when does hair fall out with taxotere/cytoxen?

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dianebraun
dianebraun Member Posts: 51
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had my 1st taxotere/cytoxen treatment 10 days ago. When should I anticipate my hair falling out?
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  • pattimc
    pattimc Member Posts: 431
    #2
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    Hair
    I had the same cocktail as you and mine fell out about 2 weeks after my first treatment. Everyone is different though!

    Good luck with chemo! Drink lots and lots of fluids!
  • GrandmaJ
    GrandmaJ Member Posts: 209
    #3
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    Hair loss
    My hair fell out exactly 14 days after first chemo treatment. I purchased a wig before I even started chemo.

    Judy
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #4
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    Hey
    I am 10 days out from 1st Taxotere and Cytoxan treatment too. Glad you ask this. I have been told 13 days to 3 weeks so I guess it is getting close. We need to keep up with each other sounds like our schedule is very close. God Bless
    Janice
  • heidijez
    heidijez Member Posts: 441
    #5
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    i had the same chemo
    i had the same chemo cocktail and on day 13,about two-thirds of my hair fell out when i went to wash it. got the rest shaved off and am totally fine with being bald (much to my surprise). finished chemo on april1, but hair has not yet started growing back.

    good luck to you on your journey, and as someone else mentioned, drink LOTS of water!
  • Fabu
    Fabu Member Posts: 29
    #6
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    heidijez said:

    i had the same chemo
    i had the same chemo cocktail and on day 13,about two-thirds of my hair fell out when i went to wash it. got the rest shaved off and am totally fine with being bald (much to my surprise). finished chemo on april1, but hair has not yet started growing back.

    good luck to you on your journey, and as someone else mentioned, drink LOTS of water!

    Me, too
    I had the same cocktail. Tomorrow will be 14 days. My hair on my head has not yet started but I have other parts of my body that have definetely started falling out :) Anyone else?
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #7
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    Diane, mine was on about day
    Diane, mine was on about day 14. It was coming out in handfuls so I had my hairdresser buzz it. Very traumatic for me but it really needed to be done. Good luck!
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #8
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    GrandmaJ said:

    Hair loss
    My hair fell out exactly 14 days after first chemo treatment. I purchased a wig before I even started chemo.

    Judy

    Just want to wish you good
    Just want to wish you good luck with chemo!
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    #9
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    Diane
    As the others have mentioned, you can pretty much count on 14-16 days. At first it's just a few strands here & there, then it starts coming out in clumps. It's best at that point to just buzz it down. This is my second time around & I tried to hang onto the little bit of hair I had sprouted for as long as I could. The constant shedding became annoying & the need to shave it yet again won that war. Hope your s/e are minimal to none during your Chemo Treatments. We are here for you each step of the way!
    Take Care
    Cat
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #10
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    Hair loss.......
    Diane, I can't add much.......I went the taxotere/cytoxan route last summer....I had my hair buzzed before I started chemo then that fell out exactly 14 days after my first infusion...I then shaved it, at least it was something that I could control! My eyelashes and eyebrows hung on for quite some time.....I was told they are the last to go......I never lost my eyebrows although they did thin......I never lost my eyelashes on my right eye, but lost them all on the left......weird! At least it was summer time so I never had to shave, that was nice........on the UPSIDE, once chemo was over in August my hair started to appear as stubble about 4 weeks later........by Jan of this year I went wig free.....it was short but it was hair! Once it started growing back, it grew like crazy! IT came back in silver on the top and sides and my natural dark brown in the back.....again, weird! I took care of that silver pronto! My hair is now over 3 inches long and CURLY CURLY CURLY.......never had curly hair before.........they call it "chemo curl"......they say it will remain this way for 12-18 months but not every one gets the "curl" from what I understand.....I actually love it, easiest I've ever had!

