I had my 3rd tax, carb and Herceptin on Thursday 1st September. For the last 3 days Ive noticed that my head feels like its on fire throughout the day and especially at night. Not sure if this is the start of the chemo menopause or another chemo side effect that we have to put up with. Have been checking temp. and it has been fine. Just had to take hat off again! phew! Also,I still have a thin covering of hair all over and am worried that the tax might not be working properly. Most people I know have lost all there hair on 3-weekly tax.
So far as I can ascertain everyone’s hair return is different. I had 3 FEC then 3 Tax, I lost virtually all my hair during the FEC but it began to grown back from just after Tax 2 and didn’t fall out again. Because my chemo was neoadjuvant (pre surgery) they could tell it was working, and working well to shrink my tumour. Try not to worry unduly, I think it’s mostly down us all being unique.
Regarding chemical menopause, if you are having the thrills (not) of hot flushes it is quite likely your head will feel ridcidulously hot but you won’t have a temperature. Some people (like me) find their face and neck turns quite red, others don’t. usually I find my flushes pass in about 5 minutes but some people’s are longer and others shorter. So yes, it sounds like you might be in this delightful phase I’m afraid.
There are lots of threads on here about hot flushes and menopausal effects so you may find something helpful.
Can’t comment on your hot head, but I didn’t lose all my hair on FEC-T either. The listed SEs say that hair may just thin, so I wouldn’t be too worried.
Dx
Thank you RevCat and DJ007 for your replies. My head does get really hot and my face and neck do turn red! At the moment it seems to be happening every 10 mins! such a joy! I will stop worrying about the hair because it does seem to vary from one person to another. Hope it stays because I have got used to it in a funny sort of way.
Everyone has different SEs and different hair loss… I lost most of my hair on my 6 ECs … despite cold cap … but I know others that havent. I have been getting the hot flushes throughout chemo and the hot head - yep, its a nightmare, feel it coming on, then have it for about five minutes or so … its worse through the night … then it’s a whole body flush. The good thing is, nobody seems to notice my flushes or they’re too polite to mention it!! Hoping they feel worse thsn they look - if you know what I mean!! Good luck xxx
