Hair recovery after EC and Docetaxel - what is everyones’ experiences.

[MajesticTiger]

Hi @CT2021, thanks for the tips on hair recovery after Chemo - I’ll try anything to give my hair the best chance of growing back after my treatments.

I’m currently reading through an old thread on this site about Docetaxel and it sounds horrendous, with the additional side effects of the steroids and G-CSF injections 😔

I usually think that knowledge is power, knowing what you’re about to go through with each treatment step but right now I’m wondering if in this case ignorance is bliss.

Glad to hear that your hair has grown back with good coverage - hopefully mine will too. 🫶🏼xx

[CT2021]

Hi Majestic Tiger 

cancer really is the 💩 gift that keeps on giving. I had 3 cycles of EC then 9 weeks of pax and carboplatin. I finished in Jan and have loads of hair now. It’s frumpy and totally different to my hair before but hey at least it’s come back. 
i started off putting Jamaican dark castor oil on my head and then moved to Home Bargains own make caffeine shampoo. Definitely worked for me and got full coverage xx

[MajesticTiger]

Thanks @CT2021, I’ll need to keep that in mind.

This cancer journey is made that much harder with all these other things (risk of permanent hair loss, other side effects from different medications) that you don’t realise until you’re going through it.

Hope you are keeping well 🫶🏼xx

[CT2021]

I used caffeine shampoo and think it’s really worked! 

[MajesticTiger]

Hi Impatience, thank you for taking the time to comment.

That is reassuring to hear that your hair has grown back after EC & Docetaxel - fingers crossed mine will too.

I am actually hoping for chemo curls, as I currently ’perm’ my hair to get some volume, so it’ll save me a fortune 😉

Next hurdle after chemo for me will be the effects Radiotherapy could have on my DIEP Flap reconstruction, but that’s a whole different post for another day.

Best wishes to you 💗 x

[Impatience]

Hi

My last EC/Dox chemo was September last year. My hair fell out on my second EC and I lost my eyebrows and lashes after my first Dox. 

My hair began to grow back from the end of treatment and by March I had a head of hair albeit it short.  It has continued to grow and came back curly. Getting it into a style I like is a challenge but I’m grateful for hair!

My eyebrows and lashes were back for December even though sparse to begin with. I read all the info on the EC/Dox regime and worried about hair re-growth. I also started on Letrozole in the October and this hasn’t affected my hair growth neither so all good.

Wishing you lots of luck with your treatment and don’t worry about your hair.  It will be back! 

Imp x

[MajesticTiger]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Nice to hear you are on the other side of Chemo and that your hair is growing back - that must be a relief.

I hope your eyebrows and eyelashes start growing through for you soon.

I’ve ordered a few headscarves and I have an appointment on Tuesday for a wig consultation but I’m hoping all these things will be temporary to get me through chemo and really hoping my hair grows back once chemo is complete.

(I’m also hoping I will get chemo curls, as I will save a fortune on perms 😉)

Hoping too that Radiotherapy and hormone therapy drugs don’t have a negative effect on my hair once it does (hopefully) return.

Best wishes to you and any further treatments you still require. xx

[jules_n]

Hi there @MajesticTiger 

Just a quick reply to say I’m 7 weeks post EC & Docitaxel, and my hair is growing back, I probably have about 1cm now. 
Sadly, I can’t say the same for my eyebrows or eyelashes- still absent! 
I really wish I’d known about micro blading and had my eyebrows done before I started chemo…….

Wishing you all the best for the next stage of your journey XX Jules

[MajesticTiger]

Hiya, I’m currently recovering from my Mastectomy with immediate DIEP Flap Reconstruction surgery less than 3 weeks ago and have already met with my Oncologist, as they are keen for my Chemotherapy to start in early September.

I will be given EC x 3 and Docetaxel x 3  (with G-CSF throughout due to another underlying health condition that I have and also a few areas of my surgical wounds not healing as fast as the rest).

I have become aware that hair thinning / hair loss after Docetaxel can sometimes be permanent and that really worries me.

I will not be using the cold cap because of my other underlying health condition in my brain.

Just looking for other peoples’ personal experiences with hair growth after Docetaxel.

Did anyone unfortunately have permanent hair thinning / hair loss following Docetaxel?

Does anyone know of or were you offered any alternative chemo drugs that would be just as effective but without the risk of permanent hair thinning / hair loss?