you enjoyed my ecard, I thought I would try this style this year.  Maybe next year a little more personal. 

    Diane, how are you doing?

    Cy you are in my prayers daily and loving thoughts! 

    Blessings everybody!

    P.S.  Just went back to teaching (I am supply teaching in both elementary and high school), not exactly the same as having my own class, but I like the flexible schedule, less marking....great to spend time with the kids again.  Life is moving on...Cool

  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited December 2007

    Candie---great!!! Thank God you got those suckers and everything is well---yeah!!

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited December 2007

    Well...the countdown is on ladies and all you elves need to get those last minute things done.  I just wanted to stop in one last time before my family rolls in late this evening to wish you all a happy holiday season and to thank you all for your support this past year.  You are all fantastic ladies and we're all going to shoot for a happy, healthy 2008.

    Rita

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited December 2007

    Hi Rita,


    The same to you!!

    Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!!!  Thanks for all the support AND friendship this past year. 

    May 2008 be a HEALTHY and HAPPY one for us all!!

    Hugs

    Harley

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited December 2007

    Merry Christmas to all.

    Happy and a very Healthy New Year,also.

    I thank you for your support too...and your friendship.

    Hugs and prayers,

    Candie

  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited December 2007

    Yes, thank you everyone for the wonderful support and friendship!

    Sending my wishes for a wonderful Christmas and Hanukkah!

    May this New Year find us all in improved health !

    God Bless everyone,

    Ginny

  • Galigirl31
    Galigirl31 Member Posts: 103
    edited December 2007

    Usually I pray for a year just as the one before.  Nothing more and nothing less.  This year though I think I will ask for it to be a little bit better in 2008 than it was in 2007.

    Happy and Healthy to all!!!

    -Melanie LaughingLaughingLaughing

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited December 2007

    Melanie,

    Hope you are doing well.  I haven't heard from you too much since your surgery. 

    I'm hoping for a better year next year.  We have really been through the wringer this year!

    Hugs

    Harley

  • SCMartin
    SCMartin Member Posts: 112
    edited December 2007

    I would also like to add my wishes for all of us to have a Merry Christmas and a HEALTHY and HAPPY New Year. We are survivors and that is the most important fact of all. Love, Susan

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited December 2007

    Merry Christmas to my CMF sisters.

    Hugs and prayers,

    Candie

  • RaeMN
    RaeMN Member Posts: 36
    edited December 2007

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year CMF Friends

    Here is hoping 2008 is a GREAT Year for us all.

    Rae

    -------------------------------------------------

    Courage is not the mighty oak that moves when the wind blows

    It is the fragil flower that falls upon the snow

  • candie1971
    candie1971 Member Posts: 2,467
    edited December 2007

    bump for newcomers

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited December 2007

    Thanks Candie for the bump!  I didn't get online much while my family was here for the holidays.  I just spent my time spoiling those two little grandsons and having a ball doing it! 

    I hope all of you had a good Christmas.  Like Rae says, I hope 2008 is a good year for all of us!

    Melanie, how are you doing after your surgery?  What about you, Harley...did everything go as expected and are you feeling good about your new look?

    I need to get moving this morning.  I am hosting a New Year's Eve party this year and I need to get my "lists of jobs and groceries" completed so I can head for the stores.

    Post when you can, ladies.

    Rita

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited December 2007

    Candie...I have a question for you.  I was browsing through the cirlce site this morning and got on the Not So Secret Pal thread.  How did you ever keep it a secret?  Everytime you sent something there would be a postmark, wouldn't there?  That really sounds like a fun thing to do but I'm so curious about the sneaky techniques.

    Rita

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited December 2007

    Hi Rita,

    Oh, I am so glad that you had a wonderful Christmas!  It really is all about the children!!  I can't have any children, and sometimes it feels like there is something missing.

    Thanks!  My breasts look pretty good, I guess.  The scars are still there.  My ps says that he will wait until they fade a little, and then I will get a tattoo for the aureola, and he will put the nipple on.  But that won't be until late Feb., or some time in March.  I've waited all this time, so I guess I can wait longer.

    I am going to see my general surgeon tomorrow for a follow up.  I am kind of nervous.  I am suddenly feeling kind of embarrassed and shy about showing my new breasts to strangers.  He is a really nice guy, so I don't know why I feel this way...  I guess it is because at my last ps appt., my ps started to look at me like a man would, not a doctor...  It felt kind of creepy!

