CMF Question

golfergrandma,

Hi.  I didn't get CMF, but I am an honorary member.  I thought I was going to get it, but my onc. vetoed the idea.   Rita took me under her wing, so I still come back here from time to time.

I just wanted to let you know that I did research, and I think during your chemo, you may not want to color your hair, but six months after your last tx, you are GOOD TO GO!  This is what I read, from my research.  I asked my onc. at one of my follow up appts. if it was ok to color my hair, and told him that I read I should wait six months.  He said:  Hasn't it been SIX months?  

So that was my signal to go ahead and color my hair!  I did, and have never looked back!

It has been over 3 years since I finished chemo, so it seems to be all ok.

Good luck!

Harley

ritajean - one of the ladies told me you colored your hair during chemo.  How did that work? 

Hey everyone,

I'm back from my 2nd appt today with my new onc and I've decided to go ahead with her recommendation to do the Taxotere-Cytoxan x 4.  First tx will be Tues the15th.   She has really listened to my concerns, explained stuff,  and taken a lot of time to make me feel like I'm not just another number.  She also didn't dismiss CMF but felt the 4 cycles of TC would be comparable to the 6 of CMF and I'd be finished sooner.  The amount of C each time is the same, so its just trading the T for the MF. (and the hair...probably going to be the hardest part for me)    I'm willing to give it a try and hope for the best as far as the SE's go. 

I just want to say--- You have all been so supportive and have truly helped me get to this point so that I'm able to make this choice and go forward feeling I'm doing something instead of just stressing about what ifs, what to do and when. 

I know I'm going to be doing a different chemo, but I'm in for the rads too so I' d like to be able to check in here with you all for more of your sage advice in the upcoming weeks!   

Hugs,  Lee

I colored my hair all the way through the treatments with no problems.  I did not lose much hair.  I think it thinned a little but only my beautician and I noticed it.  Usually I noticed a little loss in the shower when I washed it but it wasn't much more than I usually have.  I think Mandy gave you good advice.  Perhaps you might want to look for a style of wig that you like but not buy it yet.  I know only a few women who have worn a wig during or after CMF.  I also purchased and used the Nioxin hair products (shampoo and conditioner) while doing the treatments.  I think that helped my hair quite a bit.  They are a little cashy but they last a long time.

Yes, there is a cumulative affect to the treatments.  Most feel much more fatigued toward the end of their journey, but a few have breezed through with not problems at all.  Everyone is different and I think the important thing is to figure out what you have to do, eat, take, etc. for you to handle the treatments.  There are so many different products that can be prescribed for side effects if they happen so there's no reason to suffer.

All in all........it's really quite doable.............just something we'd prefer not to do and prefer never to repeat!

Hi lee - I was interested to read your post and glad you sound good about your treatment plan. TC x 4 and TC x 6 were two of the plans I had discussed with my doctors before CMF was offered, so I was all prepared to lose my hair. I wouldn't worry about the hair part of it because it does grow back and the main thing is to wipe out any cancer cells that might be there. I was never too sure about whether I'd lose my hair or not, so I got several wigs, hats, etc lined up for just in case. One day I wore one of my wigs over to my neighbor's house and they didn't even notice! Then when I pointed it out we all laughed. Come to find out, my neighbor's hair thinned naturally with age and she had a whole closet full of wigs... it was so fun to watch her pull them all out and show them off, so many styles and colors. I wish you the very best!

Golfergrandma.....So did you buy a wig?????

Lee7;

I just noticed in your last post you did decide on TC x 4. When is your start date? Maybe I'll see you over on the "Feb Chemo Start" thread! Good luck! 

Everyone, thanks for the well wishes!  I have to look at the Feb 2011 chemo thread. I'll be starting Feb 16th. (I have to be there 7am....bright and early)  With TC you have to take premedicate with steroids the day before so I doubt I'll be getting much sleep That night. 

Thanks DesignerMom, that was a good thread-  I saw the thread 'Taxotere is a nightmare' thread too and hope I haven't scared myself too much reading those SE's.  I'm trying to keep telling myself that everyone is different and I'm likely to do OK rather than get every single SE possible.

