CMF Question

cmz - Thanks so so so much for the encouraging words!!!!! I'm scheduled for Tues and today I'm starting to really think it's going to happen and I'm scared and depressed. I had seen a different oncologist who had prescribed TC and it got put off and put off, then I went for a second opinion and really really really felt great about going with her instead. She's helped me by spending a lot of time thinking about my case, getting the oncotype dx test, looking at all my tumor characteristics which have very high %ages of Er & Pr receptors, now with low oncotype score she says I'll do real well on the CMF. Even so I'm scared so your words are very helpful.

Happy 4th of July to all!

Beanius: If you didn't find the Nioxin yet, you won't often find it in a drugstore, but you might find it a store that specializes in hair supplies. There is a chain called Belezza Salon, which is found in a lot of shopping malls and they usually carry the full range of Nioxin. You will also find it in some hair salons.  

Just curious, what was your Oncotype score?

Hope everyone is enjoying the 4th. It's horrendously hot here and expected to be 90+ all week. 

Mom2acat: wishing you good scans.

Beanius:  The nioxin is available through Amazon. If you go to www.amazon.com and plug in the word "nioxin", you will find numerous sources for the shampoo and conditioner.  That is how I bought mine. 

Hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th. 

Cyber hugs,

Mandy

Beanius-I would take all your prescriptions with you and take notes.  I was not thinking too clearly at my appointment and would certainly have doubted any instructions my Onc gave me.  Having said that, my Onc gave me Kytril for nausea as a pre med at the time of my infusion.  I take Zofran for the two days following chemo.  It won't hurt for you to have everything in the car for your trip home.  I would not skip the meds the day or two after chemo, even if you feel okay, they keep the nausea knocked down.  You will probably feel pretty okay right after treatment (especially if you get a few steroids in the infusion). You might even sleep.  Make sure you eat your prunes or prune juice tonight.  I kid you not!  I NEVER had a problem with constipation, but Zofran is notorious for holocaustic constipation.  Hydrate a lot.  It will be easier finding your veins.  You are going to be FINE.  You will be in my prayers!

Hi Beanius, Been thinking about you today.  Hope everything went fine.  I'm still doing pretty well; just a minor sore on my tongue.  Sleeping & eating okay.  You'll be okay too.

Best,

CMZ

Beanius......I think you will be fine if you just take your first compazine when you get home from the treatment and then take it as directed.....whether you think you need it or not for three to four days.  That seemed to ward off the nausea for me and for most of the others who did the same.  It's just important not to let the nausea get a good head start.

Hugs to you.............

Rita

I don't know yet when the bone scan will be, what I meant was the doctor's office would call the hospital to get it scheduled. They couldnt' call yesterday,  because that office in the hospital was closed by that time; they close at 4pm and it was almost 5pm when my doctor decided he wanted the bone scan done. It's almost 4:30pm and I haven't recieved a call yet.

 I hope they call tomorrow morning; I need a couple of things from the store but I can't leave before they call and take a chance of missing the call, since I do not have an answering machine. I actually wanted to do my shopping today, but I've stayed home waiting for that call.

My bone scan is scheduled for Monday.

mom2acat.......I'll be thinking about you tomorrow and hoping beyond hope that the results will be good!  Hugs to you!

Rita

DesignerMom: "I think everyone working with chemo patients should be required to trade places with us for just one day!" Amen to that!!!!!!!! I couldn't agree more.

Hope everyone is doing well. I am more of  a reader than a blogger, but I thought I would share  my day.

I am officially half way through my treatments as of today. I have a sense of relief that I may actually get through this. I had a very rough week last week after my treatment. I ended up having to go in 4 days later for IV fluids and meds. I caught a stomach bug somehow, which very much surprised me as I am so cautious with hand washing and keeping the "cooties" under control I was pretty wiped out for that whole week, but am feeling much better and very thankful for that. I have never appreciated feeling "good" as I do now, especially after last week. I can't wait until I'm finished with CMF to see how really feel again. I will think that I am super woman!

Today, my best friend accompanied me to my treatment. After, to celebrate my half way mark, we had lunch and then went shopping. What a turn-around from last week!  She said I wore her out

I hope everyone is getting through their treatments with minimal SE.

Take care Ladies

YEA!   That's such good news!  You're holding your own, mom2acat!  Wonderful!

poohbear..........congrats on begin half-way done!  You're on the down hill slide now!  Yippee!!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying summer.  It's hard to believe that it's half over, too!

Rita

mom2acat:  Good news!  Thanks for letting us know.  I've been thinking about you. 

DesignerMom:  Seems to me I've seen some posts saying it's good to use nail polish.  I also bought some hair, skin & nails capsules at Whole Foods and I've been taking those.  I'm a little behind you; number 2 is a week from tomorrow.  After the first tx, I cycled through the full range of stomach problems all in one day but was okay the next day.  I developed a sore on my tongue so I'm using the Biotene mouthwash & toothpaste and it went away.  Glad things are going okay for you otherwise. 

Hope everyone else is doing fine.

Best,

cmz

Miralax works pretty well for me too, but if I really need something that works a little "faster", good old Milk of Magnesia does the trick.

DesignerMom: I was really bugged by constipation all the way through chemo too. I'm sorry I can't provide any foolproof remedies but just want to say that I can empathize with you. The nurses repeatedly told me that the best thing was prevention, but I never got it down to a fine art. If you are able to eat, try to bulk up with as much high-fiber food as you can and drink as much water as you can manage. If you find plain water hard to drink, try sparkling water or seltzer. I know prunes can really help, but during chemo, I just found those too sickly sweet to eat. Pears are very high in fiber too and I think there are plenty in the stores now. I used to cut a pear in half, scoop out the center and fill the well with cranberries/raisins, chopped walnuts, little sprinkle of brown sugar and dot of butter. Then I would microwave it for a minute or two. Makes a nice dessert.

Has anyone had a problem with leg cramps while on CMF? I have been having them about once a week or every two weeks, early in the morning, before I get out of bed. I've never really had them happen that often until I was about a month into the CMF. And if it's not the CMF causing them, I'm wondering if it's the Neulasta injection I get after each chemo.

 DM; another source of fiber that works for me to "get things moving" is popcorn. I stick to the 100 calorie bags though so I don't eat too much. I find that that size bag is just enough for me.