    Another thing I was told was to take extra good care of your fingernails and toenails....BUT no professional manicures or pedicures, due to the risk of infection....My nails were rock hard but developed ridges and a yellowish color......the toenails, YUK! Big toenails still look pretty nasty, but I kept both nails and toenails polished to hide the discoloration......

    I wish you well as you continue your treatments.....I finsihed chemo last Aug and my radiation was done the 2 of Nov.......I know it seems like an eternity to the finish line, but I am here to tell you, there is a wonderful life awaiting you.....there IS life after bc....

    Peace be with you,
    Nancy
  • Christine Louise
    Christine Louise Member Posts: 426 Member
    #11
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    Day 15
    On day 15, my hair suddenly got loose and my scalp became tender. My daughter was starting a 3-day run in a high school musical and family was coming in town. I didn't want to distract from her special time, so I "glued" my hairdo together with hairspray for three more days. I was so worried that hair was falling everywhere I went. Then, on Sunday I couldn't wait to get it buzzed off! It took several more weeks for most of the stubble to come out, helped gently with a lint roller and masking tape.

    My third infusion was a week ago. My other hair has thinned but not come out completely.
  • dianebraun
    dianebraun Member Posts: 51
    #12
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    Christine Louise said:

    Day 15
    On day 15, my hair suddenly got loose and my scalp became tender. My daughter was starting a 3-day run in a high school musical and family was coming in town. I didn't want to distract from her special time, so I "glued" my hairdo together with hairspray for three more days. I was so worried that hair was falling everywhere I went. Then, on Sunday I couldn't wait to get it buzzed off! It took several more weeks for most of the stubble to come out, helped gently with a lint roller and masking tape.

    My third infusion was a week ago. My other hair has thinned but not come out completely.

    Thank you every one for the
    Thank you every one for the replies. I have very full (mono-brow if not for tweezers) eyebrows and long, full eyelashes, so I hope I get to keep them. I'm at day 11 "post first chemo"....and the wig is sitting on it's stand waiting for days 14-16. Looking forward to the potential curly hair in six months.
  • dianebraun
    dianebraun Member Posts: 51
    #13
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    Christine Louise said:

    Day 15
    On day 15, my hair suddenly got loose and my scalp became tender. My daughter was starting a 3-day run in a high school musical and family was coming in town. I didn't want to distract from her special time, so I "glued" my hairdo together with hairspray for three more days. I was so worried that hair was falling everywhere I went. Then, on Sunday I couldn't wait to get it buzzed off! It took several more weeks for most of the stubble to come out, helped gently with a lint roller and masking tape.

    My third infusion was a week ago. My other hair has thinned but not come out completely.

    Thank you every one for the
    Thank you every one for the replies. I have very full (mono-brow if not for tweezers) eyebrows and long, full eyelashes, so I hope I get to keep them. I'm at day 11 "post first chemo"....and the wig is sitting on it's stand waiting for days 14-16. Looking forward to the potential curly hair in six months.
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #14
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    Fabu said:

    Me, too
    I had the same cocktail. Tomorrow will be 14 days. My hair on my head has not yet started but I have other parts of my body that have definetely started falling out :) Anyone else?

    "Other parts"
    Fabu,

    I also did Taxotere/Cytoxan, and my hair loss also started entirely in "other parts," on Day 13. The hair on my head didn't start to get jealous and join in on the fun until about Day 15-16.

