survey: hair loss

neeliec · May 2005

How many of you have lost hair on 5FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin? For the ladies: If yes, did you choose a wig, hat, hair cover, or just show off your head?

(my teacher need to give 'quizzes" comes out every now and then-- this one is ungraded

LOL!!!)

swelsh · May 2005

My hair thinned a lot when I was on 5FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin. I trimmed up what hair was left so a little hair would show under a baseball cap. I also wore some very colorful scarves and some days changed it up with a wig. It was kind of fun deciding what look I was going to go for that day.

Some people don't lose their hair. Depends on the doses of the 5FU and your particular body reaction to the drug.

Good luck and if you need help finding nice scarves, I found mine on line at www.amazingwholesalescarves.com. (or something like that)

Sally

LindaK11 · May 2005

I completed my treatments in October 2004. Although I do have a very thick head of hair, I did not lose my hair. I have short hair and kept if cut and told my hairdresser not to thin it out which she normally did on occassion. In the beginning of my treatment I did have excess shedding but towards the end it stopped. I never purchased a hairpiece but had one picked out just in case. Good luck! Keep us posted!

jsabol · May 2005

I was only on 5FU and leuco; the hair on my head thinned out and got kind of softer. It stopped growing...with short hair, I did not need a cut for 5 months. I did lose all the rest of my body hair...eyebrows, arms, legs, you name it. It has all grown back, and the hair on my head, 10 months after chemo, is now thicker than it ever was and has a curl. Good luck to you. Judy

Shandle · May 2005

Hey Neeliec.. I was on that nasty stuff. I never lost my hair. I think it might have thinned ever so little, but wasn't noticeable. I had some grey
hair (at 50) but the chemo turned it silver! I was mentally ready for the fall out if that would have happened. I was always on the look-out for cute hats etc... The cancer center that I go to is pretty complete with a full wig gallery (Nice too!) that doesn't cost a thing for the people with cancer. You just pick out the one you like and return it when your done or want another one. (I really could have had fun with this!) These resources might be available for you if you need them. Check it out where you live. I feel pretty blessed.. the center also has make-up for women (free).. hour massages for only $35.-...a great library (free)
Classes in Mind & spirit..deep breathing..Yoga all free for the people with cancer.. all taught by MD's who volunteer their time. AND.. Nutrionist and there's also a Naturopathic Oncologist too! Check out all your sources! The cancer center isn't my favorite place to go, but it's beautiful on the inside with Art and tropical fish..wall fountains.. and I feel very relaxed. If your hair does fall out, you can't have a bad hair day now can you?? ..It would grow back anyway.. maybe even better! Huggss ~ Wanda ...aka..xcw

neeliec · May 2005

Shandle said:
Hey Neeliec.. I was on that nasty stuff. I never lost my hair. I think it might have thinned ever so little, but wasn't noticeable. I had some grey
hair (at 50) but the chemo turned it silver! I was mentally ready for the fall out if that would have happened. I was always on the look-out for cute hats etc... The cancer center that I go to is pretty complete with a full wig gallery (Nice too!) that doesn't cost a thing for the people with cancer. You just pick out the one you like and return it when your done or want another one. (I really could have had fun with this!) These resources might be available for you if you need them. Check it out where you live. I feel pretty blessed.. the center also has make-up for women (free).. hour massages for only $35.-...a great library (free)
Classes in Mind & spirit..deep breathing..Yoga all free for the people with cancer.. all taught by MD's who volunteer their time. AND.. Nutrionist and there's also a Naturopathic Oncologist too! Check out all your sources! The cancer center isn't my favorite place to go, but it's beautiful on the inside with Art and tropical fish..wall fountains.. and I feel very relaxed. If your hair does fall out, you can't have a bad hair day now can you?? ..It would grow back anyway.. maybe even better! Huggss ~ Wanda ...aka..xcw

Wanda, I want to go to your treatment place!!! Sounds like an oasis in the middle of a desert!!! Thanks for all the good info. I don't think I want used wigs-- LOL!!! How's everything with you? I hope all is well, I've been praying for you. blessings,neelieC

StacyGleaso · May 2005

My hair thinned out, but never gone. In fact, if you didn't know how full my hair was prior to treatment, you wouldn't have known the difference. I would have opted for a wig, if I had to, just to not freak out my kids. It's a good idea, if you go that route, to go to a salon that features wigs while you still have all your hair so they can match it best they can.

Hope I helped,
Stacy

taraHK · May 2005

I didn't have the oxaliplatin -- just 5FU + leucovorin. I didn't loose my hair. Had a little bit of thinning -- only noticeable to me and my hairdresser. That happened near the end of the treatment. Soon grew back in.
Tara

CAMaura · May 2005

Hi there,

Mine has thinned - but not to any huge extent. I seem to notice it more with my eyebrows and eye lashes. They seem to be lighter or shorter. Things could be worse!
Hope the info helps.

Cheers,
Maura

slammer · May 2005

Hi There! My name is Amy and I did chemo w/ 5-FU & leucovorian last yr same time ago and had some hair loss, but enough for me to notice and it thinned, but my major conrcern wasn't the hair (gosh it'll grow) but I had terrible mouth sores, fatigue, cracking nails, tearing of eyes for like 2 weeks, to me the other side effects were worse!, Now I am on Chemo again,and the side effects have been minimal, and I am on Oxaliplatin, Avastin, 5-FU and Leucovorin, this time around and have been alot better, oh of course diaharrra is the worst, but all in all I have faired well w/ all this in me. Hope I get clear report even though I am DX at stage IV colon cancer.....
My thoughts go out to Lisa's friends & family (I
didn't know them all but deepest sympathies to you folks)
God Bless you
Love Amy

rejoyous · May 2005

Hi,

I was on your cocktail for six months. I have very thick hair and I noticed in the shower that every time I washed it, I shed more than in my non chemo days. But nobody but me ever noticed any hair loss. Certainly no need for scarves or hair pieces.

A bald friend of mine always seemed wistful and disappointed that I wasn't joining his club.

Good luck!

madu · May 2005

I just had 5FU and leucovorin but I did notice that my hair thinned- esp. after the first treatment then it slowed down. I had really thick hair so the only person who really noticed was my hairdresser and me. The bonus was it was much quicker to blow dry my hair AND it came back kind of wavy. I swore I'd shave it if it got thin but I ended up just cutting it shorter so it'd be easier to grow back. My hair dresser recommended a shampoo - can't remember the name think it started with an X - salon only sales - that had been tested on children with cancer and it was supposed to help hair grow back.

Heidi

grandma047 · May 2005

Hi, I'm not on the same chemo as you. I was on it previously but have been changed to Camptosar-I think it's also called CPT-11 or something like that. I have just started to notice that when I wash my hair, that quite a bit falls out and I also noticed that it's thinning on top. A friend at my church told me this morning that she would go to the place where she got her wig when she had cancer, with me and she would help me pick one out. If it continues at this rate, I will have to eventually. I'm just trying to delay it as long as I can, I guess. I wish you luck
Love and prayers, Judy(grandma047)

survey: hair loss

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