I had triple negative with surgery and reconstruction Oct 2011. Caught it very early stages. Took 18 weeks of chemo Taxotere. Finished April 2012 and I still have very little hair coming back. Saw a Dermatologist three months ago and told to use five percent minoxidil for six months. No results so far. I have read some reports of studies possible sixteen percent of patients get permanent Alopecia. My onoclogist never told me of the hight percent of danger in your hair never growing back. I would never have taken this drug if I had known. Any one else out there with this horrible result.
Hello Viridian
I also had treatment which included Taxotere for breast cancer. Like you, my hair regrowth is disappointingly thin and probably about 1/4 of the hair I had before if that. I completed chemo at the end of November 2011. I too am on Minoxidil via a dermatologist (hair specialist) but I am on tablets (1 mg dose daily). I was told to wait a year for results. It has been about 5 months already with very subtle change (I couldn’t see it but the specialist said he could see some difference in my hair). However, I was on a half dose to begin with (due to paranoia about getting side effects, which thankfully haven’t eventuated).
I am assuming that you are using the topical foam/lotion rather than a tablet? I wonder which is best to be honest.
I wanted to say to you, don’t give up hope, as when I was speaking to a cancer nurse the other day, she said that it takes 4,5 even 6 years for some women’s hair to improve. I know this is ages and none of us want to wait that long, but at least there is still hope right?
Also, are you on Tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor? Both types of medications to keep the cancer away can also affect your hair growth.
On a practical note, I found a hair piece which clips in and is the same colour as my existing hair, and it’s much better than wearing a hot and itchy full wig. Everyone says it looks great so at least that’s something. I am sure that you would be able to get something similar yourself.
It is a big blow to not have your hair back fully and I can say to you that I am still angry that it happened to me, on top of everything else. Please feel free to contact me and let me know how you are going. I am happy to be of support if I can.