cmf chemo

Patty252555140415

Hi, is there anyone here that has recently gone through cmf chemo? Just wondering about the side effects, and how long after the treatment do you start to feel the effects. I realize each person is different. But just wondering. Thanks Patty

Ruthii

Patty, I'll second the question.  I was searching the board for "CMF Question" at someone else's suggestion and found your question.  I just got my Oncotype DX report yesterday and will be doing CMF/X4 starting mid-May.  BS says it really isn't so bad but I will lose my hair--but it will grow back, maybe either more or less straight, maybe with a slight color change.  He said I should expect only 1-2 unpleasant days starting a couple of days after each treatment (every 3 weeks for 12 weeks total).

There's another thread for gals starting chemo in May 2011, so I left a post in there--you might want to check that out.

golfergrandma

Hi Patti and Ruthii - I began CMF in February and have had 4 tx.  Will have my 5th next Wednesday.  It has been very manageable; dizzy and tired for a few days after, but feel pretty normal after that until next time.  Also, keep constipation under control. Unfortunately, have lost lots of hair and just began wearing my wig.  Up 'til now, have been wearing cute hats and have enough hair left to hang under.  Some people have lost very little hair while on CMF, so everyone is different.  Had really bad SE's from my neulasta shot (severe bone/back pain), but understand that Claritin helps greatly.  All in all, I think CMF is not too bad.  Good luck. 

I usually post under CMF Question.  Those gals are great!  It would be nice to have you join that group, because most of them are finished with their tx.

Patty252555140415

Hi, had my first treatment yestsrday. Took ativan before bed. Started to feel queesy this morning. Took a compazine. Its been almost an hour queesyness is not going away. I felt fine after treatment. Did you have any other meds to take at home? I got a headChe from the cmf.. also a slight eat ache. Any tips would be appriciated. Thank you, pattypat

golfergrandma

Patty  - Have had no nausea at all.  Was given emend capsules for 3 days which solved any nausea problems.  No headache or earache. 

Patty252555140415

Thanks golfergram, i will have eight tx total. Every three weeks. HaD first tx thursday feeling a lil better today. I wonder if i will see a lot of hair loss? If so its summer hope all is well. Have a good we. Patttypat

ritajean

Hi Patti and Ruthii.....

I think that you will find that CMF chemo is very doable.  Please come over and join us on the CMF Questions thread.  It's found under Help Me Get Through Treatments.  There is always somebody there who can answer your questions.

I always found that lemon drops helped me with the nausea.  Also, I took the Compazine and learned a little trick after my first chemo.  It is much easier to ward off the nausea with the compazine than to get rid of it once it starts.  I learned to take a compazine very shortly after my chemo treatment and continue to take them as directed for about three days.  Poof!  Nausea never appeared.  I did not have the headache or ear ache after the treatment so it might be a good idea to tell the chemo nurse about it when you go back next time. Perhaps they just administered the drip a little too fast.

Hope to see both of you on the Chemo Question thread.  We'd love to have you join us.

Rita

golfergrandma

Patti and Ruthii - Like Ritajean, I hope you will join us on CMF Question. 

Had my tx and neulasta shot last week, and the shot just has awful se's for me.  It's much worse than the tx!  My GI tract is messed up and have backache so I can't stoop over.  Hope you won't need the shot.  I need it because my WC doesn't recover enough before the next treatment.  So right now I'm pretty miserable.  Hope today is better.

epgnyc

I did CMF a few years back.  I had a total of 8 treatments, once every three weeks (it took 6 mos.)  I've often heard CMF referred to rather disparangingly as Chemo Lite but I didn't find it to be so.  I had a lot of nausea that wasn't controlled for 9 weeks.  I was taking Zofran, Decadron, and Ativan, although it was the addition of Attivan that did the trick for me.  I lost 25 lbs. over the course of the 6 mos., which was both a good and a bad thing.  I had wicked constipation, which was really tough to control so be careful with that. I lost half my hair and wore a wig throughout.  I had lots of fatigue and my advice is -- only do as much as you can.  You really need to be good to yourself!  One foot in front of the other, and you'll get through it.  Meanwhile, I have just been diagnosed for a 2nd time and this go-round I'm on dose dense ACT, a much tougher regimen.  I just had my 1st treatment 2 weeks ago and at this point I'm thinking back rather fondly to my CMB days.  Good luck to you.