Gemzar: do you lose your hair AGAIN????

callalily

Does anyone know the answer to this?  My dr says I will keep my hair, but the web info says otherwise.  I am just devastated to have the disease come (mets mainly to my back, ALL of it, but evident in other bones, as well) forward for the third time!  My life is so difficult already I do not know if I can make it through this again.  Or maybe I don't want to.  I am really tired of being lied to by professionals who want to induce ne to follow their suggestions/treatment plans/whatever.  Can someone help with this question, PLEASE?

justpayton1

I can only speak for myself. I started on Gemzar and carboplatin At the end of March and have completed 2 cycles. I have had some very mild shedding now and then but nothing like I had before w/ AC and than Taxol. The hair on my legs, eyebrows and armpits have continued to grow.

I would guess it would maybe depend on your dose and how often??? I was informed by both my onc and chemo nurse the worst SE from Gemzar is low platlets.

Hope this helps some.

Alpal

I know that hair loss is listed as a possible side effect, but none of the many ladies on the Stage IV Forum have lost their hair while on Gemzar. I started Gemzar last week and had my second treatment on Thursday. I felt horrible last weekend after the first treatment. Not great today, but much better than last week. My onc told me that the low platelet problem could usually be treated by skipping a treatment. I am certainly not planning on losing my hair! Good luck!

callalily

Thanks for the quick reply!  Another question:  are you using Zometa?  The possible side effects of that are horrifying.  My opinion, of course.  One more thanks to you!

palaminoridesagain

My hair is actually growing back now that I started Gemzar.  Having issues with platelets too.  Can';t take Zometa cause I had a severe allergic reaction to it.  I am also on Herceptin and Tykerb.

Nicki

Alpal

I have been on monthly Zometa since July 08. No reactions at all. I feel it has helped keeping my widespread bone mets in check. There is not a single treatment that doesn't have listed side effects. And - some will have severe reactions. Have you read the potential side effects of Tylenol? Horrifying is correct! I feel I have been very lucky to have had so few side effects to treatments. The problem is that there is no way to know who is going to have a severe side effect. A recent post told of someone on Gemzar who had no problem with platelets (common side effect) but then suffered a deadly drop in platelets after taking medication for mouth sores (a very rare side effect reported in less than 1% of people taking it). It's a crap shoot!

MaineCoonKitty

I had Gemzar and Taxotere at the same time, in 6 three week cycles.  I got Tax and Gemzar on Day1, then Gemzar alone on days 8 and 15.  I had hair loss up until the end of cycle 5, when my hair started to re-grow.  I did have the platelet issue and from Cycle 4 on, my onc gave me a week off between the day 8 and day 15 doses of Gemzar alone, which made a huge difference. After my last Taxotere, my hair grew like crazy for the last two cycles of Gemzar alone, so it was the Tax causing the hair loss, not the Gemzar.

Although Gemzar is supposed to be much easier on you than Taxotere, I found that I had less SE's when they gave me the standard pre-meds for Taxotere - decadron and Pepsid IV - when they gave me the Gemzar alone.  The first time they gave me the Gemzar alone, without the pre-meds, I felt horrible - very flu-like and extremely fatigued for several days.  When I mentioned this to my onc, she agreed to give me the decadron and the Pepsid and that made all the difference.

konakat

I never lost my hair with Gemzar.

flash

my MIL had gemzar daily for 5 weeks.  Just hair thinning.