Taxol and hair

Sommer
Sommer Member Posts: 33
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Hi Guys

I was wondering about the hair loss. I am on dose dense ETC chemo. The first 3 eprirubicin (the german type of "red devil") I already had. The shedding started around day 12 after the first Epirupicin chemo. I shaved my had, but now,4 weeks later, I still have plenty stubbles on my head. Eyelashes and eyebrows are still there.

Next will be 3 doses of Taxol. Is Taxol more aggressive on the hair? Especially on brows and lashes?

Does anyone have experience with that?

Thanks Sommer

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  • cs34
    cs34 Member Posts: 253
    edited August 2011

    Hi Sommer,

    First I want to say that everyone is different and will have different reactions to it all but yes, Taxol is known to make you lose your eyebrows and lashes. 

    When I did Taxol I did lose brows and lashes that the "red devil" did not make me lose.

    Women have done so many inventive things when they lost so if you look around the site, I'm sure you will find some pointers...depending on what you want and need.

    Good luck! Wishing you a peaceful day. 

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited August 2011

    Hi Sommer - I asked my oncologist this very question yesterday just before I got my first dose dense Taxol treatment.  She said that Taxol is tough on hair and that I would probably lose whatever I had remaining - I have head stubble, some arm and leg hair, and my eyebrows and eyelashes left over from four DD AC treatments.  I'm not looking forward to a second shedding! 

    I bought some brow powder, and thought about eyebrow stencils.  But I read the reviews that indicated the stencils are very large and I'm a small person so I didn't bother to buy them.  

    Hugs,

    Michelle

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  • Sommer
    Sommer Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2011

    Oh thanks guys... also I did not want to hear that....

    Might cooling of the eyes help? 

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  • Sommer
    Sommer Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2011

    LuvRVing by the way, how are you doing on Taxol?  Epirubicin was rather gentle. felt worn out for 1-3 days, but that was it. 

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  • panamajayne
    panamajayne Member Posts: 136
    edited August 2011

    Had 4  3weekly A+C, then after the 2nd once a month Taxol my hair started coming out in clumps so after drinking 3 dirty martinis on Aug 11/11  I took out my dog clippers and off it went. How naive I was to think I would skate thru without the hair loss. Still have eyelashes & eyebrows, glad I had permanent eyebrows (tats) 3 years ago.  1 more Taxol koolaid  then Herceptin once a month for 12 months.  "Onward through the fog into the light "

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  • Beebop
    Beebop Member Posts: 206
    edited September 2011

    Hi, I am new here and just chiming in. I have done 11 of 12 weeks of Taxol. I shaved my head as soon as it started falling out. It is very thin now, but still have a lot of hair. I also have not lost my eyebrows or eyelashes. They tell me those will probably go with my next round which will be the Adrimycin (AC). I opted to spend the money (with help from my sisters) to get a nice wig and I get compliments all the time on how cute my hair is. People don't believe me when I tell them it's a wig! So it was worth it.

    Good luck to you!

    Becky

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  • Sommer
    Sommer Member Posts: 33
    edited September 2011

    Thanks for the feedback Beebop!

    My brows and lashes never came off on Epirubicin, which I think is the european type of Adrimycin! So there is hope :-) I even have a few stubbles left in my head!

    in the middle of week 3 after the first Taxol and as I am on a two week schedule 3 days after the second my lashes and brows are still there. 

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