MaryNY, I didn't know they would do TC as a dose dense. My onc does do the AC as dose dense, and thats her 1st choice but I said no to that one upfront because of my nervousness about heart damage possibility for me.  I think I finally leaned toward the TC because with 4 txs it will be finished sooner and then I will have to do the rads. I've already taken a long time deciding and though I don't believe its hurt my chances of doing well, the stress associated with putting off the decision was definately getting to me.

Beanius, that's the thing with TC, I'm most likely losing all my hair.  I've got my first wig so it almost matches my current hair (which is just past my shoulders). I didn't realize till I wore it around for a few hours how heavy it feels though. I think I'm going to see about getting it trimmed shorter or maybe even getting one of those hats with bangs attached. 

Ritajean ...wow, you even could color your hair during tx.  I think its great because it goes to show that not everyone has the same SE's and you were able to keep most of yours.

So golfergrandma...I'd wait to see first how your hair goes before giving up on it. You may keep it all too!

M1nn1e, See you over in the FEB chemo thread!

Lee

Lee and Minnie...........Good luck with your TC treatments.  Be sure to come back often and keep in touch with us here as we'll be waiting to hear how it goes for you!  Hugs to both of you!

My Florida vacation is winding down.  This is the last week and I leave for home on Saturday.  The sun has done wonders for my attitude and spirits and the heat from it has helped with the sore joints.  It's been a nice get-a-way from the Illinois winter wonderland, but it will be nice to get back home and into a regular schedule again.

I hope everyone is having a nice day.  We're off in about an hour to golf.

Rita

DesignerMom....I sure hope the warmer temps trail back with us this weekend.  Today was gorgeous here.  We played golf with a couple from New York.  They were really nice people and we had a very enjoyable round with them. 

You are overdue for some decent weather there!  If it arrives this weekend, be sure to get out and enjoy it!

golfergrandma...........Wow!  Your Friday golf game should be nice with those temps!

I did have to have the neulasta shots toward the end.  I got them the day after I had a treatment to build up my counts.  I had worried and worried about them because I'd heard such horrible things about them, but I had no problems at all with them......and they perked me up quite a bit very quickly.   

Enjoy your golf game!

Lee and Minnie, wishing both of you the very best on your treatments.  Please come back and let us know how you're doing.....until then you'll both be in my prayers.  Good luck !

Rita, happy to hear that you had so much fun on your trip.  We're actually thinking about buying a home in FL for retirement but can't agree on a location. 

Hey Beans, you're not being silly!  I have my  bloodwork done next week and my check with the onc the first week in March and I'm already getting nervous.  It's really funny.  For a long time I wondered if I'd ever get to the point where I didn't think and worry about breast cancer every day.  It took me a long time to get to that point, but I do still worry when the check-ups roll around.  It's like a cloud that just hangs over you and I never take the check-ups lightly.  I am interested in hearing about the book that you ordered.  Let us know if it helps with the post anxiety, which is so real for almost all of us  Congrats on the one year cancerversary!  Don't just disappear now that you're through with everything.  We need to hear from you every so often, Beans!  :-)

Golfergrandma....I'm a little farther downstate from the Chicago area......in the east central area.  I think it will be some time before we get to golf in Illinois but Dave and I are going to Biloxi the second week in March for a golfing/casino get-away with some very dear friends.  We have always talked about doing this and never managed to get it done.  Then I got my bc problems and last year my friend's husband had a brain anuerism (I don't think I spelled that correctly) and nearly died so we decided that we were just going to do it while we were still able to go.  So, I'll be home a couple a weeks and then leave again for a week.  I'm really getting spoiled this winter.  We leave for home on Saturday and have spent 3 wonderful weeks here in the sunshine.

Cabmom........there are lots of good home deals in FL right now and lots of foreclosures all over the state.  I think it would be the perfect place to retire!

I hope everyone is having a good week and enjoying the heat wave that's moving across the country!  Hugs to all of you!

Rita

DMom...........Yep, it sounds like you need a different onc.  Your oncologist should be willing to work with you and monitor you, regardless of the treatment (or lack of treatment) that you select.  I'm glad you're getting an evaluation for the lymphedema.  That's something that needs to be addressed as soon as possible before it runs rampant.  Do keep us informed!