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Hair regrowth after Taxotere ?

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Posted 2/17/2007 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have any experience of this please?

I've been reading some alarming things which suggest that Taxotere can cause permanent hair loss.  There have been some reports of hair either not coming back at all or coming back very thin and sparse - unlike the regrowth after other types of chemo.

Many thanks for any information

Anthi

Posted 2/17/2007 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
My hair grew (very slowly) while on Taxotere and continued slowly growing once I was finished.  It came back very gray.  Eventually, as the chemicals diminish in your body, the hair starts growing at it's normal rate.  Mine came back as thick or maybe thicker than before and somewhat curlier.  The curl is gradually going away and it's been almost 2 years.  I wouldn't worry, because that may have an affect on things, too.  Just take care of yourself - eat right and get plenty of rest.  If you are up to it, walking is great.  I didn't do that while on chemo, but started it afterwards and it feels great. 
Posted 2/17/2007 10:01 PM (GMT 0)

Many thanks for your reply  Kathy

Anthi

Posted 2/18/2007 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Anthi

I too had taxotere and had no problems with hair regrowth. I have been done with chemo for a year now and have hair about 5 inches long. It came back curly and thicker than it was before. Just like Kathy my curls are starting to diminish some. I also have alot more grey now, but nothing that a good box of color can't fix. Try not to worry about it most of us have been pleased with the way our hair has grown back.

L&H
Bernadette
Posted 2/18/2007 5:48 AM (GMT 0)

I kind of went off the deep end when my hair started to grow in during my treatments with docetaxol. I truly believed that the chemo wasn't working!

My oncologist, before I started the docetaxol, told me that hair growth might be delayed, but would definitely grow back.

Posted 2/18/2007 8:40 AM (GMT 0)

Many thanks Bernadette and Gayle for your replies.

Take care

Anthi

Posted 2/18/2007 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, My hair was very thick and wavy. I had always been jealous of very straight hair. As the saying goes be careful what you wish for. My hair came in very fine and perfectly straight. Seems to come in the opposite of what you had. After time almost everyone ended up with the type of hair they started with. I had chemo first that took my hair, then had surgery and then tax and rads. During this time my hair started to slowly come back. It grew very slowly, at first, and now before I know it, it is time for a hair cut again. I noticed I have to "DO" my hair "naturally blonde" tee hee with Loreal as often as I did before treatment. I remember when my hair started to come in it was very stiff. My granddaughter was not sure about this bald head of mine. I asked her to give me her hand and I would introduce her to fuzzy bear. She did and I told her to open her hand and I took it and lightly ran across my head. She giggled and went running saying mom mom had a teddy bear head. Now you know why lemon works for me. I keep trying to make lemonade. LOL
Posted 2/19/2007 12:50 PM (GMT 0)

Hello and thank you for your encouraging reply. :-)

Anthi

Posted 2/20/2007 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
I did not have Taxol, just AC. The funny thing is that some time before I was diagnosed, I dreamed that I lost my hair due to chemo. I always had naturally curly hair too, and in my dream, it came back straight and I felt as if I had lost my identity.

Well in reality, it came back exactly as before...hair for hair, color for color. Certain pieces are straighter than the others, just like before chemo. I think it got less curly overall from Tamoxifen, but that has nothing to do with chemo.

Just for fun, I started documenting my hair growth. When it was visible, I took a picture each Monday afternoon so I could look back and see the progress. It'll be back before you know it!
Lori
Posted 2/20/2007 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lori and thanks. The weekly picture is a good idea.
Anthi
Posted 2/20/2007 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Anthi:

 

My hair came back curlier, with body.  I went gray in my early 20's.  I don't think chemo made me grayer because I think I was pretty gray when I lost it.   Of course, I haven't seen my natural color in a couple of decades anyway, lol).

 

Now the eyebrows and armpits, well, that's a whole different story.  I continue to draw my eyebrows and I had pretty bushy ones.  The pit hair..well, I've shaven about twice in the three years since chemo!  The legs....well, I ignore them when I can...  I think I have more hair on my legs.  This may be more than you needed to know, but you asked, LOL

 

Hopefully you'll grow all your hair back fine.  sounds like the women here have not had a hard time with that much.

Posted 2/20/2007 9:25 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Ellen and thank you for your reply.

My word that's a long time without eyebrows.  What about your eyelashes?  Did they come back ok?

I haven't any idea what my natural hair colour is either.  Haven't seen it in years !

