I am about to start the first of four courses of cmf.
is this as bad as the adriamycin + cyclophosphamide (ac) as I have felt rougher with each dose. i do not help myself as my fear of needles is getting worse as last time
I fainted and puked even before they started the treatment.
how am I going to get through this c**p
Hi Ladies
I started my first cycle of CMF last Wednesday with second dose this week. After struggling with epirubicin and ‘doing my homework’ I was preparing myself for an easier time with CMF. My tummy feels red raw (almost like I have cut glass in there) although the nausea has eased. I really do not feel that I will cope with my second dose of cycle one this week. Could it be an overlap with the epi which I finished 4 weeks ago?
Some reassurance needed please… Thank you!
I have just had my 2nd dose of cmf for the first cycle. I too thought i wouldn’t make it today, but felt surprisingly ok. After the Epi it does seem easier, although the constipation is back with a vengence!! The only side effect i have had this time is one day of complete tiredness when i spent virtually 24 hours sleeping and 2 days of sweating, the oncologist asked me if it was early menopause and at 42 i said “you tell me!” having never had it before, he said probably it was and to avoid caffeine and chocolate which apparently helps. I now have 3 weeks off which is great as i only got 2 off between the Epi. I will let you know how i am feeling in a few days following the 2nd dose.
Thank you Gaynor. With one day to go to my second dose that has given me some reassurance. I keep saying I have had enough and no more! Then I say to myself, just this next one and if you want to give up, then you can. I know I won’t though. After I’m over the side effects of each treatment, something seems to kick in to help me forget how rough I have felt!
xxx
I have been on E-CMF since May and am due to have my final day 1 CMF next weds and hope to finish on Weds 10th (bloods permitting!). Although I didn’t really have any problems with the Epi I have found the CMF to be much ‘easier’ and more tolerable.
Initially I was apprehensive, particularly worrying how I would ‘cope’ with 2 doses in a week but I have really found it to be absolutely fine. I have had virtually no nausea, and very little tiredness. The only problem I have had with the CMF was an upset tummy and diarrhoea, but I’ve even conquered that now!! My chemo centre always give me some ‘Loperamide’ tabs which I can take if I get diarrhoea. The first couple of CMF sessions I got through loads of these tabs as I suffered quite badly, however I have adjusted my diet slightly and have had no problems since. I always start the day with a high fibre cereal and a homemade fruit smoothie, however I don’t do this on the first few days after CMF now. I just have a normal brekkie and very little fruit. This has really helped and I never have tummy troubles now. Hurrah!!
The CMF is really quite good, they can use a million veins for it so the same ones don’t keep getting ‘hammered’ every time. You wouldn’t believe the places they can put cannulas!!! Sickness and nausea should hopefully not be a problem at all for you and you should find that you are able to bounce back from each session v.quickly. The 3 week break is awesome, particularly for those of us that had accelerated Epi!!
Hi Kelly
Thank you for your support. I have read a lot of discussions and you give great advice. I can’t yet imagine what it feels like to be approaching the last cycle but I’m feeling it will be fantastically emotional. Please continue with your advice and support once your treatment is over.
thank you very much for your lovely comments, I’m just glad I can be of help. I will certainly still be giving support to those of you that are going through chemo after I finish next month as I know what a godsend other peoples advice to me was when I was a chemo newbie.
I reckon I’ll be a blubbering wreck as I start my final CMF cycle next weds!! I’ve already warned my boyfriend and the staff on the unit!!
