Hi, I’m feeling similar although I’ve had 4 out of 8 treatments. I thought the cold cap was working and I guess I did work because I definitely kept my hair much longer than I would have without it, but I have had massive shedding the last few days and I can’t decide if this is just prolonging things and adding more stress, would it have been easier just to shave it at the start and get over it!? The daily shedding is very upsetting. What chemo are you on? I’ve done 4 x EC and will be moving onto 4 x paclitaxel now which apparently isn’t as harsh on the hair so maybe I’ll hold out for one more and see if the shedding slows.. xx

Hi there,

I have had 4 x AC (similar to EC) and 4 for Paclitaxel. I was the same, shedding only started on day 26. Just been through first paclitaxel and shedding seems a bit heavier.  But I am going to keep going. Despite the shedding I still have the illusion of hair but don’t know how long this is going to last as thought it would slow down. One thing to prepare yourself for is the Paclitaxel is 5 hours as the treatment takes longer so it is a lot to take.

re minimizing shedding anguish, I keep my hair tied in a loose ponytail and then comb once a day. This means I am not seeing random hairs everywhere. 

If anyone has experienced tthe full AC-T it would be great to know if things will stabilize? 

Hang in there and keep the faith! Xx 

Thank you for sharing your experience. Is Paclitaxel the same as Docetaxel? Five hours is a long time to sit in that chair having the infusion pumped into you.

Yes it would be interesting if anyone out there has completed their course of chemo and managed to be successful with the cold capping.

I am thinking of going to my trusted hairdresser to ask him to tidy up my hair as it is due a cut and colour, but not sure if colour is recommended. I am 62 and my grey roots are showing. Trying to go through this hellish journey without telling my family as it would destroy my mother. 

Next chemo is Wednesday and will continue with cold capping as long as I can.

Best wishes

Thank you for sharing your experience. Is Paclitaxel the same as Docetaxel? Five hours is a long time to sit in that chair having the infusion pumped into you.

Yes it would be interesting if anyone out there has completed their course of chemo and managed to be successful with the cold capping.

I am thinking of going to my trusted hairdresser to ask him to tidy up my hair as it is due a cut and colour, but not sure if colour is recommended. I am 62 and my grey roots are showing. Trying to go through this hellish journey without telling my family as it would destroy my mother. 

Next chemo is Wednesday and will continue with cold capping as long as I can.

Best wishes

Yes it is hard but I think if you stick with it, it will grow back much faster even if you do lose more. Yes colour not recommended until after. I am in the same boat grey coming through! But the grey not coming as fast as if I had washed my hair everyday like before.

I will let you know if my shedding slows down! Paclitaxel is fairly similar to Docetaxel as they are from the same family. Both are meant to be less toxic than EC so you never know it might be better for you than me! 

Please keep me posted of your progress.

When is your next chemo?

Best wishes 

Will do and it’s not until early next week! Hope yours goes well. 

I hope so as after my first cycle I ended up in A&E 28 hours later and kept in for 4 nights on a drip and intravenous sickness fusions. My headaches were also horrific. I thought my head was going to explode and had a brain scan but fortunately came back clear. Oncologist has given me a different sickness drug to take before and after chemo so hope that works as don’t want to be blue lighted in a ambulance again.

Best wishes 

Oh my god that’s horrendous! I took Emend on first one and was very good but that must have been very frightening. They will keep very close watch on you next time so hope it goes ok. 

Hi

Just thought I would let you know I had my hair cropped today. Went ahead with second cold capping 9 days ago but headache during my treatment was horrendous plus losing so much hair.

The sickness tablets worked but I have been in bed for 8 days as so weak from head to toe.

How are you doing?

I had my first paclitaxel yesterday and couldn’t stand the cold cap for that long, I had it on for about 4 hours but had the most excruciating head ache so had to give up. I think that’s me done, probably going to shave this weekend.. feeling sad and defeated :( 

Hi

Had hair cut short yesterday as could not stand my second cold capping. My hair look dead was brittle and coming out in handfuls so did not work for me plus headaches were horrendous.

Feel good about making the decision. Even if hair was not coming out I could not put up with the brittle dead lifeless looking hair and would have ended up putting a wig over the top.

 I bought a wig a few weeks ago and wore it today. I am going to have it cut a little shorter and some weight taken out of it. So much you can do with a decent wig.

Don’t be disheartened.

Best wishes