Permanent hair loss after chemo

peony

There's an attorney running a commercial here for class-action clients who have had chemo and suffered permanent hair loss. Supposedly, the drug company knows the probable outcome, but there are no warnings and there are other drugs that would work just as well. They do not name the drug or the drug company in the commercial. Has anyone here had permant hairloss? What drug were you using?

jessiesmom1

Permanent Hair Loss

The name of the drug in question is TAXOTERE and the manufacturer is SANOFI-AVENTIS. Another permanent side effect of Taxotere can be excessively watery eyes. The drug can cause damage to the tear ducts.

IRENE

Double Whammy

Me.

  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

 

takingcontrol58

Drug Lawsuits

Peony,

If you want to learn about all the lawsuits/warnings on drugs and medical devices, you can go to www.drugwatch.com.
www.fda.gov is another very educational website.  There are alot of warning articles on Avastin, going back
awhile.  Avastin has some very serious side effects.

These sites are good to read before making any decisions on taking new drugs.

Regards,
Takingcontrol58

 

peony

Thanks for the info ladies.

Thanks for the info ladies. Since my cancer Dx, I'm very wary of side effects. I'm also wondering if Taxotere and Taxol are related. My hair came back, but I'm still uncomfortable about it.

Double Whammy, you should sign up for the class action.

takingcontrol58

Taxol and Taxotere

Peony,

Taxol and Taxotere are both taxanes, both from the same family.
I had 6 infusions of Taxol with Carboplatin for my metastatic endometrial cancer
but all my hair grew back. My last chemo was May 2015.

Let's hope permanent baldness doesn't happen with Taxol.

I'm not sure about the details of your cancer, but metformin put me in complete remission.
It is the top drug in the world for diabetes and insulin resistance but seems to have
more anti-cancer properties. It shut down my high insulin growth factor-1, which
I belive was fueling the very fast growth of my cancer. IGF-1 also fuels breast cancer
but they don't seem to advertise this fact to women. 
Takingcontrol58

 

 

Double Whammy

Specific to Taxotere

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

Iris_G

I had Taxotere

I had 6 taxotere/carboplatin treatments.  No one told me that hair loss would/could result with taxotere!  Yes, I lost my hair, but I've been really lucky that my hair is coming back in and it seems thicker than before! 

sparton

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.

Corijo

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/304890/permanent-hair-loss-after-chemo

Two years after completing treatment with taxotere I have perhaps a third or fourth of the hair on my head that I had prior to treatment. I have only a few eyelashes and the outer half of my eyebrows are missing. I was told that I would lose my hair temporarily but not that there was a very good chance the loss could be permanent. Of course I am happy to be here, but the loss of hair causes me to not want to be seen and I am tired of wigs. People tell me that it doesn’t matter, but It continues to matter to me. Can anyone pleases tell me if they have found anything to help this kind of hair loss? Minoxidil, nutrifol, scalp rolling …whatever!

sparton

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!

Corijo

Thanks! I’m glad to hear something could work. I’ve been reading about hair transplants today but they appear pretty costly.