Chemo Regimen FAQs: CMF Chemotherapy

Q. OK, what about side effects? Hate to ask, want to know...

A. Thankfully, the side effects of CMF aren't QUITE as troublesome as those of other chemotherapy treatments. Here's what you might expect:

• Hair loss: Hooray! You probably won't lose your hair, a rarity in breast cancer chemotherapy. CMF may thin your hair, but only rarely does it cause complete hair loss. Hair loss is more of a problem if you take "C" orally, rather than by injection; but still, you should retain a good deal of your hair. Congratulations!

• Unpleasant taste in your mouth. Have you heard anyone mention "tin-can mouth"? You may develop a metallic taste in your mouth; not much you can do about this CMF side effect. Don't eat spicy foods in an attempt to "drown out" the metallic taste; it won't work, and may give you mouth sores. Speaking of...

• Mouth and throat sores: These feel like a series of cold sores inside your mouth and partway down your throat. Obviously, it makes eating a pain-literally. Try chewing on ice chips the first five to ten minutes of each CMF treatment; some women have reported success with this method of preventing sores. If sores develop, ask for medication from your doctor. They have stuff that can help. Oh, and don't use harsh mouthwash or eat spicy foods when you have mouth sores; either of those will exacerbate the situation.

• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea: All three of these are a possibility with CMF. The good news is, this unpleasant side effect is much, MUCH better controlled than it used to be, via medication. So don't listen to anyone's awful stores about when they had chemo 5 years ago and how sick they were! TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

You'll probably get some anti-nausea drugs right along with your treatment, plus some to take home, just in case. If you feel nauseous, and you've taken your medication, don't suffer in silence! Call the doctor and get a prescription for something else. There are all kinds of anti-nausea drugs they can try; it's not one-size-fits-all. They'll keep trying till they find what works best for you.

• Irritated eyes/stuffy nose: Your nose may feel a bit stuffy as you receive the drugs. And afterwards, your eyes may feel sore, they may burn, or they may feel "gritty." Try using "artificial tears" eye drops before going to bed at night. Also, you may find you can't wear contacts during treatment.

• Bladder irritation: "C" will possibly cause some bladder irritation, which may feel like a mild bladder infection. Drink plenty of fluids; this will help allay the discomfort. And mention to your doctor that you're feeling uncomfortable; he or she may want to check to make sure you don't in fact have a bladder infection.

• Loss of fertility: Your ovaries will stop releasing eggs while you're having treatment. Whether or not you get your period back once you're done depends a lot on age: 80% of 45-year-old women will be permanently infertile (menopausal); while only 20% of 35-year-old women will remain infertile.