Hair loss on Oxiplatin/5fu

cheeks964
cheeks964 Member Posts: 54
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Having chemo oxiplatin/5fu every other week.

Anyoen loose there hair, doc said yes after 4 treatments, chemo nurses said after 10 days. I had my first treatment Sept 18th, still have my hair and it was my second treatment today, Oct 2nd. I get he oxiplatin infusion for 2 hours and then i leave with the 5fu for two days and them bring the pump back.

Please advise on who lost and who didn't.

Trying to get an average here.

thanks
Carolyn
cheeks917@comcast.net
«1

Comments

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #2
    Carolyn
    I had hair thinning, none that people notice on the Oxy and Xeloda. I think the 5fu is just hair thinning as well.
    Other may have had different affects. That's just mine. Here's hoping you get to keep your hair!!!!
    Winter Marie
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #3
    From my experience, most don't lose hair on Folfox
    double post
  • abrub
    abrub Member Posts: 2,174 Member
    #4
    From my experience, most don't lose hair on Folfox
    I didn't lose the hair on my head, tho I lost most of my body hair. The hair on my head went from curly to straight, but remained thick. I lost most of my eyebrows and eyelashes, however.
  • Hooley
    Hooley Member Posts: 156
    #5
    Hair
    I had 6 rounds. No hair loss only slight thinning
  • cheeks964
    cheeks964 Member Posts: 54
    #6
    abrub said:

    From my experience, most don't lose hair on Folfox
    double post

    hair loss
    Is folfox another form of oxiplatin? I had thinning the 5 fu when i did my first treatment in may I asked the doctor today and he said by the 4th treatment. And the nurse said by 10 to 14 days. I still have it. confused about the folfox. is it the same as oxiplatin/5fu?

    please advise
  • cheeks964
    cheeks964 Member Posts: 54
    #7
    Hooley said:

    Hair
    I had 6 rounds. No hair loss only slight thinning

    hair loss
    was your hair thick to start
  • cheeks964
    cheeks964 Member Posts: 54
    #8
    cheeks964 said:

    hair loss
    was your hair thick to start

    hair loss
    How many treatments did you have? oxiplatin/5 fu every other weeK?
  • cheeks964
    cheeks964 Member Posts: 54
    #9
    cheeks964 said:

    hair loss
    was your hair thick to start

    hair loss
    How many treatments did you have? oxiplatin/5 fu every other weeK?
  • cheeks964
    cheeks964 Member Posts: 54
    #10
    cheeks964 said:

    hair loss
    was your hair thick to start

    hair loss
    How many treatments did you have? oxiplatin/5 fu every other weeK?
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #11
    I didn't lose my hair on this,
    although I was on an every three weeks cycle, so maybe slightly different? But from what I've seen and read, this isn't one of the big hair loss chemos. Hugs~Ann Alexandria
    PS I believe that FOLFOX is 5-fu, oxaliplatin and Leucovorin, so similar to what you are on. Leucovorin isn't a chemo drug and doesn't affect the hair issue, as far as I know.
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #12
    Hair loss
    Just thinned as well as eyelahes & body hair.Hair did turn very dark & my Mom kept asking me if I had dyed it black. Color is back to normal now, more or less, but with much more grey.

    Best wishes to you.

    -Pat
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #13
    Nope
    Fortunately my hair only thinned, but it was thin before as I've got baby fine hair and thin hair. No one ever new I'd lost hair as no one could tell. Some loose more than others, but when you start out with thin hair and it thin's more your hair still can look normal. Good luck and hope you don't have much more than that.

    Kim
  • janie1
    janie1 Member Posts: 753 Member
    #14
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Nope
    Fortunately my hair only thinned, but it was thin before as I've got baby fine hair and thin hair. No one ever new I'd lost hair as no one could tell. Some loose more than others, but when you start out with thin hair and it thin's more your hair still can look normal. Good luck and hope you don't have much more than that.

    Kim

    Thinned a little.
    Carolyn,
    Thinned a little.

