Any one else on EC then taxatere- when will I lose my hair

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1

Hi all,
I am on EC, had it 12 days ago, no sign of hair loss yet.
Who else has had Ec, and when did you lose your hair??

Thanks
Jackie xx

2

Hi Jackie,

I had FEC then Taxotere. My hair started to fall out after a couple of weeks - slowly to start with, not in a great rush. I think it was a week or 10 days after it started falling out that I felt it had thinned enough that I needed to wear a scarf.

Hope this helps

3

Hi Jackie

If the E in EC is Epirubicin which I think it is, this is what makes you lose your hair. And with me it was around 15 days for head hair, earlier for “down below”

I had a rather attractive (not) combover for about a week and then shaved it.

I hope it’s not too traumatic for you when/if it does go.

Cecelia. x

4

Hi Cecelia,
Yes the E is for Epirubicin. I believe this is what causes hair loss. I am in no great hurry (of course to lose my hair but was wondering when likely to. I have a thick head of hair and was hoping I could have if for a little longer.
Was advised not to wash hair every day, but while I have it I do not intend to have any bad hair days!!!
I do have a wig at the ready, but think I will be a scarf lady…cant tell how I am going to be until it happens, never the less it is constantly on my mind.

Thanks for replies

Jackie xxx

5

Hi Jackie

Well good luck to you, and if it does happen go with whatever works for you.

My hair is very thick (when I had any!) and I had it cut very short prior to chemo. Even though I wore the cold cap it came out (what a waste of £30!)

Good luck, hope you hang on to it… some do!

Cecelia. x

6

Hi Jackie, I had 6xEC last year and tried the cold cap, my hair started to thin and I persevered for 3 sessions, then decided it was a waste of time. Gradually it got thinner and thinner, but did not fall out completely, I wore my wig most of the time, then just before my last tretament I shaved the remainder off, up till then I couldn’t let it go :slight_smile: I did meet one lady who had very thick hair, and she kept most of hers, altho it did thin down along the top. Good luck with our treatment

Hugs
Marge
xx

7

Hi Jackie, I had 6 x FEC and used the cold cap - the newer one that is connected to a freezer unit beside the chemo chair. My hair thinned on top, but I never lost it. Guess I was one of the lucky ones.
Liz.

8

Hiya Jackie,

I had 3 EC and 4 Taxotere. I finished chemo 11 weeks ago now.

My hair started to fall out about day 14. I had very long & very thick hair.
I got my partner to cut it short for me when it started sowing signs of coming out. Then my hair follicles went very painful so my OH shaved it off with no guard on the clippers. This was an immense relief I can tell you!
My stubbly bits of hair were still coming out and getting stuck in the pillow, my clothes, the settee and kept sticking in me like little cactus spikes, so one night while in the bath I rubbed my head with the flannel which removed all the loose hairs.
I ended up with a lovely shiny bald head that I slapped tons of moisturiser on! :o)

After 3 EC I was changed to Taxotere and my hair started to grow back 3 weeks after my 1st one and I didnt lose any more after that.

I would have a nice head of hair now if I hadnt tried dying it about 5 weeks ago and it went bright orange!
I got the clippers out and shaved it all off and started again!!

Good luck with your treatment.

Julie x

9

Hiya

I have had 3 x FEC and 2 x Taxotere so far, with one more tax to go. My hair started to fall out about 14 days after first FEC so shaved it off about 2 days after 2nd FEC. My eyelashes are getting very thin now too.

Good luck with your treatment
Take care
Love
Dawn
x