    I have been trying to think of reasons to go back to see my general surgeon, because he is so nice!, and I miss him!  I was saying "gee, I don't really need my appendix, do I?"   lol

    Have a  great  New Years party!!  

    Wishing everyone much Joy, Health and Happiness in the coming year!

    Harley

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited December 2007

    Hey Harley......that "just like a man" look must mean that your new boobs are pretty authentic looking!  LOL  Glad you're pleased with the results.  Are you taking any hormones now or are you done with treatment.  I know I've probably asked you that question before but I sure don't remember the answer.

    Hello to all you other CMF gals.  Hope you each had a great holiday. 

    Rita

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited December 2007

    Rita,

    You are SO right!  I know that being a ps, he is very pleased with his work, but come on....  to ogle his patient like that!   LOL  My dh has been laughing at me, because we went shopping the other day, for some new clothes, and I bought a few new shirts, that were kind of low-cut!  I kept telling him that I have to show off my new breasts!  I guess I feel this way because my breasts were always so small before bc...  so at least there was SOMETHING positive that came as a result of bc.

    My appt. with my general surgeon went well today.  He didn't want to look at my new breasts!  He didn't seem to remember much about what has happened over the past year, but he has tons of patients, so I wasn't too surprised.  He asked me if I had my port removed yet.  I said "remember... I didn't get one?"  Anyway, he scheduled another appt. in 3 or 4 months, and then I guess he'll check the breasts out.  He has been bugging me to get a colonoscopy, so I guess he'll schedule that in April, too.  YICK! 

    I am taking Tamoxifen for 2 years, and possible switching to an AI afterward.  My onc agreed to the Tamoxifen because I have low bone density, and AI's only add to that problem.  I have been taking it for about 1 1/2 months, and have been getting intermittent hot flashes during the day, and sometimes at night.  EVERY night, at 10:30, I get a wicked hot flash!  Also, I have some joint pain now.

    Are you taking Arimidex?  I don't remember too well, either.    How is it going?

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!
    Harley

  • luvmyself
    luvmyself Member Posts: 58
    edited December 2007

    Hi all,

    I'm new to this thread, but unfortunately not to this site. I've been a daily reader for the past 2 years. And was one treatment short of finishing my one year of herceptin when they found another lump in the same breast!! Had a mastecomy on 12/6 and will start CMF on January 18th. After talking with my onc., the side effects should be much easier to handle then my first treatment (TAC 6 rounds).  I'm going to go back to work on 1/4 and hopefully work through the treatments.  Today was the first day that I went shopping for bras, not finding much I will make an appontment with a fitter at Nordstroms.

    I am so ready for this journey to be over!  May 2nd will be my last treatment!! (not that I'm counting) then onto reconstruction.

    Thanks for listening!!

    Jill in AZ

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited December 2007

    Jill,

    Welcome!

    Sorry you are having to go through this bc crap again.

    Please post often.  Someone should be along soon to add their  words of wisdom.

    I never had CMF, but I thought I would be getting it.  Instead, my onc ordered 4 txs of Taxotere & Cytoxan.  I have had a bi-lateral mast., and reconstruction, and have started taking Tamoxifen over a month ago.

    Hugs

    Harley

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited December 2007

    Hi Jill!

    That's the pits, isn't it?   I'm so sorry that the beast has once again reared its ugly head!  Let me assure you that CMF is much kinder than your former chemo.  I did four IV infusions of CMF (three weeks apart).  Then we broke for radiation since I'd had a lumpectomy and they had to go back in because margins were not clear.  This took a little longer than they preferred so they wanted to get the radiation done.  Then I went back for 2 more CMF infusions, again three weeks apart.  This is unusual as most have all 6 consecutively. 

    The treatments were doable.  I did not lose all my hair.  It thinned considerably but only my beautician and I seemed to be aware of it and we changed my hair style to make it less noticeable.  I used the Nioxin hair products to help give it fullness and to promote new growth. 

    I usually felt good right after my treatment.  It was the third day that was my worst and then I was very tired and queasy-feeling.  They eventually got my anit-nausea drugs figured out and that helped.  I used the mouth products that they provided and had no mouth sores.  I also chewed ice chips (or anything cold) while having the infusion to ward away the mouth sores and it seemed to work.  By the fourth day I was back to normal....or as close to normal as possible in this journey.  Then I had a few good weeks until I went for my next infusion.