    Carolyn, you are really stressed. I am so sorry. Try to meditate or try reiki.....it is awesome in how it relaxes you.
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #15
    Just thinning
    I had thinning but did not loose my hair. I believe this is the most common experience for those on FOLFOX. It's the 5FU that causes the hair thinning. The oxaliplatin does not.

    Good luck!

    Tara
  • Momof2plusteentwins
    Momof2plusteentwins Member Posts: 509 Member
    #16
    Carolyn
    I have had 6 of 12 treatments and haven't had any hair loss. We will see - 6 more awful treatments to go.
    Sandy :)
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #17
    My hair thinned a little
    My hair thinned a little during chemo. It started fairly early but did not get much worse after the third treatment. It does come back during recovery.

    The worse symptoms are the loss of touch and eye sight. My sense of touch diminished quite a bit. I am exceptionally slow on a ladder. My sight diminshed a bit also. I have reading glasses and lost some distance also.

    Best Always, mike
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #18
    Hair
    When on Oxi and 5fu the only hair loss I had was when I cut my long hair to a "respectable" length. I'd planned on running for Congress in my District and figured I needed to get back to looking like a business man instead of a renegade biker. When they put me on Ironitecan in February of 2011 my hair did start falling out in patches. When it got to the unsightly stage, I shaved it all off. After moving to Utah, I started a new drano cocktail and the hair started to come back, but it only grows put to a certain length and stops. I haven't had a haircut in over a year now and it's still short enough that I could pass military inspection.
  • joemetz
    joemetz Member Posts: 493
    #19
    Hair, Oxiliplatin, 5fu....
    Greeting Carolyn

    sadly, you'll learn that every question you ask a doctor and then a nurse and then online anywhere... each have different answers. The common answer to most questions: "well, every case is different and everyone reacts to the meds differently as everyone's cancer is different"

    If I heard that once I've heard it a 100 times.
    but, as for hair... you might lose it, it might thin out, or you might not lose it.
    (you catching on?)

    it stinks because its such a scary journey and we each want solid answers... and what I've learned is to reduce your expectations... so you're not disappointed.

    not sure if this is the right way to attack this stuff... but it has worked for me.
    Probably some profession psychologist would say that's negative thinking... when I am truly a Glass Is Half Full type of guy... on the outside. But, internally, it seems like I prepare myself for the bad news, and if the bad news doesn't happen...I feel pretty damn good about things. Well, at least that's how I handled things during the main part of my first rounds of treatments (Dec. 2011 through July 2012)

    as for your question on Oxy and 5fu being referenced as FolFox.
    I hope I answer this correctly, and if i do not... hopefully someone will chime in and correct me. I had FolFox 6 for 24 treatments. the drugs included Oxiliplatin, 5fu, Leucovorin, Fluorouracil, and then Erbitux was added (but that drug isn't part of the FolFox combination.

    so, those two drugs that you are on, are part of the FolFox "Cocktail" of drugs.
    google Folfox and you'll find a boat load of stuff. Its been around for a really long time, and they keep adding or improving it.

    the Oxiliplatin has many side effects such as neuropathy and the 5fu has its share of side effects... again, EVERY side effect is different for EVERY patient. It's crazy, but its true. Weight loss is obvious one of them... as diarrhea and nausea are constant with all these chemo meds.

    the main thing.... Keep you head up and keep your focus.
    your objective is to take these meds, and worry about GETTING better!
    Laugh about your hair when or if you begin to lose it. try laughing. It helps.
    try and be as positive and happy as you can... it makes this battle a lot easier.

    i wish you the best in your continued battle.
    you'll find a lot of info here... just remember, that each experience is different for each person.

    cheers!

