Treatment for Breast cancer Cut Short

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rhonaa
rhonaa Member Posts: 7
edited February 2018 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I was diagnosed on October 2nd with DCIS and had an MRI on October 9th. I went for a second opinion on October 13 and went with the facility. A/C chemo started on November 2 and ran through December 14 (four treatments). I was supposed to start the second four treatments on December 28, but had bronchitis. I also became very ill with my Crohn's Disease. I was hospitalized in December for two transfusions and a fever. I was told to leave the hospital on December 31st as I was told I was under observation. I went to another hospital on New Year's Day and spent 24 long days there. I had three surgeries on January 17th -- lumpectomy, strictuplasty, and bowel resectioning. I am lucky to be alive after all the surgeries. Doctors at the hospital made the decision to stop chemo as I was too sick and do the lumpectomy. I am told I still need to see the oncologist.

Although I feel better after the surgeries, I am still losing my hair and after almost two months nothing is growing back. I am almost bald and will need to return to work in March. I am very embarrassed about how I look.

Has anyone had to abandon chemo because they became too ill to continue? When will my hair start to grow back. I'll be 62 soon and think that I will need to wear a wig (which I was too sick to get) for the rest of my life.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited February 2018

    Slightly different for me. I had 4 a/c, wasn’t fun. Was supposed to do 4 taxotere. Had severe allergic reaction to it after first infusion. MO stopped all further chemo. Then had bronchitis. Then continued on with BMX and rads. 5 years later I’m NED

    Hope you continue to feel better and all goes well.

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  • Jelson
    Jelson Member Posts: 1,535
    edited February 2018

    rhonaa, I am very sorry you have had so many medical complications. You have posted in the DCIS forum. Chemo is not prescribed for DCIS. I think you will get more responses to your question from others who have had to abandon chemo if you were to post in the chemo or IDC forums.

    Good luck and good health.


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  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited February 2018

    Rhonaa - ask your oncologist for an RX for a wig - it's called a cranial prosthetic. And ask where in your area women go for wigs. I was fortunate to have a few options in my location. Caring and super talent in helping me find a wig. Which I wore for 6 months, getting compliments everywhere I went. Random strangers in elevators complimented my hairstyle having no idea it was a wig. My insurance covered the cost.

    Regarding the return of hair. My radiation oncologist said it generally starts to come back about 3 months AFTER your last chemo. You've had some additional trauma so you may be delayed. My husband's started growing back at about 3 months; mine started a little sooner than 3 months. I lost it 2 weeks after my first chemo. I stopped wearing a wig and started sporting a very short do just over 4 months after my LAST chemo.

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