Breast Cancer Now Forum

HI I finished my chemo in February 2011 and I have the same problem!! I had lovely thick hair before this whole saga started and 2 years down the line I'm still having to wear a wig! I have been busy seeing thrichologisst and using creams, lotions, etc, but to no avail. I had the same response from my medical team ("don't worry it will eventually grow back" bla bla bla) but still I have this very evident thinnng on the top of my hair that makes me look like my Dad's twin sister!!! I too am on Tamoxifen and I'm worried about using any tablets as I fear they might interact with my hormone treatments! Just a question: have you had Taxotere? I am in touch with a couple of women who have the same issues and it looks like that Tax is to blame...having said this Tam doesn't help either! anyway, my next stop is having hair extensions attached to whatever hair I have on my head as I can't stand this wig anymore and it's driving me on the verge of depression! Let m know how you get on, I really hope it improves for you! Deb xx ... View more

Another one here who is still wearing a wig a year on .. I have thick hair at the sides and at the back, but the top of my head is really really really sparse! Very similar to Winnie2's male pattern baldness problem I'm afraid, and yes I had the infamous Tax. Hairdresser cannot do anthing about, apart from trimming what I have and give some lotions, , hence after waiting for a miracle for 15 months I have decided to see a trichologist. I have an appointment this coming Friday. If anyone wants to know what he tells me please le me know! More than happy to share my experience with you. Jeez, I only hope he tells me it's reversable !!! / ... View more

Hi KB Another one here with heavy lymphnodes envolvement. Was diagosed almost 2 years ago, grade 3 cancer, 3.5 cm plus a vast area of DCIS of 5 cm .. I was shocked and petrified (and annoyed by everyone saying on this site "thank God its not in the nodes" aaarrghh) when they told me it was quite advanced, but still I went with the flow and had lots of chemo (4 EC+ 4 Tax), rads and am now on Tamoxifen. If it's of any consolation to yourself my Oncologist was a bit gloomy too when she read my path report, but the surgeon was very otimistic and up lifting. Anyway, 2 years have passed by, returned to work full time while on Rads, still NED, and I'm now waiting for recon which should happen in 3 weeks time and sod the cancer I've even just bought a new car! You're are the very beginnng of your journey, just wanted to wish you all the best!!!! Deborah xx ... View more

Hi January Yes, I had 4 doses of Taxotere and I think that this is what gave me the "coup de grace". After my second dose I lost all my eyebrows, eyelashes, and any hair that I had left from the EC. It is becoming so frustrating , I have been patient for 12 months but I am now starting to get worried abouth this whole thing. I have raised my concerns with BC nurse, oncologist, pharmacist, etc. and all I get is "it will grow back eventually" AAArrrgghhhhh!! Of course I choose to be hairless rather than have the cancer back, but like yourself I only want to look normal again like the majority of women on this forum. p.s. day 10 of this Redken stuff and I'm starting to feel a bit prickly in some spots where the new hair is coming out! Could it be that it's really working?!?!? Will let you know! Deb ... View more

Hi January Sorry to say this, but I'm pleased to see someone in my same position,if you know what I mean! My last Tax was 11th Feb 2011 and, like you, I have hair at the sides and at the back but almost nothing, except for a few strands, on the top of my head. My OH says I look like BoBby Charlton! After reading a post somewhere on this forum, I decided to buy Intraforce by Redken and I've been using it for the last week. Fingers crossed! Apparently it's specifically designed for women who have undergone chemical treatments and are having hotmone problems ( I am on Tamoxifen) which is causing the thinning of the hair. Will keep you updated on this one! ... View more

Hiya I get sooo depressed at reading these posts.... I also finished chemo last February and I'm still pretty bald on the top of my head. My eyebrows have never grown back either although my eyelashes luckily have come back. I've tried everything that's on the market with no luck, will probably ask GP to send me to a trichologist (spelling?). I had very thick hair before all this started, can't believe I still have to wear a wig a year on 😞 ... View more

Hi Julie I know where you're coming from!I finished radiotherapy last April and I still have pain in my arm, neck and collarbone. It started about a month after the last treatment and I've had it ever since. I did mention it to the consultant on my visit back in August, but after squeezing my lymphnodes he said I was fine and that it was side effects of rads. I too feel a bit worried by it, and I thought of mention it to the Oncologist when I see her in February, but on the other hand I don't want to undergo anymore tests or scans, I seem to have adopted the "head in the sand" attitude and I want to forget this whole mightmare... ... View more

