Permanent hair loss after chemo

  I have some hair - just not enough to cover my head.  I'm pretty bald and have been wearing wigs sincie 2010.   The drug is Taxotere and the manufacturer is Sanofi Aventis.  It is not an uncommon side effect, and is one we were not warned about in order to give informed consent.  MOST women do have full return of their hair, but many of us are left looking like a side show freak.  I happen to be one of those.

Suzanne

Permanent hairloss is specific to taxotere, although it CAN (but like almost never) happen with any chemotherapy.  It is estimated that around 6% of women undergoing Taxotere will have some degree of permanent hair loss.  There are few who have absolutely no hair, but there are some.  In my case, I have maybe 30% hair and I'd rather be bald because it's quite useless - so I shave it off which is rather sad.   It is NOT uncommon and something we should have been warned about so we can make an informed decision.  There are other drugs that are as effective (like Taxol).  Taxol and Taxotere are both taxanes, but Taxol does not cause permanent alopecia.  Don't you go worrying, Peony, I have been involved with a group of women responsible for the FDA investigation that verified our complaints in December once and for all.  It is true that Taxotere caused our permanent baldness, whether it is true that this was known and not disclosed or not will remain to be seen after all the dust settles.  We are a group of powerful women.  Visit the website aheadofourtime.org to learn more if you're interested.

Suzanne

I had HER2+, hormone negative breast cancer and finished chemo a year and a half ago. I am mostly bald still. I was told my hair would come back. I was on Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, and Perjetta for 6 rounds, then lumpectomy, then radiation, then immunotherapy with Perjetta and Herceptin. I had a complete pathological response after chemo. I am devastated by still being bald and have tremendous guilt that I am so depressed. I should be ecstatic my cancer is dead and I was until I a couple of months ago when I was told by my doctors they don't know why my hair is not coming back because it should have. My hair follicles are alive and not scarred. I had long, thick hair. It runs in my family on my dad's side. He died in his 70s with a head full of hair still.

I have been on Nutrafol, topical Minoxidil, and steroid shots to the head now since April. Please tell me my hair will come back! I'm 53 and devastated and ashamed I am so upset by this when I in remission as of now.

I am undergoing PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections every 6 weeks to my head. I get 50 shots and it is extremely painful. No numbing is allowed and the laughing gas does not work on me. But, I am getting some hair after 3 rounds. I have one more treatment. Insurance does not pay for it. It cost me $2,400 for 4 treatments. Time will tell how much this works but it has worked more than steroid shots and topical Minixidil. I am also taking 2.5. Mg oral Minixidil daily. Anything to get my hair back!