CMF versus AC

karenack
karenack Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My oncologist has given me two options of chemo treatment to choose from. I have researched both but wonder what your experiences with each were like. They are CMF versus AC. I do know that I will definitely lose my hair with the AC, but my doctor said that my treatment time would be shorter with the AC than the CMF. Help!!

Comments

  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #2
    I had A/C and I don't know what the benefits are for CMF, but if I were you I would go with the most effective treatment that lowers your long term risk of recurrence. My Onc got me to think about my treatment time as a time that I would have to slow down and be uncomfortable so that I could proceed on with living the rest of my healthy life. And, yes the hair does come back... I now have hair almost as long as I had before I started this journey. I am now happily living with NED (no evidence of disease).

    Take Care... God Bless...

    Susan
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #3
    Thanks for your thoughts. My onc told me that in his opinion both treatments were pretty equal in effectiveness, but the CMF treatment would take longer than the AC. He said he would opt for the AC over the CMF if it were him.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
    Karen,
    WOW! When I was dx'ed over a year ago, only ACT was the course of treatment. If you don't mind telling...what is CMF??? I had a VERY hard time with the Adriamycin, so if I should get a reoccurrance, I would like to know my options.

    BTW, I have many people suggest I buzz my new hair off....they LOVED me bald!!!!
    Hugs, Kathi
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #5
    KathiM said:

    Karen,
    WOW! When I was dx'ed over a year ago, only ACT was the course of treatment. If you don't mind telling...what is CMF??? I had a VERY hard time with the Adriamycin, so if I should get a reoccurrance, I would like to know my options.

    BTW, I have many people suggest I buzz my new hair off....they LOVED me bald!!!!
    Hugs, Kathi

    Actually the CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-flourouracil) from what my onc said was the standard combination for breast cancer in women who were node negative. From what I understand from him and from what I have read AC has proven to lower the chances of recurrence over time. My onc is concerned with the fact that this is the second time that I have had cancer and I am only 43. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2002 and with bc last month. What were your worst side effects?
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #6
    karenack said:

    Actually the CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-flourouracil) from what my onc said was the standard combination for breast cancer in women who were node negative. From what I understand from him and from what I have read AC has proven to lower the chances of recurrence over time. My onc is concerned with the fact that this is the second time that I have had cancer and I am only 43. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2002 and with bc last month. What were your worst side effects?

    Karen,
    The adriamycin, day 3, nausea/vomiting. BUT I MUST qualify all of this....I had just finished a course of Carboplatin and 5FU for colorectal cancer 6 months before this....I truly believe that I reacted strongly because I had not completely come out of that one...
    I had a gal sitting next to me doing the same course, and she had no troubles more major that a slightly queasy stomach. Of course, as I said, my hair fell out right on schedule....20 days after the first infusion!
    My best advice is what I learned the hard way....water. I drank (still do) at least 2 quarts a day....especially during the infusion time. I am now 6 months out from the chemo, 3 months out from rads....I have no lingering sides except from rads I have intermittant bone pain in the radiated area. I was stage IIB....sentinel nodes were involved.

    Thanks for the info!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #7
    KathiM said:

    Karen,
    The adriamycin, day 3, nausea/vomiting. BUT I MUST qualify all of this....I had just finished a course of Carboplatin and 5FU for colorectal cancer 6 months before this....I truly believe that I reacted strongly because I had not completely come out of that one...
    I had a gal sitting next to me doing the same course, and she had no troubles more major that a slightly queasy stomach. Of course, as I said, my hair fell out right on schedule....20 days after the first infusion!
    My best advice is what I learned the hard way....water. I drank (still do) at least 2 quarts a day....especially during the infusion time. I am now 6 months out from the chemo, 3 months out from rads....I have no lingering sides except from rads I have intermittant bone pain in the radiated area. I was stage IIB....sentinel nodes were involved.

    Thanks for the info!