    You will get through your chemo just fine and we will help you all we can.  The ladies on this thread are great.  Come back and post often.  Somebody will be able to answer any of your questions and there is no stupid question here, so ask away!

    I am so sorry that you have to go through this again.  Hang in there!  You can do it and spring will be here before you know it and you'll be done!!!!

    Rita

  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited December 2007

    Hi Jill,

    Yes, you have our support here!  I just have a few things to add to hopefully help you with CMF.  Remember to drink lots of water (you probably already know this, because you had "C" cytoxan before), Biotene mouthwash is helpful for preventing mouth sores, and if you get any, ask your onc for a prescription for "magic mouth wash" (I got some small sores and this mouth wash helped very quickly--it is great stuff!), you will lose some hair gradually and by the end be thinner, but you will still have hair!  I got a hair cut (my picture here shows my hair after the end of treatments with my new shorter hair cut---I actually loved my hair thinner with this shorter cut---my hair has grown back now and is very thick---actually more maintenanceLaughing), still take the anti-nausea pills as a precaution.

    There are some great mastectomy bras out there.  I have some for exercise, wearing sweaters, one with a cami built in for lower cut tops...Actually these, ironically, are some of the nicest bras I have had.  There are many options for the prothesis as well.  I have a new "climate control" one that is great for exercise and hot flashes!

    If you have any questions, concerns or just need to talk, please know you will have good support here!  Take good care!

    Hope everyone had a great Christmas, Hannuka...

    (((hugs))) Ginny

  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 410
    edited December 2007

    CMF ladies, I have browsed this thread, noticed that the older postings do not have diagnosis included.  I have been recommended CMF, see a second opinion Mon, I'm noticing that most of the current posts have a diagnosis meaning size tumor, nodes involved etc., that seems less extreme than mine.  I'm seeing alot of other treatment plans for others, just caught my curiousity.   In reading about CMF it appears to have maybe a few less side effects (which I like), but I can't help wonder why so many others are not be prescribed that treatment.

    Any comments appreciated, I will have these questions ready for Monday with my second op. ,  Carol

  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited December 2007

    Hi Carol,

    CMF is an older regime.  I think it is mostly offered for early stage bc (stage 1) where a lot of us seem to fall in the position of should we do chemo or not.  It is not necessarily easier symptom wise.  You might not lose your hair, it is easier on the heart than AC, but it can be just as challenging or just as easy going as the other chemos.  It all depends on the person.  Everyone reacts differently.  You will probably be offered some type of hormonal therapy (because of your ER/PR+) which is improving recurrence for so many women!

    It is good you are seeking a second opinion.  I've read a lot of encouraging info on CEF and taxol.  It will be good to hear what the other onc has to say.  Hope this was helpful.

    Take good care.

    Ginny

  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 201
    edited December 2007

    I meant to say,"is improving....disease free, less recurrence for many women"....sorry about that

  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 410
    edited December 2007

    Ginny, you pretty much said what I have been thinking in re to CMF.

    I'm not to excited about a 6 mo program, but the thought of not losing all of my hair is appealing.  I guess the bottom line will be what the docs think is my best prognosis for no future reoccurence.

      I leave for my appt in Seattle in about an hour, with questions in hand.   I know that hormone therapy is a given, as well as radiation since my tumor left too close of a margin at the chest wall.  Wow, this is putting txt well into summer, don't want to think about that!

    Thanks for your input, Carol

  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 410
    edited January 2008

    Ginny, got back from my second op today, she also suggested the CMF txt.  I decided to not say anything about what the other onc said until toward the end of the appt.  Looks like thats my game plan.

    Ritajean, I'm going to embed in my mind your statement that "its doable"!!!  I will remember some of your tips too, such as ice chips!

    I'll probably be checking this thread a little more often since I'm jumping on board.   Hope I can handle the ride!!!

    Carol

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited January 2008

    Carol,

    You will do fine.  Are you going to get a port?  My oncologist didn't think that I needed one and I got through all six infusions pretty well.  There was only one time that they had problems getting the IV inserted, but that wasn't because of my veins, it was because I got the nurse that everybody dreaded....the one that needed a refresher course in IV tactics.

