Did anyone had her hair back after taxotere???

NannaBaby

I finished Taxotere 2 months ago and my hair is growing back like crazy! Everywhere! Even my eyelashes!

NannaBaby

Actually my hair started to grow back while I was on Taxotere... it started to grow back when I finished AC.

Ang7

Hi all,

I had to comment.  When I was told that Taxotere would be the chemo I should use, I signed onto BC.org and researched it.  After I read the thread by the ladies who used Taxotere and never got their hair back, I went to my oncologist to see what I could do.  She researched the Penguin Cold Caps and said she was fine with my using them, but that they probably would not work. I finished TCH and I still have my hair. 

I am really grateful to the ladies on this thread for bringing up the fact of permanent hair loss which no one had mentioned before I brought my concerns to her...

bdavis

So I had my choice of taxotere and taxol... and choose taxotere... hope I chose right... time will tell.

sandymess

I am so sorry for those of you that still have no hair regrowth. I didn't know that this was a SE of the taxotere--just learned it from this thread. I will have my 5th tx of Taxotere and Cytoxin and my hair started to grow back about a week or so ago. Of course, it could all fall out again with the last two treatments I face. Sending you all love and hugs!

Sandy

nikola

I just saw my onc today and he asked me about my hair growth. I showed him my head and he was pleasantly surprised. I told him I was scared because I read on Internet about permanent hair loss and he said "Yes, but it is a small percentage". He did not tell me that before my chemo. At the time he just said he would give me chemo with least SE.

shirleyl

My hair started to grow back after my 2nd Taxotere, i was so excited but my Onc warned me it would all come out with the 3rd. i didnt believe him but it was true, over 5 years and still waiting...no, i have given up any hope, i realise its permanent :-(

I know i keep saying it but its not a small % and its NOT rare. The 'officail' clasification states that any side effect between 0.01% and 10% are classed as common and frequent' so any Onc/doc etc that say its rare are lying! and they know it!  They say this to get themselves off the hook and to fob you off, they know the clasification table and they know the % is within the 'common & frequent' percentage - no excuses for thier lies.

lago

I just finished my 6th TX of taxotere, carboplatin and Herceptin. You can get neuropathy with taxotere but it's usually not as bad. You onc should watch you closely if it is bad they will reduce your dose or discontinue. Not all neurpathy is permanent. I have some numbness in my left heed but we're pretty sure that will go away. Neuropathy can be painful. I know I would rather have my mobility and no pain (neuropathy issues) than hair… and I had beautiful hair. Now it's a wait and see if it comes back. If it doesn't I'm getting a nicer wig and some more cool scarves.

nikola

Shirlyl, I agree with You. At my initial appointment my onc told me he was going back and forth between T/C and Taxol. He said weekly Taxol had higher incidence of neuropathy so he would put me on T/C. I asked him about CMF (spell?) chemo as I read there was only thinning of hair with that chemo. He told me that chemo was not as efficient for me as T/C and that my hair would grow back.

Now when my hair is really growing back he is happy as some women do not get it back. Where was that inf 6 month ago? I realized yesterday he knew about permanent hair loss but did not tell me as I would push for different regime.

poodleluvbug

My Onc knew as well...but they don't tell you until you ask about it when it is already too late. Very annoying that we aren't given all the info to make the best choice for us.

I have decided to go out without any headcoverings today...for the first time since the beginning of August. The weather has warmed up enough and I have a full coverage, thick brown hair...1/2 inch long. It would look better if I waited another month but I just can't stand the wig anymore! I am going to do some nice makeup and make sure I am dressed girly. I let everyone know how it goes. I am going to the plastic surgeon, Costco, and maybe out to eat. 

nikola

Good luck, I am couple weeks behind you.

bdavis

Lago, i agree... I had the choice, and made it to go with the taxotere... If I have great hair and painful neurapathy, I would NOT be happy... And I do have great hair, always get compliments, but I need to live without pain...

My doctor did say there is a 2% chance of inadequate hair growth... he has two patients who fall into that category, but one of them had been on something before and Taxotere was a replacement drug... He said Taxol could have the same outcome, but no one really takes Cytoxan and Taxol... the onc said the clinical trial was with taxotere...And AC + Taxol was not an option because I have high blood pressure... I want what will CURE me and so...

