CMF Question

Mandy and ritajean, thanks so much for your replies.  It's good to know I'm "on schedule" at least. ;-)

BonnieBee, I definitely got more tired toward the end.  Treatments 1-3 were a breeze but 4-6, I really noticed the fatigue.   

I had my third of eight CMF treatments on Wed. and had my second Neulasta shot yesterday. The first shot brought my numbers up nicely and therefore my MO thought it would be in my best interest to continue with them for the rest of my treatments, with the exception of the last one.  The disturbing information I got this week was that my liver enzymes are suddenly elevated.  I had them checked prior to starting chemo and they were all within normal range.  Now my ALT, AST and ALP are all elevated.  My MO has scheduled me to be re-tested 2 days prior to my next scheduled chemo treatment.  I really hope this is totally due to chemo and/or the Neulasta in my system and nothing worse.  It seems to make sense given my normal numbers prior to start. I also hope this doesn't delay the treatments - just want to keep things moving along.  Thoughts from anyone?

My liver enzymes were checked just routinely at this point.  You may want to ask your MO next time.  Congrats on finishing treatment #5 - you are on the slippery slope to being finished with the chemo part!  I look forward to saying that! I felt like tx. #3 this time was very anti-climatic. Next time I can at least say I am halfway done. Hang in there : )

MaryNY:  I appreciate your input.  Your numbers are similar to mine.  My husband and I were away on vacation the week before this past treatment and blood test.  I am wondering if the wine with dinners took its toll on my liver along with the chemo?  I think I know the answer.  No vino or Tylenol until the next blood test and hopefully my numbers will go back down.   

Ritajean, thanks for asking.  I'm doing okay but of course, can't help but be worried.  Praying.....

So how are you gals in treatment doing?  I hope the inactivity on this thread means that everyone is doing well and enjoying the spring weather!  I also wish each of you a wonderful Mother's Day!  Who has special plans for the day?  We are just going over to Peoria for the buffet at the Riverboat.  My son and his family won't be back this year because we're heading south to their house next week and then on to Disney for our first extended family vacation.  If it's at all possible, get out and enjoy this lovely day and soak up some vitamin D3 from that sunshine!

Well, I say watch your liver carefully...methotrexate is very toxic to the liver.mine was. Fried..it will never get better..just a word of caution from one who knows

My liver enzymes  were "normal" but my liver hurt and I could feel the edge of it...they only discovered how badly

damaged it was when they took out my gall bladder and did a biopsy. I had my surgeon do a looksee when she did the lap so she did and saw it was bad so did a biopsy

Oh, Lisa, at that point, there wasn't anything you could do either.  That's terrible.  I'm glad you alert others to this possibility.

Jeannie, I did the infusions but several gals on here have done the pills and had very few side effects.  Hopefully a few of them will pop on and give you some more input.  Do you feel more settled now that you have a plan in place?  I thought that the decision-making process was almost as hard as the treatment.  Once I had my plan in place I at least felt like I was starting to attack the demon.  It does appear that they are hitting you with lots of different things.  Do you mind if I ask your age?  Sometimes the oncs suggest more aggressive treatments for the younger gals. Hugs to you! 

I did have the daily rads and I got along just fine with them.  I found them much easier than the chemo.

Hi- looking for some input. I have been researching the different chemo's and all of them scare me, but I need to make a decision. I have read that cmf is not so harsh on your heart. My grandmother died from heart disease so it is a concern for me. I had an lx and 4 positive nodes and an oncotye was done and I got a score of 6. I didn't get clean margins so 4 and a half weeks ago I had a bmx. I had 14 more positive nodes. I have seen 2 oncologists and both are saying chemo. AC followed by TC seems to be the standard. Is cmf just as effective. I am ER and PR positive and her2 negative. My largest tumor was 1.5 cm with a lot of microscopic lobular. I have had all of the CT scans, PET scans, etc.... and nothing found. I was leaning towards the cmf, but I don't see any stage III ladies on this thread. I am 51 and not sure if age is a factor. Did most of you decide on your own to do cmf or was it the doctors choice?

Hi, Diana,

My MO suggested CMF because it is "Chemo-lite" and I am in the gray area as far as chemotherapy goes. I am getting it every week for 24 weeks, with rads in between, because the weekly treatments mean fewer side effects.  As far as getting a port, I am getting one in a few hours!  I will be getting too many blood tests and treatments to constantly poke a vein.  Rarely, as in the case of my internist when he was fighting cancer, the chemo can leak into your arm and cause damage.  But that is a rare case.  Good luck with your decisions!  I have decided to fight this hard -- throw it at me.  I think there is a thread for Stage III sisters, don't know how current it is.  I wish you peace and health.  Hugs. 

Hi Dianarose.  CMF chemo is supposedly easier on the heart but I really think it is used mainly for early stage cancer.  I imagine your oncs are going with the AC and TC because of your lymph node involvement.  I am certainly not an authority on this, so if I were you, I'd research it more thoroughly, especiallly since both oncs agreed on the prescribed treatment.  I did not make the decision to do CMF by myself.  My oncologist suggested it.  Although my tumor was small and did not involve any lymph node involvement, it was a grade 3 which is highly aggressive.  Thus the chemo decision instead of just radiation.  Many gals who go with the CMF infusion treatment do not get a port, but that too is an individual issue.

I wish you well with your decision-making process and the following treatment.  Once you have made your decision, just go with it and don't even look back.  You can do it!

Please let us know what you decide.

Diana, I had the option of getting CMF every 2 weeks but I wanted fewer side effects so chose weekly. MO thinks it's effective for me.

Jeannie, I'll be praying for you today as you get your port and the other tests done.

Hugs,

Deborah 

Thanks, Deborah. I'm in recovery. I'll be sore, that's for sure. And, as always, pain meds are an issue. But I'm not nauseous. The bigger incision closed so nicely by itself that they only put "glue" on the outside (stitches inside) as well as "glue" on the small neck incision. I was awake for almost the entire time and remember it all so far, despite the Versed. It really wasn't that uncomfortable. Only now do I feel it. I will have to be extra brave to get my next fills tomorrow. Cancelling the appt. messes up a lot of other things.