    Traci
  • mvannie
    mvannie Member Posts: 16
    #15
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    hair
    I had my first T/C chemo 12 days ago and when I took a shower tonight I had clumps of long hair coming out as I brushed it :(
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #16
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    mvannie said:

    hair
    I had my first T/C chemo 12 days ago and when I took a shower tonight I had clumps of long hair coming out as I brushed it :(

    day 15 for me
    I gotten my hair cut VERY short on day 13 ... thinking it would come out gradually. HA! On day 15 I ran my fingers through my hair and ended up with a hand full of hair. Did it again ... and another hand full. I called a friend who I knew would have clippers and told her to plug them in because I was on my way over for her to shave my head. After she did it I looked in the mirror and "saw" my grandfather. :-) But ... I plopped my denim hat on my head and my friend and I went out to eat. After all ... it was only hair. :-)

    hugs.
    teena
  • dianebraun
    dianebraun Member Posts: 51
    #17
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    tgf said:

    day 15 for me
    I gotten my hair cut VERY short on day 13 ... thinking it would come out gradually. HA! On day 15 I ran my fingers through my hair and ended up with a hand full of hair. Did it again ... and another hand full. I called a friend who I knew would have clippers and told her to plug them in because I was on my way over for her to shave my head. After she did it I looked in the mirror and "saw" my grandfather. :-) But ... I plopped my denim hat on my head and my friend and I went out to eat. After all ... it was only hair. :-)

    hugs.
    teena

    I'm getting a few strands in
    I'm getting a few strands in my hands tonight, and it's day 13.....looks like my hair days are numbered. I work a half day tomorrow and then 2 days off. I might make an appointment with a pair of scissors, because I don't think I can handle a razor on my head just yet.
  • Christine Louise
    Christine Louise Member Posts: 426 Member
    #18
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    Best wishes to all of you
    Best wishes to all of you ladies starting the hairfree part of your journey!

    I haven't been upset about wearing hats and scarves. Last night, however, I attended my daughter's choir concert against my onc's recommendation (low blood count). So, I wore a face mask. Wow, that upset me, finally. People were so kind, although a few didn't recognize me. I just felt so conspicuous with head and face covered! I guess everybody has one or two things that seem the hardest. Now that I've done it once, I can do it again for her last school event. Mostly, I'll respect the fact that I need to stay away from people for awhile. To everything there is a season ...
  • Sunrae
    Sunrae Member Posts: 808
    #19
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    Christine Louise said:

    Best wishes to all of you
    Best wishes to all of you ladies starting the hairfree part of your journey!

    I haven't been upset about wearing hats and scarves. Last night, however, I attended my daughter's choir concert against my onc's recommendation (low blood count). So, I wore a face mask. Wow, that upset me, finally. People were so kind, although a few didn't recognize me. I just felt so conspicuous with head and face covered! I guess everybody has one or two things that seem the hardest. Now that I've done it once, I can do it again for her last school event. Mostly, I'll respect the fact that I need to stay away from people for awhile. To everything there is a season ...

    I had my first
    I had my first cytoxan-taxotere treatment last week and tomorrow will be my second treatment. Since I have other health issues, I'm on a weekly cycle. My onc said she wouldn't be surprised if I didn't lose my hair so I'm just waiting to see what will happen. Wishing all of you ladies the best.
  • AngelBaby
    AngelBaby Member Posts: 47
    #20
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    Hair
    It took about two weeks for me hair to start coming out. My hair was really long. My husband and I used to have a joke about putting the clippers to my hair. So one day I brought him the clippers and told him that it was his lucky day. He could shave my head.
  • GayleMc
    GayleMc Member Posts: 311 Member
    #21
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    AngelBaby said:

    Hair
    It took about two weeks for me hair to start coming out. My hair was really long. My husband and I used to have a joke about putting the clippers to my hair. So one day I brought him the clippers and told him that it was his lucky day. He could shave my head.

    I lost my hair on the 13th
    I lost my hair on the 13th day after 1st treatment of Cytoxan/Taxotere. I had gotten my hair buzzed really short but it still came out by the finger-fulls and so my son and my boyfriend shaved my head. I cried. Have to admit that it was not as bad as the anticipation, though. I am 5 weeks from finishing chemo and I can see where fluffs of hair is growing back but I am feeling very impatient to have enough so I can ditch the coverings. Good wishes to all of you beginning or in the midst of treatment. It really does end before you know it and you will be so glad to be done.

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