I have my wig ready and waiting, but can't bring myself to cut my hair... I will need to wait for it to start coming out, and I think I have a couple of weeks still... I need to take baby steps.

sandymess

bdavis, I also had great hair and always got compliments. I used to wear it just below my shoulders and when I began chemo I cut it to chin length. After the 2nd tx of Taxotere and Cytoxan I noticed a bit of thinning so I cut it to my ears. Then it really began falling out by the handfuls in the shower and I realized it was time to shave it unless I wanted to walk around looking like I had a 'hair stole' around my shoulders all the time. I also could not take the AC because of high blood pressure and the risk of damaging my heart--my family has a long history of heart problems.



So...my hair--or stubbies--seem to be thickening up and I just had my 5th tx yesterday. One more on Feb. 9th and we'll see what happens. Baby steps were a very good way for me to deal, and I hope they work for you, too.

poodleluvbug

Hi ladies! So yesterday was my first outing without any head coverings. My hair is about 1/2 inch all over, thick and brown. Everyone was really nice at the plastic surgeons office...of course they see a lot of cancer patients. I also went out to eat and to Costco. Only a few people looked at me funny...it was really okay! I think that in another month my hair will be like Emma Watson's...the little girl in the Harry Potter movies. She cut her hair in a pixie kind of style. I felt so free and light without my wig and hats...it was a good feeling! I hate, hate, hate my ratty wig!

carol1949

I had taxotere and my hair is back and actually better than in a long time.  I did, however discontinue Femara due to bad s/e's one of which was immediate and substantial  hair loss. 

I also switched from synthroid to Armor natural thyroid and my hair density increased by 30% w/in a few months!

lago

bdavis I had my hair cut short the day it started to fall out. I'm glad I did. I had a lot of hair. Even with it short it was quite the mess falling out. I was vacuuming my pillow and bathroom every day for several weeks. That doesn't even count what I was losing in the shower. Had to clean the drain 2-3 times everytime I showered for a while too. If my hair was shoulder length… oh the mess.

tracie23

I am on my 3rd taxotere and my hair is growing back it actually started a few months ago it's about 1/4 inch .... the down side my eyebrows and eyelashes are falling out... oh well. I need to figure out how to make my eyebrows look normal

lago

Odd my hair keeps falling out but I still have most of my eyebrows and my lashes although thinned are still hanging on some. Now as far as all the other hair on my body… MIA. Of course I just had #6 tx so we'll see what still hangs on in the next 3 weeks.

bdavis

Well.. today I bought a drain catcher for the shower... My hair is below shoulder length and A LOT of it... tons of hair... My plan is to wait til I see signs of it falling out and first shorten it... the problem is that with all my hair, my wig doesn't fit, and may not really fit til the hair is gone gone... So I may have trouble with transition which is my plan... we'll see how it goes... In the meantime, I washed it Tuesday before my first treatment, and haven't even brushed it since then... I can wear it curly with some curl activator so I just dampen it with my hands and add activator... I am trying to pamper my scalp.

poodleluvbug

bdavis-I wish I would have waited until first signs of falling out before I buzzed mine...I didn't and it didn't start falling our for two weeks...two weeks I could of still had my hair. Oh well...what can you do! Good look with everything bdavis!

Charley

Tracie - I have the smashbox eyebrow powder.  I got a good brush and when I had no eyebrows I used the wax to help keep the powder in place.  Even now that the eyebrows are back (well sort of) I continue to use it. It is great stuff!

 bdavis, my hair didn't fall out until day 16 or 17. I did 6xTC DD ~ so every 2 weeks.  I had tons of hair too ... Losing it is the worst. I hope you aren't having too much trouble with SEs. Hang in there!  1 down ,,, 5 to go!

Poodle - I don't know that you didn't do the right thing by just shaving itl off.  I just didn't have the guts to do it. I think I probably should shape up the uneven mop I have now but I can't bear to cut it!!

