T-FEC and Hair Loss (A Second Time)

Frill · March 2016

I've been all over the boards trying to find an answer to this question and no luck, primarily because everyone seems to do Taxol second and FEC or AC first.

My question is: Has anyone had a second round of hair loss with a chemo change? With Taxol my hair started falling out the day after the second dose. Hair got clipped to about 1". I shed for a week or so, then stopped. I still have all the rest of my hair and the hair on my head is growing back

After 7 Taxol doses, not being able to have reconstruction yet, the first hair loss, a lymphedema arm, hospitalization for cellulitis..... I'm still able to keep myself together and everyone thinking I'm doing just peachy. I'm afraid that if I have to go through hair loss a second time, I just may not be able to handle it.

I asked the MO's nurse and she said that women on T-FEC usually start getting their hair back during FEC, which sort of doesn't make sense because that's supposed to be the "scary" round. I suppose I don't have any reason *not* to believe her.

So, anyone had to lose her hair twice? Or lose some hair during one chemo, then more or different hair during the next?

SpecialK · March 2016

I did not do this combo but have seen many others do a taxane and anthracycline combo, usually with the anthracycline first. The typical result is total loss of hair on the anthracycline with some growing during the taxane. Since you did the reverse order I am afraid that the anthracycline will be more harsh and you will experience additional hair loss. I think because this is a more unusual order you may not find many answers to your query, but I wanted to offer an answer of sorts. Wishing you the best.

T-FEC and Hair Loss (A Second Time)

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