This is possibly a bit of a ‘fluffy’ question when everyone is dealing with such important stuff - but i really could do with some advice here!
i am back on iv chemo again after a 2 year break (xeloda tablets kept me stable for quite a while)
current chemo is eribulin. i have had 2 doses/1 cycle and my hair is falling out quite fast - not quite clumps but shedding rapidly on all clothes, chairs etc.
when i had my last chemo (paclitaxol) i was told i would definitely lose my hair so i simply shaved it off. With this one i was told 50% of women lose their hair so i just had it cut shorter and kept my fingers crossed.
my question is - once it starts to go is that it? does that mean i am going to lose it all? should i cut (no pun intended!) my loses and shave it all off now?
i would be interested to know what your experiences have been and what you decided to do
Hi Melissa Can’t help with your hair loss so do hope that someone will be along soon who can.So sorry that this is happening to you again. I rarely come on the Forum these days but have thought of you and Mrs B ( we all met up at St Alban’s)often.Then saw your forum name pop up.Hope that the Eribulin works a treat but not on your hair.(((HUGS)))Jxxx
Hi Melissa, everyone is different, but truth, when I had my chemo in 2005…6 months chemo, 6 weeks daily radiotherapy, & a further 4 months “mixed” concoction of chemo…I lost all hair with Epirubicin. Nasty chemotherapy drug, but with the next chemo mix, my hair grew back! My cancer had spread to lymph nodes, which wasn’t good. That was back in 2005. Two days ago I was diagnosed with secondaries, Scans indicate spread (possibly) to spine, maybe lungs, but further scans being arranged to verify. Started treatmet today, so before any hair loss, I have agreed to have my head shaved to raise funds for Cancer Research! x
I’ve just posted a new thread about eribulin and then decided to do a search and a few posts popped up, this one included.
Oh, Tillycat, you’ve posted what I didn’t want to hear!! What have you decided to do?
The first time I had chemo (2005/6) my hair came out, then just before Christmas 2007 I had it highlighted to cheer myself up, then two weeks later I started taxotare and out it came again. It’s taken until this year to get good and thick again. I know eribulin can make hair go thinner but was hoping it wouldn’t all drop out. I’m starting it on 13th December. Great
Hi all
Well the decision was made for me. On Sunday it stared coming out in handfuls. Faster than it did when I had paclitaxol so I took the bull by the horns and got my youngest daughter (she’s almost 12) to shave it off for me - she cried last time when I had it done while she was at school so I wanted to keep her involved.
It was actually quite a giggle and she was very sweet about it. Doing her best ‘is that the length/look you wanted madam’ hairdresser talk while she clippered and then shaved it off
I forgot how much it itched when it’s coming out. Feels a relief not to have that feeling anymore, although I do miss my hair, it was looking quite nice if I do say so myself
They do say that only 50% of women lose there hair on this chemo so it may not be you!
Aw, tillycat, you’d look good with or without hair. I’m an old boiler and going commando doesn’t do it for me so it’s back to the scarves (never did wigs). As we can stay on this chemo for as long as we can tolerate it, it looks likes the baldy look for me for however long it takes.
What other side effects are you having? Nothing too drastic, I hope. I still have peripheral neuropathy from taxotere so am prepared for it with this chemo.
Oh dear - I just had a big moan about se’s on your thread. So I can’t lie now and say it’s ok to cheer you up
However it is always different for differen’t people and I am can be a very up and down person.
The photo shows me at the moonwalk (I did the half moon so 13 miles). I was very pleased with myself then. The brain mets were diagnosed 2 weeks later. If I posted a photo of that time you would see how really cr@p I can look!!!
Mx
Ps I can’t ‘do’ wigs either but I did buy myself a lovely (if jolly pricey ) hat and a couple of scarves from suburban turban. Got them out again yesterday and they are still nice
Hi ladies. I’m also losing my hair, having started taxotere 2 weeks ago for lung mets. I had fec for primaries in 2009 and just got my hair back to shoulder-length. Been on capecitabine, parp trial and gemcarbo this year so lucky to have avoided hair loss till now and v unhappy about going through this again, as I really hated it first time. However I’ve just raided my savings to pay for a v expensive (sort of) alternative to wigs having had a wig first time round that I hated. I’m waiting for it to be made, and if it’s good I’ll let you know in case you were interested in looking into it. Appreciate some are happy with wigs, scarves etc - I really wasn’t. This one is essentially glued to your scalp, measured to exactly your head shape and size and made from real hair that you choose colour, thickness, scalp colour, texture of etc. it may look terrible but I have heard from a friend of a friend who had it done that it was brilliant as you don’t take it off. As I said, totally appreciate its less important for some people but thought I’d mention it anyway
Sounds really interesting francescap
Let me know how it goes.
Last time I lost my hair it was in the summer. Not finding it so bad this time round as it’s winter so hats are much more the ‘norm’. When it was warm wether i found people did a bit of a double take to see if I really looked ill or if I was just a slightly odd hat person
Still it would be nice to just have hair again
Tilycatx
Hi everyone,
This sounds intriguing francescap. I’m interested in how it works as so many people can’t get on with their wigs. Do you have to be completely bald to have it glued to your scalp? And what happens when your own hair starts to grow? I haven’t had any problem with my wig - in fact I prefer it to my own hair which is now about three inches long but horrible!
Hi tillycat
just wondering how u are finding the eribulin? Have u lost all your hair? Think I’ll be starting this in the next few wks so trying to prepare myself! Hope ur doing ok
tina x
Hello Loula, sorry for the very tardy reply. I had a temporary one glued on just before Christmas, as mine is not ready yet and it’s BRILLIANT. It’s real hair, so you wash and style as normal. It’s very long, which is how my hair was before I ever got cancer (hurrah) and the hair line is amazing - unless you were looking really really closely, you’d never tell. I think you can have it done if you’re not totally bald, not sure of the specifics though. I am assuming my own hair won’t ever grow back properly now as I think the only drugs left now are hair loss. This thing is high maintenance (you have to go back every few weeks to have it taken off and reapplied) and it’s expensive but for me, totally worth it. If you’re happy with your wig, great. I really wasn’t, having gone through hair loss once and again 2 years later, I feel I can spot a wig at ten paces now ;/
Hi francesca, would you mind posting a link about the hair piece u have ordered please. I’m keen to learn more + to find out costs etc. think lots of ladies on here would love to know more about this option. I’ve just started eribulin + am awaiting the big (hair) fall out My hair just starting to look normal + long enough to tie back so I’m gutted it’s gona go again…
Thanks alot,
tina x
