CMF Question

DesignerMom

jodimaca-  Hope this finds you comfortable after your first chemo.  CMF is very doable.  In my case, the constipation was the biggest problem.  And yes, I believe the Zofran is the cause...but necessary for the nausea.  I began taking a fiber supplement every day, along with prunes etc and it was very helpful.  The one I use is Yerba Prima psyllium husk veg caps 625mg ea.  I take them with food and water.  I never liked mixing all that Metamucil slop and drinking it.  About stewing the prunes.  Yes it is helpful as it rehydrates the fruit.  Dried fruits won't help with constipation unless you have lots of liquid too.  Drink extra fluids if you don't stew the prunes.  After my first chemo, it was 4 days before I could poop....I was miserable.  It can be dangerous too.  One of my chemo friends ended up in the hospital from constipation.  So please stay on top of it.  The chemo nurses swear by good old Milk of Mag. After trying Senokot, Miralax, Prunes etc, MOM did the trick for me!  The abbreviations are quite confusing at the beginning.  I wondered if I was with a bunch of youngsters talking text lingo that I didn't know!  You'll get the hang of it.  There is a thread "Abbreviations for Newbies" that will help.  I hope this link works to get you there. http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/62/topic/735716?page=48#post_1983243

raincitygirl

DesignerMom - All in all, I am not doing too badly. Incredibly dry mouth - using Biotene rinse for dry mouth and lemon drops and drinking more fluid than I ever thought possible.  Didn't sleep but a few hours because of steroids but plan to catch a nap at some point today.  Did you take Zofran each of the 14 pill days?

DesignerMom

jodimaca-  I was on the everything in the IV method every 3 weeks X 6.  So I only took the Zofran for two days after my infusion.  I know the Oncs in the Northwest seem to use the Cytoxan by pill method.   I know Beanius is well into her CMF treatment, using the pills.  I would try her tips and then tweak them as you need.  Definitely rest whenever you need.  The steroids can really wreck your sleep pattern.  Many CMF ladies didn't need steroids.  I only had a tiny bit in my infusion and never suffered from the sleep problems.  Thank you God!  I need my sleep!  You might ask your Onc if you need the steroids.

candie1971

Hi to all,

I read back a few pages and I see youare all coping well. I did CMF in 2006. I haven't stopped in here for awhile.

I did 12 treatments so by the time I got to 5 I took antinausea pills everyday to ward it off. I also used colace after a bad bout with constipation in the beginning, I realized I had to take it everyday and I never had a problem after that. I also made sure that I ate something wet with every meal..for instance, applesauce,canned fruit, ets.

I used the Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash faithfully and my Cancer Center gives you an ice pop at every infusion...great place!! All of this combined is great..I never had a mouth sore and the Biotene helped with the dry mouth. I kept a lil bottle of the mouthwash in my purse to use when I needed it.

I lost 75% of my hair...I cut it real short, also...I wore hats as my head was always cold.

I found walking to help with the fatigue or my recliner and a good movie..lol.

This is all doable, you will get thru it all before you know it!!

Oh, our motto at the time between the girls and I who were doing this was..."drink and pee, drink and pee". Drink lots of water or juice or what have you before and after infusion and try to keep it up each day.

Lots of hugs and love, girls.....you are in the right spot for all the help you need.

Candie

ritajean

Hey Candie..........so glad you stopped in!  I think of you often!  Hope all is going well for you.  Don't be such a stranger!  I've missed you! 

Rita

SoCalLisa

Hi Candie and Rita...old time CMFers

codavis

jodimaca:

I am in Seattle-- I get my care at Swedish Hospital and have felt very forunate with all of my doctors and the support staff.

Today is a beautiful day isn't it?

raincitygirl

codavis - it has been an amazing day with another one on tap for tomorrow - we have to treasure these glorious days with the "worst winter since 1955" being forecast for us.  I had my biopsies and surgery at Swedish and was very very happy there.  I did decide to do my chemo on the eastside because I really connected with an oncologist a friend referred me to....I also liked those that I met at Swedish but if they were both going to give me the same treatment in the same way, I decided Kirkland was easier, especially with such great reviews of the doc I chose (similar reviews to the oncs at Swedish).   Enjoy tomorrow, rain is ahead...

candie1971

Hi Rita and Lisa,

Good to see you both here!!  Hope all is well!

Beanius

Candy - thanks so much for popping in, the "drink and pee" is priceless. That's the main focus of my life lately!!!

jodimaca - I go to Swedish in Seattle, too. They have been so excellent.

Pee-ce and love to you all!!! ~Beans 

ritajean

Oh Beans!  I LOVE your picture.  It's so great to be able to put a face with a name. 

Hugs to all you gals who are tackling the treatments.  Hang in there!

Rita

Beanius

Ritajean - Thanks for your kind words about my pic - it is so fun to see what everyone looks like (though mine is from 2004 when I looked betR than now on chemo and older - tee hee!)

I have another question for my wonderful CMF friends who maybe know what this next side effect is all about: I'm 3 days from finishing cycle 4 of 6 - 3 more days of cytoxan pills. Overall I'm holding up but noticed in the past few days a little bit of darkening around the cuticle of some of my finger nails. Has this been a CMF side effect for anyone else, and if so do you know what to do for it. It's not too bad, but maked my fingernails look like I've been gardening.