(((Hugs)))

Charley

mrsnjband

I had 3 1/2 doses of taxotere, last dose was 6-10-2008.  I finished radiation on 10-2-2008.  So it has been over 2 years since the end of my treatment.  I have very sparce eyelashes & brows.  My hair is slowly getting longer & thicker.  Hair thickened from the bottom up. So the top is still thin but I still have hair coming back in.  I guess I am grateful to have hair so it could be worse but it is frustrating that it has taken so long. NJ

 PS by the way the brows & lashes were the last to go.

bdavis

I just started using a brow and lash gel... Like the prescription, but all natural... One woman on here said it maintained her brows and lashes... I did just start it today, and had chemo on Tuesday, so I hope it still works.

marjie

My hair was gone about two weeks after my first FEC.  It went fast...took about 4 days for it to all come out - it was dropping in clumps and patches so my DH helped my buzz it off.  It is now growing back during taxotere - my brows and lashes lasted until I started taxotere but now they are completely gone. The hair on my head is growing back pretty fast too but everywhere else there is no growth (fine by me!).

mumorange

Losing my hair was most definitely the hardest and most confronting part of this whole BC drama. Had it not been for that I think I would have coped emotionally so much better. Losign my hair felt like I was losing my privacy...nowhere to hide without a wig and even then I felt that everyone could tell. Only yesterday I decided to go back to my exercise class in a hall and thought I would wear a scarf, I know all the girls there but I have not left our house without my wig. Long story but a friend and I missed the class and she suggested we go for a walk instead. Sounded great until I remembered that it is stifling hot ( I live in Queensland) adn I won't be seen without my wig! The most bizarre thing is that after reading all your comments about hair I have realised how much easier it was to come to terms with once it happened. I almost can't remember what it was like having hair now. I am now 6 weeks since last TC adn I can happily say I have a dark glow on my head which wasn't there before. Hang in there. This is so tough but I can tell you that the feeling of regeneration you feel when you can rub some hair on your head is like spring time! I only wish I wasn't facing another round of surgery so I could really enjoy it! This is such a personal journey but it is made all the more bearable by the gorgeous souls I have found on these boards. x

mumorange

I just read this thread from the top ( not just this page) and woudl like to say to those who have had to face the despair of their hair not growing back that I can truly relate to the despair. While it seems mine will come back ok, I know how difficult it has been to deal with the short term issues. I certainly hope it is one of those "time" things for you and that you will wake one day soon to find that you find some new sprouts up there. x

swanseagirl

Hi LAdies,

I had my last round of chemo coktails the end of October, 2010.  My hair is growing back slowly. I have enough to get bed hair but not enough to go outside without my wig.  If I'm walking I wear a base ball hat. Before that a scarf and baseball.  I love my wig and it gives me the confidence I need when I am around professionals.

My eyebrows are growing at a snails rate. I can finally see eye lahses, blonde, but they are there.

Hang in there xxxx

Jules

bubbalu

Mrsnjband:  I think we have something in common.  I finished 4 x AC and 4 x taxotere on June 3,2010 and I'm also getting a slow grow.  They say to give it a year but mine didn't even start back until 3 months after chemo with slow stubble.  Now that I'm 8 months out I have only an inch of thin hair sticking to my scalp and not good coverage.  I'm taking 2000 Biotin and using rosemary shampoo and conditioner daily, which is supposed to do the same as Nioxin.  Reading that you are 2 years out and still dealing with thin hair, does this sound like what you've been thru?  My eyelashes and eyebrows are also sparce.  The back of mine is also the thickest and that's not very thick.  I think we must be in that small percentage of women who get less regrowth.  I'm also triple negative and so the taxotere was the best choice for the cancer.  Wondering how your hair growth was over the 2 year period.

Charley

bubbalu - me too! Finished chemo 5/2010. I have maybe 1 1/2 inches of hair and virtually no eyebrows to speak of. Big bald spot on the top. I am taking 5000mcg of biotin, 2000 IU D3, nioxin ... hair is still very thin.  It was very thick before. <sigh> It looks like there is some filling in but VERY slow regrowth. Hoping to ditch the wig someday ...

bubbalu

Charley:  You had the same chemo?  Didn't know the Nioxin had an oral med.  Are you using the shampoo/conditioner/tx too?  do you think it's worth it?  I'm calling my PCP and see if I can go up on the Biotin to 5000.  He's very conservative and would only let me have 2000, but it's been a month now.  I can see my scalp all over still..................you look so cute in your cap.