CMF Lite

mom2cjm
mom2cjm Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My sister was diagnosed a few months ago. Had a lumpectomy and is going through radiation. Her onc suggests she also do CMF Lite for her chemo. I am a 6 year survivor myself - had AC - nothing lite about that chemo brand! Has anyone here had this particular brand of chemo? I don't trust her oncologist (Memoria Sloan doesn't let you pick your doctor and once they assign one you can not change!!!). Her predictions have been anything but insightful. She had that my sister won't experience any hair loss and that the only side effect she has heard of is mild fatigue that worsens as the chemo completes it's six month cycle.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

PS - Who comes up with a name like chemo *lite* anyway:{

Lisa

Comments

  • heidijez
    heidijez Member Posts: 441
    #2
    i actually have heard of this chemo cocktail!
    the three drugs are cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil. two women that i know got this combination - in both cases, it has been more than 6 years ago. they both lost their hair, however. one had to have a mastectomy, the other only a lumpectomy. both were on tamoxifen for five years and are both doing fine now.

    the thing to remember is that we are all unique - even with the same diagnosis and treatments, the way we react can be very different.

    wishing your sister (and you) lots of luck, sending positive thoughts and prayers your way, heidi
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #3
    That was the cocktail that I
    That was the cocktail that I had 23 yrs ago. It wasn't so lite for me--I lost all of my hair, became anemic and my white count dropped to one. I guess it is lite compared to some regimens, but it is still chemo, and it was not an easy 6 months for me personally. In comparison, tamoxifen, rads, zometa and arimidex are a piece of cake for me.

    However, it was what my onc recommended at the time as I was ER+ and he felt that the less toxic CMF was appropriate for my particular cancer.

    I don't know what is recommended anymore--there are just so many types of breast cancer. I did have a recurrence in my bones after a 22 yr remission, but, since I was Stage 3A in 1987, I feel like I have done much better than anyone expected.

    Your sister is in my thoughts and prayers and I hope that CMF is truly chemo lite for her!
  • Hubby
    Hubby Member Posts: 325
    #4
    My Wife Considered CMF
    My wife just finished with AC-T at Sloan on Long Island, but she almost did CMF. I am bumping up a thread from June that explains what happened in my wife's situation.

    And if your sister really wants to change onc's, there is a patient advocate at Sloan that can help her.

    The bottom line, is that there is the head of Oncology at Sloan in Manhattan that thinks CMF is a good choice for triple negative breast cancer.

    And there may be other reasons for him to recommend CMF; (the AC can be hard on the heart).

    I would recommend a second opinion. Donna's was from the Monte Cancer Center at LIJ/Manhasset.

    Bob
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #5
    Hubby said:

    My Wife Considered CMF
    My wife just finished with AC-T at Sloan on Long Island, but she almost did CMF. I am bumping up a thread from June that explains what happened in my wife's situation.

    And if your sister really wants to change onc's, there is a patient advocate at Sloan that can help her.

    The bottom line, is that there is the head of Oncology at Sloan in Manhattan that thinks CMF is a good choice for triple negative breast cancer.

    And there may be other reasons for him to recommend CMF; (the AC can be hard on the heart).

    I would recommend a second opinion. Donna's was from the Monte Cancer Center at LIJ/Manhasset.

    Bob

    I had CMF in 1994, I did not
    I had CMF in 1994, I did not lose my hair. apparently in studies with dogs, the ones with the faster growing hair lost theirs, and the ones with the slower growing hair did not. I have slow growing hair. (this was from my onc) I was estrogen negative. I had AC and taxol finishing January 2010, there was no comparison. The AC and taxol was way harder on me. granted I am 16 years older too. with CMF I had nausea but didnt really need meds, except what they gave me IV, I had one episode of the big D, and was very tired. I was also taking care of an 8 month old and 3 year old at the time. this cancer is estrogen positive. I dont know how effective the CMF was for me as I had a local recurrence after mastectomy a year later. I have heard that some docs are not giving adriamycin, but I would want a second opinion.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #6
    CypressCynthia said:

    That was the cocktail that I
    That was the cocktail that I had 23 yrs ago. It wasn't so lite for me--I lost all of my hair, became anemic and my white count dropped to one. I guess it is lite compared to some regimens, but it is still chemo, and it was not an easy 6 months for me personally. In comparison, tamoxifen, rads, zometa and arimidex are a piece of cake for me.

    However, it was what my onc recommended at the time as I was ER+ and he felt that the less toxic CMF was appropriate for my particular cancer.

    I don't know what is recommended anymore--there are just so many types of breast cancer. I did have a recurrence in my bones after a 22 yr remission, but, since I was Stage 3A in 1987, I feel like I have done much better than anyone expected.

    Your sister is in my thoughts and prayers and I hope that CMF is truly chemo lite for her!

    I've never heard of this,
    I've never heard of this, but, wishing your sister good luck and sending her positive thoughts and prayers.

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