    Hugs, Kathi

    Kathi,
    I am really sorry that you too have been battling a second cancer diagnosis. Thank you for sharing your experiences with AC. I hope that I will be like your friend and have minor side effects, but am prepared for the worst. I will keep you posted on my progress. Hugs to you!!!
  • epgnyc
    epgnyc Member Posts: 137
    #8
    I was treated 4 years ago for Stage I idc and while my oncologist gave me the same two options, he recommended I do CMF. Because I had no node involvement, was older than you (54 at diagnosis) and also have a history of mvp (miocardial valve prolapse, a not-too-serious heart condition), he thought CMF was the better option for me -- very occasionally AC can impact the heart muscle. I'm really, really glad I did CMF, even though it did take 6 months. I ended up with some pretty bad side effects, even though no one expected me to. Supposedly the side effects of AC are tougher and I don't know how I would have withstood anything worse. But both options are good ones, each with their pros and cons, so you won't be making a mistake no matter which you choose. Since you've already researched both regimens, I'd go with your gut. In the end, it's important for you to be comfortable with your choice. If you still feel undecided, you could get a second opinion from another oncologist. Good luck to you.
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #9
    My thought has always been the best rate of survival even if it is only a couple points. If I was going to be treated they better give me what they could to raise my survival rate. I think sometimes if it is only a couple percentage points then it isn't very much but my thought was every percentage point should help. 9 year survivor of IDC stage 3 breast cancer with 11 out of 21 positive nodes. At that time in 97 at my age of 36 I got all 5 drugs in one sitting. Thank god they are finding better ways.
    Tara
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #10
    epgnyc said:

    I was treated 4 years ago for Stage I idc and while my oncologist gave me the same two options, he recommended I do CMF. Because I had no node involvement, was older than you (54 at diagnosis) and also have a history of mvp (miocardial valve prolapse, a not-too-serious heart condition), he thought CMF was the better option for me -- very occasionally AC can impact the heart muscle. I'm really, really glad I did CMF, even though it did take 6 months. I ended up with some pretty bad side effects, even though no one expected me to. Supposedly the side effects of AC are tougher and I don't know how I would have withstood anything worse. But both options are good ones, each with their pros and cons, so you won't be making a mistake no matter which you choose. Since you've already researched both regimens, I'd go with your gut. In the end, it's important for you to be comfortable with your choice. If you still feel undecided, you could get a second opinion from another oncologist. Good luck to you.

    Your pathology was alot like mine. I know with some people they don't on this regimen. I also have MVP but nothing too severe that I have to be on meds for. I just have premeds before surgery or dental work. I just don't want to go through 6 months of treatment. Did you lose your hair with CMF? I know not everyone does.
  • kathydaly
    kathydaly Member Posts: 81
    #11
    hi karen again, i just replied to ur other message, so here i am again. lol.

    i had no options 15 yrs ago, i think i was stage3 with 2 nodes pos. out of 21, but it was Everywhere in there. coming out of nipples if squeezed, which i didn't know.

    so i was on 4 rounds of AC, then 6 rounds of CMF then month of radiation.

    and yes AC will mean no hair, but that was like 2 days of upset and then i got on w/it.
    really try not to focus on that, because this is about ur life not ur hair, to be blunt, im sorry if this is hard to hear, it will grow back immediately after u stop AC.

    i had nausea w/AC but they had a wonderful pill that took care of that, cant remember name, but it was newish then, in '91. the other side effect was v v fatigued, i could never have worked, like i hear some ppl do.

    My surgeon told me AC was the strongest thing they had to fight it. and i was grateful everytime i went that i could.

    then the CMF right after it, the bad fatigue and 1 bad side affect that is rare, after 1st round, i started urinating blood that night, and had to go to hosp. immediately and they coated my bladder then and thereafter w/something that protected the bladder from it. so i had to spend the day in the hosp. for it. i was vhappy there. it was the only place i felt safe. the night of the bleeding by the way, it was too much 4 my husband, he wanted me to go to local hosp. and i was too scared not to go anywhere but my hosp., Memorial-Sloan Ketterring(cancer hosp), he wouldn't take me at 11:45pm, so i called and got myself a limo to take me.

    again this is a rare side-effect, so really just the fatigue.

    so, like another lady said, i would go with highest %, and just resign yourself to be exhausted, and let ur body heal by pampering it, allow urself to be tired an dont do what u cant if it means pushing urself.

