hairloss

susieoz · January 2008

hairloss

susieoz · January 2008

Hi everyone,

Just a little question my Mum is on day 15 of taxotere / cyclophoshamide chemo, she is doing extremely well, she got quite neutropanic day 7-10 and feels a bit tired but is much better than we thought..she went down the beach for a swim today, early in the morning (bless), my question is when did everyones hair fall out on the taxotere??? I was led to believe it all fell out on day 14, well its day 15 and hair all still there...she is not receiving adriamycin just the TC ...she is stressing about the whole hair thing and it would be great to know what normal time frames are.

Love you all

Suzie and Mum XXX

wendyk13 · January 2008

Hi Suzie and Suzie's Mom....

Mine started coming out exactly 2 weeks plus one day after starting Taxotere/Carbo...after about a full week of me slowing pulling it out (I refused to shave my head!)...it was all gone except for a little tuft at the top of my head. Stressing about the hair thing coming was MUCH worse than actually being bald...really! It's 8 months since my last chemo and I have short, curly hair and I kinda' like it!

janet11 · January 2008

Mine started coming out starting about cycle 2 (so that's about day 21) of TCH. It didn't all come out -- I had little sprigs here and there. I had it buzzed to about 3/4" when it started hurting.

Here's my photo log: http://mysite.verizon.net/wb9zph/hair/ . I do need to update it. Now a couple months after using Rogaine and getting past the discouragement I had in October, it's much better (*smile*).

Janet

(6 cycles Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, last treatment was Dec 27, 2006. Herceptin ended due to low LVEF in May 2007)

Curlylocks · January 2008

Hi Suzie,

My hair fell out about day 16 after first treatment, I had a/c and taxol.

You are a great daughter watching out for your mom. The anticipation of the hair loss had me waking up every night in a total panic, ended up having my hubbie shave it when it started to fall. I felt like I was taking control over something I had no control over.

I am now starting my 3rd year of survivorship and have tons of dark curly hair that is thicker than prior to bc.

Give your mom a big hug and know that we all know how she feels and it totally sucks but it will get better I PROMISE....

Michele

2curvy · January 2008

Mine started falling out at day 10! I shaved it at day 13; I couldn't stand all the hair everywhere. Let your mom know that there are definately some perks to being bald. Your morning routine is quick - no shaving, no fixing the hair! Just pop on a wig or a scarf and you are good to go. I was actually sad when my hair started coming back in!

Arty · January 2008

Dear Susieoz

Good to know that your mom is doing well on TC. I may be going for chemo (TC) in a couple of weeks-doc says that there are fewer side effects w/ TC. How is your mom's energy level? Do write

Arty

katoMato · January 2008

Hi Suzie & Mum,

My scalp started feeling really tight and uncomfortable about 2 weeks after my first TC tx, by day 17 it was coming out in clumps and was pretty unnerving, so my son got his buzzer, my daughter got the dustpan and my husband got the Champagne. We celebrated. (Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!)

The next weekend I pulled the roots out (still hurt even with no hair there!) with duct tape. (Kinda like waxing your legs?) AAAAAAAAAhhhh. Much better!

I'm about 3.5 months since my last chemo. Losing your hair is inconvenient, and sometimes in the beginning it's a little embarrassing, but there is nothing you can do about it, so you let it go! After a while, I didn't even care. It rates about a 2.3 on the Care-o-meter!

susieoz · January 2008

Hi Everyone

Thanks so much for all your helpful advise, your all sooo nice. The hair is coming out now but its not so bad.

Hi Arty - yes TC (taxotere cyclophosphamide ) is definately do-able. My Mum is 61 and has been marvelous on it. The only thing was she did get a big drop in her white cells called neutrophils so this round she has had a neulasta injection so that doesnt happen again, she swims down at the beach most days and hasnt had any nausea at all, just a bit tired but not too bad. She has just had her second lot and is to have 4 and I think by the end the fatigue is sposed to be worse...but so far so good.

Hi Kato Mato you are our idol we have read all your posts as you are the exact same diag. as my Mum and you did so well, How is the arimedex going?? Any of the dreaded aches and pains??