Hi I too had heavy node envolment (7/14) and was expecting scans at the end of my treatments. I was told that since I had nothing before I started treatments ( I had CT scan and bone scan)then it would be pointless to have any more as these might trigger malignancies (her exact words). She did say however that if I get any symptoms that do not go away to give them a call directly. I just take my Tamoxifen every day and hope to keep the beast at bay... Deb ... View more

Hi Liz I too have fibroids (very big, 12 cm each)and have been on Tamoxifen since March. So far so good. I was very concerned at first because of my fibroids, and the Onc did say that Tamoxifen could make it worse, but as I said so far I have had no symptoms at all, except for very mild period pains every now and then (and hot flushes lol). Hope this helps. The only thing is I get sent for regular pelvic US to see how they are behaving, hopefully I won't need to have an hysterectomy.. tc ... View more

Hello another one here with very sparse hair (especially on top where I'm almost bald) and I finished chemo in February so that's 7 months now... BCN and Onc not really interested (in the grand scheme of things I can understand it) and I have now started using Revita by DS Laboratories in the hope of seeing some change! I hate my wig now, it's so blxxdy hot especially when having hot flushes, I want to go back to my nice thick hair that I had before this nightmare began. My eyebrows have not grown back either, but my eye lashes are now quite long. I blame it on the Tax! deb ... View more

Hi CG It's normal to have scans if your nodes are involved, I had 7/14 positive and therefore was sent for CT scan and bone scan before I started Chemo. It is worrying as I remember being really scared of these tests and I spent a week not sleeping awaiting for the results. Luckily they all came back clear (apart from a cyst on my liver) and was therefore able to start treatments immediately. I finished all my treatments in March and I am now back to normality and awaiting for reconstruction. TC Debs ... View more

So so so sad to read this, all my heartfelt condolences to Claire and her family and friends. RIP and God bless you Deborah ... View more

Hi Hazelmary I have only just started on Tamoxifen, will be taking it for the next 5 years, possibly 7, but the Onc told me that I will then move onto an als for the following 3 years, possibly longer... I really don't know how it works out, and why there are so many different opinions on the matter, I just have to trust my Oncologist and hope all will go well!! Is it maybe because we were highly hormone receptive? Deb ... View more

OAL Yes! My partner said I was awake and very smiley and co-operative too lol. I don't remember anything! I came round in my bed at home, fantastic! To wake up and see all your teeth done: priceless 🙂 ... View more

No, not all dentists use sedation, but some do. I go to a dentist here in West Yorks who twice a week, when the other doctor is there too, treats phobic patients. I am one of them unfortunately. They inject something similar to Rohypnol, so you don't go to sleep, but you remember nothing. Only thing is it's very expensive and you have to have someone with you to take you home afterwards. ... View more

HI Haughtaj Reading your post is like looking at myself in the mirror! I too had mx last August followed by chemo, rads and Tamoxifen since March! I'm also having a mammo next week! Anyway, I saw the oncologist last Friday and was told to come back in 6 months, but to give them a call if I had any suspicious symptoms and they will see me before then. I don't know why I was told to come back in 6 months, maybe because I had heavy node involvment? Deb ... View more

Hi there finished chemo at end of February and I'm still wearing a wig. It's growing nice and thick at the sides and at the back, but it's struggling on the top! Hence why I do not have the courage to go without my wig, I feel very self conscious. Seems like my hair on the top has finally decided to come out, hopefully I will be able to ditch that awful wig by September... I wish... Deb ... View more

I had such terrible pains during my first Tax that I wanted to stop all treatments. I was then prescribed Arthrotec taken together with Paracetamol and it really worked! Do ask your GP or Oncologist to prescribe your Mum some strong painkillers. Take care Deb ... View more

Hello I started chemotherapy 4 weeks after surgery. Had bone scan and CT scan inbetween xx ... View more

Hi Poannie I had the same when I was on Tax. Onc told me it was nothing to worry about since it was just some spotting. It is one of the ses of Tax for some people I'm afraid, just make sure it is not constant i.e. with me it happened only the first 2 or 3 days after the Tax infusion and then stopped. ... View more