Take care and I wish you well as you continue this journey,
hi everyone,
hope ye are doing ok…
i had my first cmf last week or should i say cf plus hercerptin as they cant give ne the m due to a liver problem i have onc said he doesnt want to be running into problems so this is the only kinda chemo i can have i hope it bloody works…
i have ben feelingok no worse than normal apart from thr tiredness and o did have nausea first 24hrs but that settled down thanks to the anti sickess…
my head felt realy sore and accross the back of my shoulders like stifness but that has passed to they said this is the easiest type of chemo to get( easy no they not the ones getting it) day 10 tomor so gotta get bloods done im also on antibitic for bit of flue i have…
carly i hope youl be ok and we will get true this together 7 more to go, we will be like princess in no length with only one to go…and at least its only every 3 weeks
i have port a cath in as i have just no veins and they were even trying to get blood from my feet at one stage so at least i dont have the worry of being prodded evry time one bit of a bonus…
had first dose of cmf yesterday, was a right drama queen in clinic as i puked up, cried and tried to walk out even before they got the needle in.First chemo nurse even gave up trying and passed me onto her colleague, do you think they will all leg it when i return in 8 days (don’t know if i will) my name must be mud in that place.
Today i feel fine just a bit tired, is this just the honeymoon period, see how i am in the next few day although from your comments most of you on cmf do seem to find it a bit easier than the first course of chemo.
at least you are 1 down now! I was a total mess on my first CMF and I don’t blame you for being a drama queen. I cried buckets and made a right show of myself!! All was forgotten when I went back for my day 8 and I’m sure you’ll be the same. The staff did not even mention my hissy fit, bless 'em!
I’m so glad you feel fine today, hopefully this is not the honeymoon period and you will continue to feel ok. CMF is much easier, I promise!
Hi Ladies
I did it! Got through my second treatment of cycle 1!!!
Woke up this morning feeling reasonably ok. Then though, ‘heck, its chemo day’. On the way to the hospital I felt quite sick, so have come to realise that some of my side-effects are psychological! My lovely man is a psychi nurse and he says even if it’s in my head, it doesn’t mean it isn’t really happening (wot?!!).
Felt like I’d had one too many babychams whilst the nurse gave me the cocktail but it passed very quickly and this evening I feel calm and very much in control.
Karen - I have wanted to cry at all my chemo sessions. And I don’t do quiet crying! So I have to think of something funny to stop me and laugh instead. I think there is a fine line between crying and laughing at the moment. I tend to laugh when I’m nervous and cry when I’m happy!!
Breda - What a great christmas present we will have finishing chemo the week before! and yet at the same time the worse christmas present that we have had to go through all this
On behalf of Breda and myself I would just like to remind everyone that there are only 13 weeks to christmas!!!
good on 'ya for getting through the first cycle of CMF, only 3 to go now! I start my final cycle next weds and honestly can not believe where the time has gone. I know that ‘babycham’ feeling only too well, its the cyclophosphamide that causes it. I just lie back now and suck on my Calipo!
Take care and enjoy your 3 weeks off! May your side effects be minimal,
hi girls how ye all doing??
had bit of crap day today i literally slept all day and when i woke up i was soaked in sweat is this normal???
13 weeks to christmas yahoo, iv to get 7 more every 3 weeks next due 11th of oct so i think il be on it bit longer…
but girls i booked myself a little brake to prague for march think il be finished it then and gotta a break of 3 weeks before rads start…
i have apt with onc next wed as im not a happy bunny…
i have a mild liver prib so they didnt give me the M of the cmf due to yhis, but i was talking to liver doc yesterday and he said i should get it then he left the room for min so my file was on table cudnt resist a peek (maybe i shouldnt have ) and it said on it that im her2+3 posotive and oestrogen positive and he was concerned that im so young would this treatment do the trick i can tell ye i left in tears and i wanna get rid of this disease so im seeing him wednesday to tell him i want the m part too…
yahoo rant over
kelly i took your advice about the callipo and its great , the nurse was looking at me funny when i arrived with a bag of tricks which included, callippo, pineapple juice and ginger nut biscuits ( I was in overnite for first session due to porth a cat) she said i came well prepared ha ha…and girls dont worry about the tears their flowing out of me all the time…
my friend gave me a book its a novel called in my sisters shoes author is sinead moyarty girls it is so good it will lift yer spirits and it really made me laugh its about a girl who gets breast cancer, im in ireland but im sure ye can get it over their or il post it to one of ye and ye cud pass it around it wud really lift yer spirits…
well thats all from me
sorry for the long post
lots of love and hugs to ye all
also thank ye for keeping me going wheen sometimes finding it difficult