Thanks so much to everyone here for helping me get through this chemo. I should be totally done by Dec 6 and onto rads, so not too far to go now - yippee!!

Blessings to all and have a great weekend!!! ~Beans

SoCalLisa

Hi Candie...when are you coming out this way again?

SoCalLisa

Beans, No that must be one side effect I missed...maybe someone else had it..

Beanius

Thanks SoCalLisa!!!

DesignerMom

Beanius-  I do remember my nails starting to look a little purple (where the moon is by cuticle).  I also noticed they were very dry and had ridges.  Having said that, it did NOT get worse, so don't panic.  I swore by a product by Revlon called "Post Trauma Nail Treatment", about $7.  It is the palest transparent pink and not very shiney.  It just makes your nails look like they were buffed.  I continue to use it even now after chemo.  You're getting there girlfriend!!  On the homestretch now!

raincitygirl

Since I am only on my first round, I don't have the SE BUT, in the binder given me by my onc, it mentions a darkening of skin and nails along with the possibility of ridges, one ridge for each treatment was mentioned......you are so close to done, hopefully you won't have to deal with it for too long...

Beanius

DesignerMom, jodimaca - thanks for the information!!! It's really not too noticeable and it doesn't hurt or anything...this disease has made me a hypochondriac!!! I will try the Revlon product and thanks so much for the tip. I'm hangin in with only 2 more days of cytoxan pills to finish cycle 4 - yippee! Then 2 week off (and only 2 cycles to go) - yippee!! This is overall very doable so far, so no worries.

To All - Have a blessed Sunday and Fantastic next week!!

DesignerMom

jodimaca-  About those darn SE handouts they are required to give us.  My lovely chemo nurse gave me the best advice.  She said " I wouldn't bother reading them UNLESS you feel something weird, then maybe look it up.  Most of this stuff never happens".  I didn't read them and guess what?  I didn't have hardly ANY SE.  I think I would have been more scared if I had, sort of waiting for the shoe to drop....even though it never would.

ritajean

Beanius....I didn't have any nail problems either but we are all different and we all react differently to this darn stuff.  I think we all do become a bit of a hypochondriac after this diagnosis.  At times I think I'm getting better about it and then when those check-ups roll around, I'm not so sure that I've beaten the hypochondriac battle!  Hugs to you!  You're getting through these treatments!

Beanius

DesignerChic (tee hee) and ritajean - Thank you so much for your help! I finished #4 of 6 and I'm doing well in all. The nail thing is really minor, I just like to complain!!

Hugs to ALLLLLLL!!!!

ritajean

Just bumping up our thread so it's easier to find!  I hope everyone enjoyed this weekend!

Beanius

Good idea! Bump!

Beanius

P.S. The nail issue...I don't know if it's because I'm inbetween cycles or what, but my nails are totally back to normal...??? who knows, will see when I get to start cycle 5, oh boy, looking so forward to that :-)

ritajean

I remember that dreaded feeling about the next treatment!  Just when you're really feeling back to your ol' self, it's time to have another treatment....BUT...... this next treatment gets you one treatment closer to being done!  You're getting there! 

Beanius

ritajean- You know so well!!!! Thanks so much for the encouragement!!!

 

ritajean

Beanius.........Love that bc bear!

I hope everyone is doing well.  It's been quiet on here the last few weeks.  Hopefully that means that everyone is enjoying the Fall weather!

Hugs to all of you.

Rita

Beanius

rita, I found the bear on photobucket - typed in "pink ribbon." Today I'm going to meet with my rad onc for the 2nd time to get plans worked out. Then next Tues. I start cycle #5. My hair has thinned some, but not noticably to stangers. My eyebrows and lashes are really thin, but make-up covers that. I have lost nose hairs too, no big deal. In all I'm doing well and still get my regular exercise in and do all my normal routine. (Just a bit spacier in the head and wobblier :-) Anyway, in all it's doable and I'm doing it.

Hugs to you all too!!!

eileen1955

I did 6 cycles of CMF in 2003-4.

Just letting you know that I am alive and kicking for my 7 yr anniversary next week.    eileen

DesignerMom

eileen-Thanks for the GREAT news of your healthy anniversary.  For all of us CMF relative newbies it is wonderful to hear. 

beanius- Girl, you're headed for that finish line now!  I just had my rads #3 yesterday, only 30 more to go!  Other than ridiculous scheduling delays, so far, so good.  I am about 4 weeks after my last chemo and I think my hair shedding is slowing down.  I'm not finding quite as much hair in the bath drain.  I switched my hair part as I saw too much thinning (right around my widows peak).  I don't think anyone notices but me.  

I went to a party last week where most of my friends know that I am in treatment.  Of course we all hear the "you look so great" comments and those are lovely.  The comment I liked best was " in that whole room of people, YOU would be the LAST person that I would think was in cancer treatment"!  I don't know if that is because I look okay, or everyone else looks so bad, but I'll take it!

Thanks to all you CMF veterans who have helped and encouraged me along the way!