Weekly paclitaxel - has anyone had this affect their hair?

Anyone got any experience my oncologist said hair will just thin not loose completely 

  • Yes, that's exactly what's happened to mine. You can get a product called Toppik which fills in the gaps if need be. 

  • I lost all of my hair, but is has grown back.  Instead of waiting for it to fall out bit by bit, I asked my brother to shave it all off for me.  I must admit that when I saw my waist length blonde hair laying on the floor, I cried a little bit but I was assured that it would grow back and it has.  I bought loads of scarves and hats and I even bought a wig.  You will be okay, I promise you.  I know that for women especially, losing our hair is extremely traumatic, but it WILL grow back.  Good luck. 

  • Yes, I lost all my hair under EC (weekly for 3 months) and then Paclitaxel (weekly for 3 months). I also had a very bad reaction to Paclitaxel - and later lost about a third of my (overweight) body mass because I was more or less unable to eat or drink. Please don't worry too much about temporary hair loss - I was expecting it and went for a short haircut before. The reason why these drugs work is that they kill cells which develop rapidly. Cancer cells develop very rapidly, but the treatment we are given can include other parts of our body where cell growth is relatively fast. In my case it also included cells in the digestive tract as well as the hair folliicles - but all were back in order after a few months. Be patient - and even be a little bit proud that we can be survivors of what would have (and has in many cases) killed our parents or grandparents. 

    PS. my friend is still envious of my hair, which is back to fullsome growth. But, possibly due to shielding - or laziness - I can't boast about the increase of bodyweight, which is also close to pre-chemo levels (i.e. overweight again). We are what we are - but at least more of us are surviving cancer. 

    Be positive!

  • Hi Denique, thank you for your reply.  My hair is now grown back enough that I don't have to wear scarves and hats and wigs any more.........FREEDOM.  To actually feel the sun and rain on my head is wonderful lol!!!!

    The chemo has made my new hair grow back wavy.......it was straight before.  I always wanted wavy hair but what a way to get it eh?   Still, the cancer is getting beaten and that's what counts.