Am I receiving too much CMF?

TooManyCocktails

Hello, I had complications with FEC (developed congestive heart failure); and I had complications with Taxotere and Cytoxan regimen (My throat swelled, and my skin broke out, and I had palmoplantar (sp?) erythema.  Now, I have been started on CMF.  I am to take treatments every week for six months.  Has anyone else ever received this regimen?  Also, I had 41 positive lymph nodes. . .the questionaire statement didn't go higher than 40.  My primary mass was axillary and I had microscopic foci in all quadrants of my left breast.  I chose to have a double mastectomy with lymph node dissection on the left.  I have two sisters that have/had breast cancer.  One sister just died in February.

Thanks for reading this.

chrissyb

Hi Toomanycocktails, sorry you need to join us but glad you found this sight.  With the amount of node involvement, I think your onc wants to hit the cancer with everything in his arsenal to give you the best possible outcome.  I know it seems like an awful lot and it's a very hard road that you are travelling at the moment but believe me when I say, it will get better.

Come here anytime as there will always be someone to talk to.

Peace, strength, love n hugs.  Chrissyb

dogeyed

Dear Cocktails,  If you are referring to the LENGTH of time you're going to have to be on chemo, I can respond to that.  I have been on chemo for three months and got two more to go, so I believe the length of time you are to put up with this sounds about right, since I am sharing this time with some girls in one of these forums..  I found five months hard to believe in the beginning and wanted to quit six weeks in, but was convinced to keep at it.  I've done four AC treatments, two weeks apart (really made me sick), and now Taxol every week for twelve weeks, having finished three.  I got to where I trusted my doc and I just plain decided that I was going to be a sick person for all spring, summer, and part of fall.  I started to think about stuff I could do when treatment was over, and it helped in the beginning, and now I am just plain used to it.  A relative had to be on chemo for a whole year for a diff kind of cancer, in and out of hospital, etc.  But if you were NOT talking about how LONG it's taking, but rather the type of chemo, I just don't know about your stuff, but this website does have info on a lot of the chemos that are used, in the menu across the very top of this page.  GG 

ritajean

Toomanycocktails..................

I did the CMF chemo.  I had 6 infusions, 3 weeks apart.  That made it just about 6 months of treatments. Usually 6 CMF chemo treatments are considered equivalent to 4 of many other types.

There is a thread that has been started for gals facing CMF treatments.  We'd love to have you join us.  There is usually somebody there who can answer your questions.  Go to the forum Help Me Get Through Treatments and look for the thread CMF Question.   There is lots of support on this thread.

Hope to see you there,

Rita

TooManyCocktails

Thanks to everyone for responding.  I guess, what I'm asking is has anyone else been put on weekly CMF for six months (which makes that 24 doses of CMF)?

I'm going to look for the thread that ritajean spoke of and repost the question there.

dogeyed

Cocktails, I DO know that the Taxol I'm on now, some people get double dose of it and wait a couple weeks or so, then another double dose, whereas I take it once a week for a really long time, and in some literature, it said depending on what BC you got, once a week over a longer period of time seems to do better for some, so THAT is probably what is going on with you, but I imagine over at the CMF thread you'll get more info on it.  GG

TooManyCocktails

Hello dogeyed, my sisters had no problems with their chemo regimens.  They were both able to continue working while receiving chemo.  The sister that died (she had recurrence of BC with mets) said that Taxotere was a breeze. She was treated with Gemzar for her recurrence and she said that it was horrible. 

I don't know why I am having so many complications from the chemotherapy.

Thanks

Take care

dreaming

I had the CFM slow drip chemo, I would get it on Fridays at home and the following Friday I would get a booster,I had terrible blisters in my mouth and throat, but my doctor would order a mix that was made at the pharmacy and it was fantastic.

Yes had 6 months of this treatment, I did not want  a pump, I wanted the slow drip, I had a lot of nausea and vomiting.

Chemo is giving based on weight. If the loss of cells is great, usually they postponed a treatment till one recuperates I was lucky my treatments were not delayed or stropped; I am glad I did chemo.