Had my first cycle of docetaxel on the 10th of December. Had quite a few side effects quite a few days later. Now 2 weeks on and ny hair is starting to come out.ive started using the cold cap not sure if it will work with the amouht of hair i have already lost.will keep using it but I think i will lose all my hair of this cycle is anything to go on.
Other side effects aching bones muscles etc.also got bad indigestion and cant taste much.mouth is sore.these side effects are quite bad so beware!
Paxman suggest keep going with the cold cap if you can protecting any bare patches with gauze or surgical cap as new hair growth is faster and better.
There is a monthly chemo starters group to share your journey with other having chemo at the same time. I found it really helpful. Here is the link for December 2024 if you would like to join
Hi,
I used the cold cap as I read a few studies which suggest it reduced the risk of permanent alopecia which docataxel can cause. Following 6 cycles of ECT I have little body hair but 18 month following chemotherapy a full head of hair. Apparently the cold cap protects the hair follicle. I did have hair thinning and a couple of bald patches by the end of chemo but I feel cold capping was successful as I avoided permanent alopecia.
Hi Mich54
Well done for going with the Cold Cap. I went that way and was glad with it being winter time. I did loose 50 % of my hair, but it grew back much stronger and curly. Not bad for someone whoâs hair wouldnât stay in a perm being too strong.
My taste altered and it will come back. I knew what food i likes so just persevered eating the same if it was good for me, although on chemo days i had a ready meal with some veggies ready for a quick meal before retiring to bed. I jus t wanted to sleep. Sorry but aching limbs is part of the package. But a bath before bed can help, or even if really bad one paracetamol every 3 hours. This method manages the pain better, i was advised by a nurse.
It helps to take nibbles with you, although the nurses got quite envious of some of my treats, and once iâd rung the bell a gave them a box of them.
iâ m going into 3 years the other side, but feel free to come back with any more questions. you will get through this . keep positive - love and hugs Moonsox
I have had 3 cycles of
s of docetaxel and they used the cold cap for two cycles as my hair became thinner on the scalp and they cant put it on if the scalp is exposed.so i didnât have it in my third.my hair has become really thin and still comes out due to this particular drug. Docetaxel is very strong had a lot of nasty side effects
Iâm sorry you werenât able to continue. But I feel you have been misled. They can continue with the cold cap if you have bald patches, they just needed to be covered with gauze or a surgical cap. Continuing with the cold cap can improve regrowth.
I think once you have stopped is will be too late to restart.
I wanted to post this to keep everyone informed as I donât think some of the staff are very pro cold cap due to time and effort to use. But itâs not them who are losing their hair.
@naughty_boob Totally agree with you. I did it for the first time on my first EC 4 days ago and the nurses told me not to wash or brush my hair for a week! (This is total myth so i found out).
I went on to these two sites that you recommended and they are brilliant. These people are the experts on the Paxman cold cap. They certainly know their stuff!
So now i shall go back on my second cycle and educate the nurses on it .
Thank you for your kind words. I do feel itâs so important people get the facts from the experts on cold capping. Well done for thinking about educating the nurses. They do all get training from Paxman experts but I feel they try to do short cuts to the detriment of the patients
I watched the Amy Dowden doc a few weeks ago on BBC iPlayer and was so upset to see her loose her hair because the put the cold cap on incorrectly with not the cap and its outer neoprene layer at the same time. She may or may not of lost some or all of her hair but the nurses didnât give her the best chance and the doc made it appear it was cap that failed rather than the poor technique. Being on BBC so many will have watched it and think it doesnât work and believe the nurses was correctly applying it. Iâm sure Paxman owner was not impressed. I read about the poor use on social media, I think it was Dr Liz OâRiordan who had Claire Paxman on her podcast, and Claire Paxman liked the my post.
Maybe there should be a hashtag #coldcapworks. Although, I know not all chemotherapy works with cold cap.
x