    i also craved water and O.J. which i never drank at all. that was what i drank all the time. oops,
    i forgot there was mouth sores, w/one of them, and they sucked.

    so do the best decision u can, and i hope this helped some.

    lotsa hugggggs and prayers 4 u, kathy
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #12
    kathydaly said:

    hi karen again, i just replied to ur other message, so here i am again. lol.

    i had no options 15 yrs ago, i think i was stage3 with 2 nodes pos. out of 21, but it was Everywhere in there. coming out of nipples if squeezed, which i didn't know.

    so i was on 4 rounds of AC, then 6 rounds of CMF then month of radiation.

    and yes AC will mean no hair, but that was like 2 days of upset and then i got on w/it.
    really try not to focus on that, because this is about ur life not ur hair, to be blunt, im sorry if this is hard to hear, it will grow back immediately after u stop AC.

    i had nausea w/AC but they had a wonderful pill that took care of that, cant remember name, but it was newish then, in '91. the other side effect was v v fatigued, i could never have worked, like i hear some ppl do.

    My surgeon told me AC was the strongest thing they had to fight it. and i was grateful everytime i went that i could.

    then the CMF right after it, the bad fatigue and 1 bad side affect that is rare, after 1st round, i started urinating blood that night, and had to go to hosp. immediately and they coated my bladder then and thereafter w/something that protected the bladder from it. so i had to spend the day in the hosp. for it. i was vhappy there. it was the only place i felt safe. the night of the bleeding by the way, it was too much 4 my husband, he wanted me to go to local hosp. and i was too scared not to go anywhere but my hosp., Memorial-Sloan Ketterring(cancer hosp), he wouldn't take me at 11:45pm, so i called and got myself a limo to take me.

    again this is a rare side-effect, so really just the fatigue.

    so, like another lady said, i would go with highest %, and just resign yourself to be exhausted, and let ur body heal by pampering it, allow urself to be tired an dont do what u cant if it means pushing urself.

    i also craved water and O.J. which i never drank at all. that was what i drank all the time. oops,
    i forgot there was mouth sores, w/one of them, and they sucked.

    so do the best decision u can, and i hope this helped some.

    lotsa hugggggs and prayers 4 u, kathy

    Hi Kathydaly! I just replied to your other message and then saw this. Thank you sooooo much for sharing all of this with me. You just don't know how much this further instills into me that strong desire to do all that I can to improve my chances. I hope that my body can tolerate the AC and I have faith that my doctor will give me good drugs to combat the nausea. The hair thing doesn't bother me at all. Like you said, it will grow back. Where are you in the cancer fight?
  • kathydaly
    kathydaly Member Posts: 81
    #13
    karenack said:

    Hi Kathydaly! I just replied to your other message and then saw this. Thank you sooooo much for sharing all of this with me. You just don't know how much this further instills into me that strong desire to do all that I can to improve my chances. I hope that my body can tolerate the AC and I have faith that my doctor will give me good drugs to combat the nausea. The hair thing doesn't bother me at all. Like you said, it will grow back. Where are you in the cancer fight?

    GM Karen, i love this responding to each other. it's the 1st thing i do now in the AM. so helpful, if u read, JUST HAD TO SAY SOMETHING, it's there on 1st page. i think sums it up.
  • toninasky
    toninasky Member Posts: 102
    #14
    Hi Karen,

    I am on treatment 3 with A/C, and have had no side effects from it. They do give me pre medication to stop the nausea, and I feel just fine. Hope this helps in your decision. I have one more treatment with A/C and then 12 treatments with Taxol. I had one node involvement out of 11. My cancer is her2 neg and Estrogen Progesterone positive.

    Good Luck, and Blessings
    Toni
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #15
    kathydaly, Hi!
    I wanted to let you know that I am scheduled to meet with my onc on the 19th. I have had blood work, CT and Bone Scan. I am scheduled to have a MUGA scan next Tuesday. On my blood work it showed that I am already anemic. I am curious to see what my onc thinks about that and if it will impact my chemo...

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