Love Susie and Mum XXXX

Anonymous · January 2008

My hair started falling out around day 14, on my first chemo. (I had it before surgery and then again following. When I started my after- surgery chemo, I had about 1/4 of an inch of hair and it all fell our around day 10. I lost all of it both times. I am sitting here now bald as 8-ball and without any nails.

wvgirl · January 2008

I am on taxotere also. My hair starting falling out on day 13 day 14 it was really falling out. I had it shaved on day 15 I was a mess. Hair was everywhere. I am glad I had it done.

zap · January 2008

Hi,

I am visiting from another thread. It amazes me how consistent the hair total fallout is in terms of day 14. That is exacly when it happened for me after a few days of shedding. I was on Taxotere too. Oh, what a mess! It was actually a relief to get it shaved as it was everywhere. I was at work on Friday with my own hair, bald on Saturday and back at work with a wig on a Monday. I agree that it is traumatic when it occurs, yet like many aspects of the journey, dims in importance with time. It definitely was a sad time for me as it truly is a loss.

Good luck to you all!

Susan

merlin · January 2008

I know my mum will not be able to cope with the hair loss at all. She died when I said that most women shave their hair off before it falls out and said" I cant even go there..." What can I say to her, be honest or just avoid the subject, I just dont know...........

Cynthia1962 · January 2008

Sharon - Your mom's hair won't start falling out until a couple of weeks after she starts treatment, so I would just give her some time to get used to the idea. When she seems ready, you can offer to help her pick out wigs or whatever head coverings she prefers. She'll want to pick out a wig while she still has hair so she can match the style and color to her own hair if that's important to her.

Cynthia

zap · January 2008

Merlin:

Cynthia is right. Maybe she needs time. Wigs today can be gorgeous and can even look better than one's own hair. I personally prefer my own flawed hair, but do know that many people loved my wig! My collegues could not believe I was wearing a wig, it was so close to my own hair color and style. It seems like she is just getting too much information and bad news all at one time and so she is shutting down. We all did and do just that. Be patient but be there for her.

In fact you know she has "to go there", so keep telling her you are there for her and she will process all these new challenges in time. And the hair does come back! Keep telling her that....the cancer will hopefully never come back, she needs to take chemo to kick the cancer and the chemo causes her hair to fall out while kicking the cancer. Mum's HAIR WILL COME BACK! Good luck.

Both my daughters studied in London and my older daughter met her Amercan husband while they both studied in London. Where about in the UK do you live?

Susan

Anonymous · January 2008

Sharon

I was very depressed when my hair started to fall out, and it came out in bunches or handfuls. Try and get her a wig before it starts to fall out and tell her what my son told me. (he was also going thru chemo)

Think of it this way, If the chemo is killing the hair then it must be doing it's job and also killing the cancer

medical418 · May 2008

In 2005 I was diagnosed with left breast cancer. In 2007 a new cancer showed up in my right breast. The drugs in 2005 totally took my hair out, 2007 drugs thinned it out, a lot. Right now I look like I have a very short buzz cut. I never cared about having cancer, the chemo, radiation or the reconstruction (I had both breasts sliced off), I was/am devastated with the hairloss. I never ever looked in the mirror in 2005. 2007-2008 is okay because its just a buzz cut look. But wearing scarves, wigs just freaks me out. That is the most devastating part of this whole thing. I really admire women who can go out in public wearing just a cap or a really short bandana. I wish I had the courage.

wishiwere · May 2008

I hear you on the caps and short tops. I'm looking at a FINE b/c I won't go in and get my license renewed without hair and I won't wear a stinking wig! The license place told dh when he called about wearing a hat/cap that he should get me a really nice wig and I can wear that! WTH? I can't afford the nice $1200 dollars one, and I won't something that ISN't me, or was worn by someone else! Pattoooiiii! Maybe I'll never get it renewed! Baahumbug! All because of the damned terrorist and they didn't even wear turbans! It's NUTTY!!!!!!

Leeayn · May 2008

I think the hairloss was just as devistating to me as being told I had cancer and being told I had to have Chemo. But..... I'm trying to accept it. My hair started falling out on day 13, had it buzzed on day 15 and I finished doing the slick shave myself this morning! The hair hurt so bad! so now it's gone. I've been wearing scarves the past few days. I do go buy a wig, which was also hard! The look beautiful on the wig heads, but when you put them on, it's a different story

and you know, what bothers me, too - it's the people who think they have to just stare at you with a scarf. HELLO, I know I'm not the only adult woman with cancer that wears a scarf. It's just a pretty scarf, tied around my head (sort of like the biker dude), it's not anything different than most women wear.

Matter of fact, the night I had my head buzzed, I woke up and went to the bathroom and when I turned on the light and saw myself in the mirror, it scared me for a second.

My husbands thoughts on me losing my hair was it's just one step closer to me being well.

fighting Cancer with Dignity and Grace

<>< Keeping the Faith <><

www.caringbridge.org/visit/leeaynbyrd

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