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Taxotere and Hair Loss

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Posted 5/21/2007 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
 

Hello!

My Taxotere chemo ended on March 12th - now I am taking daily radiation.  I am the only one in my morning 'group' who is not having hair regrowth [we all ended chemo within a week of one another].  I lost my eyebrows/eyelashes on February 24th, my head has some remaining fuzz but mostly huge slick spots especially on the sides of my head.  Some of my 'group' have hair that is 1/2 inch long.  My hair was very thick before and grew quickly.

Now I am completely stressed that my hair 'won't' come back!  Anyone out there with a similar experience?  if i know that it will eventually grow back then I can relax but the thought of it never growing back has me a bit stressed confused

Thanks for listening.

PK

Posted 5/22/2007 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
PK

It will come back trust me, we have had many experiences with all of the women here. My hair started to come back before the chemo was completly done but I still did not have enough to go without a wig for several months. One of the ladies here that went thru chemo at the same time as I did, did not get hair for many months after I did but now she has a full head of hair. Have you shaved it at all? Most of the women shaved when they were loosing all of it. I dont know if that helps or not. Please dont worry it will come back, we tend to get in a hurry because we want a full head of hair again.
I finished chemo a year ago last January and I have the most glorius head of curly hair!!! I have never had a curl in my life, so to me it was worth all of the wait.

PS I actually enjoyed being bald, it was much easier getting ready to go somewhere.

L&H
Bernadette
Posted 5/22/2007 3:17 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you Bernadette - maybe I am just too anxious.  Oklahoma summers are very hot and I was really hoping to have some hair so that I would not have to wear a wig.

Yes - I did shave my head and I am not sure that was the best way to go - but I did it.

I really appreciate the encouragement - it almost makes me ashamed that I am so concerned about 'hair' when it has been such a miracle that the doctors were able to remove my tumor and give me hope for a longer life.

You made me smile about the ease of no hair - and it is cheaper!  I am amazed at how many thing I 'don't' buy at wal-mart now!

Posted 5/22/2007 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
the head hair came back, it was the eyebrows and lashes that never really came back on me.  it's 4 years now, too.
Posted 5/22/2007 7:13 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Ellen - did you have any other issues with taxotere?  how many years did it take for you to get hair?  no eyelashes? eyebrows?

I am trying to not panic ...

Pam

Posted 5/22/2007 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Pam,

 

I was on Taxotere the 2nd half of my chemo and my hair grew back gradually, even during treatment.  I had about 1/2 inch to 3/4  inch hair a month and 1/2 after ending treatment.  That's when I stopped wearing the wig.  Don't worry.  If you worry too much, that may affect your hair growth.  It takes a good year for your hair to start growing at the same rate as before.  It will come back.

Posted 5/25/2007 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Pam- congrats on finishing chemo!! I had taxotere too, had some joint discomfort (took glutamine powder for that) and Advil. I remember the beds of my fingernails and toes aching a bit each time as well. It seems my hair didn't start back until almost halfway thru rads... and I have THICK hair that grows very fast. Hate to tell you, but 6+ yrs after chemo/rads and the only thing that didn't recover fully was my eyebrows and eyelashes. They are there, but at about 50% of what they were before being dx. I look at old pics of me now and all I notice is eyebrows and lashes! ;-) If anyone has a growth-booster for that, let me know!

Stefanie
Posted 5/25/2007 2:08 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Stepanie!

This is encouraging - my hair was also very thick and grew fast.  The opthamoligist at my appointment yesterday said he could see a few eyelashes coming back [but those follicles must have been magnified 100 times:>].  I guess I can always wear bangs to cover the 'no-sparse' eyebrows.

My eyelashes were so blonde before it took a lot of mascara for anyone to know I had any - i may just have to learn to wear a lot of eyeliner.  My hands are still dark - looks like i dipped my hands in the coffee pot. My nails have lots of ridges [actually one broke off completely].  I am still having little tingles in my hands and feet that i sometimes notice more at night.

I really appreciate everyone's responses - makes me have hope!

Pam in Oklahoma

Posted 6/1/2007 2:48 AM (GMT 0)

I too had Taxotere, but mine was combined with Adriamycin.  My head hair did not come back until I was almost done with radiation.  It was very thick before, and not quite as thick - especially on the top - but according to my hairdresser, I still have more than most people.

My eyebrows came back, but very weird and wild.  I have to keep them trimmed most of the thing.  Lashes are not quite as thick as before, but are ok.

I also had trouble with toenails - big toes - coming loose.  The nail bed must have had some nerve damage, because they are still that way.  Oh well, that is minor.

I am almost 8 years since being diagnosed and 7 1/2 years since finishing all treatments.

Kitty M

Posted 6/1/2007 6:42 PM (GMT 0)

hi kitty - thanks so much for the information. i am also having problems with my nails - do you mean that after 7 years you still have problems with them?

pam

Posted 6/2/2007 2:54 AM (GMT 0)

With my big toe toenail - yes.  According to my podiatrist, the nerves were probably damaged by chemo and the nail can no longer attach to the nail bed.  I just have to be careful not to let them get too long so that I bump them, or they come up.  Not fun then.

Good luck and God Bless.

Kitty

Posted 6/4/2007 5:14 PM (GMT 0)

but will they grow back eventually?

or is this permanent?

Posted 6/6/2007 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Oh I have toenails.  It is just that they are "funny looking".  Need to keep them polished - especially during sandal season. LOL

Posted 6/6/2007 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Pam. I haven't been posting for a while as I've been quite busy.

I also had Taxotere (3 x FEC and 3 x Taxotere). My hair has started to come back but VERY slowly and most of the regrowth is on the top. There are still bald patches at the back and sides where it hasn't started at all. From everything I've read (which is a lot) about chemo and hair regrowth it does seem to me that it takes longer for hair to come back after Taxotere than after other types of chemo. I know people in the clinic who had only FEC and their hair is coming back very fast.

I hope yours starts to grow soon.

take care
Anthi
Posted 6/6/2007 6:11 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Anthi - i am beginning to get fuzz in spots but the spots are few and far between and the fuzz can be felt but not really seen.  The fuzz is colorless and there are probably on 4-5 hairs that actually have some color at the base.

I know I should be thankful for my life - and I am - but I am so ready to 'look' more normal - this is the hardest part.

I appreciate everyone's comments and support.

Pam

Posted 7/3/2007 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Pam. How's your hair doing?

My bald patches have filled in and my head is now covered with white/grey fuzz with some darker hair just beginning to show through. It was very patchy the way it started so in some parts I've got about half an inch but in other places it's still very sparse.

They say we're supposed to wait 3 months before colouring it but I feel I may not wait that long before having some blonde put back in ! It's difficult being patient isn't it?

Take care
Anthi
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