Hair loss over 1 1/2 yrs since ending Taxotere Chemotherapy.
Comments
-
I just finished chemo on August 13. My prescribed regimen was AC/T. 4 rounds of AC followed by either TAxol or Taxotere. Based on recent studies 12 rounds of Taxol was recommended. However, I refused to get treatment weekly since I am single and trying to maintain my job. Therefore, I chose Taxotere because I wanted to continue with the 3 week schedule. The nurses gave me a packet with a list of all side effects when I first started. However, I was so overwhelmed at that time, I doubt if I focused on each side effect. By the time I started with Taxotere, I did not reread the packet to see that it described SE of Taxol, not Taxotere. I guess they assumed that I would just do whatever they said. According to the main study that the oncs are following in the Source Book, the difference in the cancer free survival rates is less than 5% when compairing the dose dense regimen (every week) of Taxol with the 3 week regimen for Taxotere. When I was trying to compare Taxol with Taxotere, I do not remember seeing any warnings about permanent hair loss and my oncs never mentioned it when we were discussing my options. Since my hair was already gone at that point, I am not sure whether it would have changed my decision but it would have been nice to know.
My hair started growing when I started the Taxotere. It is growing slowly but at least the bald spots are gone. I have also noticed that some body hair is returning. I still have no eyebrows or lashes. I do not like wigs but I will continue wearing them as long as necesary. I am more concerned about the proposed 5 year treatment with Femara.
-
I'll be starting T&C therapy soon, followed by Armimodex (sp?) and I'm worried about permanent hair loss or even thinning. So I'm grateful for all the information here. My natural hair is baby fine and naturally on the thin side, but I'm not someone who could ever rock the bald/buzz cut look. Not even at 66. So I've already begun ordering wigs online and am praying I won't have to wear one permanently. Ugh.
Still, I'm old enough to remember wigs being 'in' fashion-wise many, many years ago and I was able to tolerate them back then. So here's hoping I can adjust to them again. I wouldn't even be able to tolerate going without one at home, so I got some inexpensive ones to try out, as well as a better-made/higher quality fiber one (a Jaclyn Smith "Bridgette") from Paula Young to wear when I go out.
I do get the doctor's focus on my survival as opposed to "cosmetic" issues. But hair loss just hits me hard emotionally. I have a woman doctor, so I'm hoping she understands my qualms...
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team