    Joe
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502 Member
    #20
    joemetz said:

    Hair, Oxiliplatin, 5fu....
    Greeting Carolyn

    sadly, you'll learn that every question you ask a doctor and then a nurse and then online anywhere... each have different answers. The common answer to most questions: "well, every case is different and everyone reacts to the meds differently as everyone's cancer is different"

    If I heard that once I've heard it a 100 times.
    but, as for hair... you might lose it, it might thin out, or you might not lose it.
    (you catching on?)

    it stinks because its such a scary journey and we each want solid answers... and what I've learned is to reduce your expectations... so you're not disappointed.

    not sure if this is the right way to attack this stuff... but it has worked for me.
    Probably some profession psychologist would say that's negative thinking... when I am truly a Glass Is Half Full type of guy... on the outside. But, internally, it seems like I prepare myself for the bad news, and if the bad news doesn't happen...I feel pretty damn good about things. Well, at least that's how I handled things during the main part of my first rounds of treatments (Dec. 2011 through July 2012)

    as for your question on Oxy and 5fu being referenced as FolFox.
    I hope I answer this correctly, and if i do not... hopefully someone will chime in and correct me. I had FolFox 6 for 24 treatments. the drugs included Oxiliplatin, 5fu, Leucovorin, Fluorouracil, and then Erbitux was added (but that drug isn't part of the FolFox combination.

    so, those two drugs that you are on, are part of the FolFox "Cocktail" of drugs.
    google Folfox and you'll find a boat load of stuff. Its been around for a really long time, and they keep adding or improving it.

    the Oxiliplatin has many side effects such as neuropathy and the 5fu has its share of side effects... again, EVERY side effect is different for EVERY patient. It's crazy, but its true. Weight loss is obvious one of them... as diarrhea and nausea are constant with all these chemo meds.

    the main thing.... Keep you head up and keep your focus.
    your objective is to take these meds, and worry about GETTING better!
    Laugh about your hair when or if you begin to lose it. try laughing. It helps.
    try and be as positive and happy as you can... it makes this battle a lot easier.

    i wish you the best in your continued battle.
    you'll find a lot of info here... just remember, that each experience is different for each person.

    cheers!

    Joe

    Lost mine in patches on the
    Lost mine in patches on the Irenotecan/avastin, no 5fu. So just shaved it all off. Was about 4th round.....Nothing like the nueropathy the 5fu caused prev treatments.
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502 Member
    #21
    joemetz said:

    Hair, Oxiliplatin, 5fu....
    Greeting Carolyn

    sadly, you'll learn that every question you ask a doctor and then a nurse and then online anywhere... each have different answers. The common answer to most questions: "well, every case is different and everyone reacts to the meds differently as everyone's cancer is different"

    If I heard that once I've heard it a 100 times.
    but, as for hair... you might lose it, it might thin out, or you might not lose it.
    (you catching on?)

    it stinks because its such a scary journey and we each want solid answers... and what I've learned is to reduce your expectations... so you're not disappointed.

    not sure if this is the right way to attack this stuff... but it has worked for me.
    Probably some profession psychologist would say that's negative thinking... when I am truly a Glass Is Half Full type of guy... on the outside. But, internally, it seems like I prepare myself for the bad news, and if the bad news doesn't happen...I feel pretty damn good about things. Well, at least that's how I handled things during the main part of my first rounds of treatments (Dec. 2011 through July 2012)

    as for your question on Oxy and 5fu being referenced as FolFox.
    I hope I answer this correctly, and if i do not... hopefully someone will chime in and correct me. I had FolFox 6 for 24 treatments. the drugs included Oxiliplatin, 5fu, Leucovorin, Fluorouracil, and then Erbitux was added (but that drug isn't part of the FolFox combination.

    so, those two drugs that you are on, are part of the FolFox "Cocktail" of drugs.
    google Folfox and you'll find a boat load of stuff. Its been around for a really long time, and they keep adding or improving it.

    the Oxiliplatin has many side effects such as neuropathy and the 5fu has its share of side effects... again, EVERY side effect is different for EVERY patient. It's crazy, but its true. Weight loss is obvious one of them... as diarrhea and nausea are constant with all these chemo meds.

    the main thing.... Keep you head up and keep your focus.
    your objective is to take these meds, and worry about GETTING better!
    Laugh about your hair when or if you begin to lose it. try laughing. It helps.
    try and be as positive and happy as you can... it makes this battle a lot easier.

    i wish you the best in your continued battle.
    you'll find a lot of info here... just remember, that each experience is different for each person.

    cheers!

    Joe

    Lost mine in patches on the
    ...oops, double post sorry. No delete button?

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