Take care

Anthi

Posted 2/21/2007 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
eyelashes very thin, but there.  g2g
Posted 2/21/2007 10:24 PM (GMT 0)

that's good.  let's hope they thicken up

take care

Anthi

Posted 3/7/2009 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
I finished Taxotere 3 (yes 3) YEARS ago and my hair has not grown back so have to still wear a scarf or wig.
Can i ask that if anyone has this problem can they please contact me privatly. Thank you. I am collecting Data and need names and addresses- verything is in the strictist confidence.
Many thanks
Posted 3/9/2009 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I finished Taxotere 12 months ago and my hair has not grown back and am still wearing a wig. I have some hair but it is very fine with bald spots on top. My eyelashes and eyebrows are also very sparse, they started to grow then stopped. In fact I have almost no body hair just the odd hair on my legs.

Taxmademebald I would be willing to provide data but am not sure how to contact you.
Posted 3/11/2009 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
Lind - thanks for your reply. The group of us are growing! i am also in touch with a doctor in Madrid who has done a case study on 50 (yes 50) with same problem after Taxotere-
anyway - i can fill you in privately. can you please email me at
shirley ledlie @ hotmail dot com

i have left spaces and written dot as i dont know if this forum allows info like this.
If it does my address is [email protected]

Please email ASAP

Post Edited (taxmademebald) : 3/11/2009 7:44:00 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/11/2009 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. I had ACT in 2004. Lost all my hair, it regrew as others stated different texture, very grey but nice and full. Still have very little brow and a few eyelashes. about a year ago, I started having hair loss and it continues. Now getting really thin. New breast cancer last Nov. No chemo or rad this time, just mastectomy. Wonder if anesthesia added to problem? Hope all of you are doing well.
Posted 4/14/2009 10:27 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry you have it back - but if they dont think you need chemo thats good.
Ladies i need your clicks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYCgYl7VSJ8

once it gets very high i will send the link to the drugs company
Posted 7/19/2009 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
I got two cycles of taxotere (not for BC, but another cancer, it didn't work so my doc took me off it). I've been off about 7 weeks now and I have no hair re-growth -- just a bit of stubble when I touch my head and it's so short, I can just barely feel it and it's only in some places on my head. I have eyelashes and eye brows although some of the that is sparse. I never lost them completely. Other body hair is gone and doesn't appear to be emerging. I am getting worried that perhaps I am one of those effected by the permanent hair loss. Had another chemo before and my hair started re-growing quickly after treatment ended.

Should I be worried or am I just being anxious too soon? Since this drug didn't work I feel like I got hit w/a double wammy. My main wish is that if I die of this cancer, I didn't want to die in a hospital "bald." I wanted some dignanity.
Posted 7/19/2009 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
7 weeks is not a long time...but did you go on another chemo drug to replace the taxotere, since it was not working?

BEV
Posted 7/19/2009 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
I had Taxol after AC for breast cancer. Lashes and eyebrows fell out day after first treatment.  What a shock! All arm, etc hair fell out as well. At that time, my meager hair regrowth fell out, too. Fuzzy hair tried to regrow 2/3 times before it finally started to come in. Finished Taxol in Mid June, had the beginnings of a "five o'clock" shadow by end of August, and went without wig by 1st week in November.  Everyone is different, but this will give you some perspective. Lots of luck. (By the way, lashes and brows came and went for a year after I finished treatment!!!)

Judy

Posted 8/7/2009 7:59 PM (GMT 0)

Dear Friends,

My sister had Taxotere as one of her chemo drugs for ovarian cancer and breast cancer. When she lost her hair I loved her all the more and my favorite thing to do was to rub her sweet bald head.  So never think for a moment that you are not loved even with your hair missing...........and yes hers grew in really quite quickly and was thicker and darker with very little gray.

Blessings to each of you.

Kitt

Posted 9/14/2009 7:02 AM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to say my PSA (the official term) was reported to Sanofi 6 months later. Well, i think it was before 6 months but i was told they had already reported it when i went for my 6th month check up. In January 2010 it will be 4 years without my hair and it doesnt get any easier.
Our group is growing by the day, we all feel the same but give each lots of emotional support as we are the only ones that know what its really like.
The problem seems to be when Taxotere is usued with other chemo drugs not on its own like its done when men have it for prostate cancer.
Its now a big problem for women in France - lots of them also permanently disfigured with this drug.
Please contact me if you think you have this problem
[email protected]
Posted 11/10/2009 11:46 AM (GMT 0)

IT IS ONLY HAIR AND AS SAD AS IT IS TO LOSE IT OR NOT GET IT BACK THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE , YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS DRUG IS SAVING YOUR LIFE,WHICH IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW YOUR HAIR LOOKS. THERE IS ALWAYS WIGS OR HAIR DYE. I ACTUALLY LOOK BETTER WITH THE WIG THAN I DID BEFORE.

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