    I was so scared, Carol when I walked through the door to that chemo room the first time, but actually the treatment itself was very easy.  Once the IV is inserted, you just sit there while the drugs run through.  They gave me compazine to take if I felt sick.  I did get sick the day after the first treatment and the compazine didn't do much good.  I learned very quickly to take the compazine as soon as I left the chemo room to PREVENT the nausea, and that worked very well for me.  It's much easier to prevent than correct.

    Visit us often.  We will give you all the support and encouragement that you need.  Perhaps the best thing about CMF is that you will only lose a portion of your hair and you can work around that.  Mine still isn't back to its original thickness but I've learned that any day with hair is NOT a bad hair day.

    Happy New Year to all you CMF gals!!!

    Keep in touch.

    Rita

  • golfer779
    golfer779 Member Posts: 410
    edited January 2008

    Ritajean, thanks for all of your suggestions.  I'm writing down notes as I read!

    I have had the port already "installed", that was during my mast surg back in Nov, I hadn't had a need to use it yet and had to have the axillary node surg in Dec.  I had the nurse flush it during that stay in the hospital and it hurt like a son of a gun.  I hope that when i get infused on jan 10th its not like that or I'm going to look like the big baby in inject room!!!

    I ask the doc to see the inject room, I was pretty surprised at how close you are seated next to the other patients.  There are seats for a companion to join, coffee, juice etc.  I had questioned if I wanted to do treatment in a public environment rather than secluded which is how they do it at the cancer center in Seattle.  The difference is a commute of about 2 hrs each direction vice 30 min.  I chose the local commute upon both oncs recommending the same txt.  I have actually heard nothing but good recommendations for the oncs and their nurses.  I visit with the Nurse Prac tomorrow.

    I've asked to start on a Thursday, hoping that I would need no more than Thur and Fri off from work twice a month.  I apologize for asking since I'm sure you've been over and over these questions in the past, but did you work during txts?  Did you take "C" orally? 

    How about weight gain/loss?  I have only read on one site so far about weight gain.  I guess this is not a txt with steriods included, that was my impression as to excessive weight gain.

    Again, this thread is huge, so please excuse my questions, I've done some snooping but sometimes its hard to find answers to particular questions.

    Hoping your NY day is mellow, thanks again, Carol 

  • ritajean
    ritajean Member Posts: 4,042
    edited January 2008

    Hi Carol,

    I have been watching Illinois get killed in the Rose Bowl and decided I'd had enough of that so I escaped to my office and my computer.

    First of all, I did not work while doing CMF.  I was a retired teacher and business owner at that point.  I continued to work at home for the man who bought my business but it was on a "whenever you feel like working and want to work basis."  I also had my chemo on Thursday.  Saturday (the third day) was usually my worst day.  I was much more tired on this day and if I had nausea, this was usually when it happened.  If I would have been working, I could have gone back to work on Monday and had no lingering affects except for fatigue.  My chemo treatments were every three weeks, so once I got past the first weekend, I had what I called a chemo holiday.  I actually felt pretty good from then until the next infusion, but just tired more easily.  You should be able to work especially through the first four treatments.  As you have probably guessed, chemo of any kind is cumulative and you become a little more tired as it progresses.  My last chemo was my worst, but it was still doable.

    As for the C....mine was infused with a push.  The nurse sat there and pushed it slowly into the IV with a needle and syringe.  It didn't hurt.  I didn't do any of the chemo orally.  Ginny started with the oral part, I think, and switched to all IV infusions as she had some problems.

    It's still amazing to me that a person can go through chemo and gain weight, but I did.  I gained about 12 pounds, 8 of which I now have off again.  Some days you don't feel like eating.  Other days you are ravenous and crave the strangest foods.  I don't think that everybody gains.  I was just one of the unlucky ones.  The anti-nausea meds facilitate weight gain, I guess.  Try not to eat your favorite foods during a chemo week.  If you get sick you usually don't want them again.  I still can't stand the smell of Chinese food and I used to love Chinese!

    You will do O.K. Carol.  It is scary and nerve-wracking but as we go through it, we do know that we are doing everything we can to kick cancer's butt!  It gives one a sense of control in a situation where we have really lost our control.

    We will help you through it.

    You are doing the right thing by researching and learning all you can about your treatment plan and your type of cancer.  Knowledge is invaluable!

    Rita

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