Hair loss

Catherine,
I am 8 weeks post surgery and have completed 2 treatments of FOLFOX. Are they going add Avastin to your treatment??? They are adding it to mine next treatment. My oncologist said I would definitely have some hair thinning, but would not lose my hair. I have noticed so far that I am starting to shed more hair daily, but it hasn't been like your friend who is going through breast cancer treatment. I decided not to do the wig thing reguardless of what happens. I am however going to the hairstylist tomorrow to have my hair cut shorter (shoulder length right now). I think it will make the thinning less noticeable. The only place I have really noticed it getting thinner is in the back. I'm not sure about coloring, but I am half tempted to get a few highlights. I have always been a blonde, but decided before surgery to dye my hair closer to its natural color just in case I couldn't do anything during chemo. I didn't want major roots. Anyway with all we have been through I understand your concerns. They have been mine as well. Believe it or not I look better than I ever have and get tons of compliments of "you look so good" (lost 98 pounds over the past 1.5 years). Have to admit like buying the new clothes, don't necessarily like the way I lost it though You take care.

Kiersten

Hi Catherine -

One of the first things my colorectal surgeon told me about chemo was that I "would not lose my hair". It really sounds dumb, but I was so happy at the time that he told me that!

My oncologist told me it was "extremely unlikely that I would lose my hair".

My best friend in the whole world wanted to take me "wig shopping". I told her how nice that was, but we'd have to do something else to bond over this cancer experience (like dinner at a nice restaurant - which we did!).

I had Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin. (Xeloda is the oral drug that is metabolized into 5FU).

I had 6 cycles, 3 weeks apart as is typical for Xeloda (except a couple of times when it was extended a week for side effects and vacation). After my 4th cycle I started to see some hair tangled around my hands when I washed my hair. But nothing anyone could notice. I think I could have had the same chemo for a lot longer and not noticed any serious hair side effects.

Hate to admit it, but yes - I did color my hair during chemo - and my hairdresser had no clue (which is good news, right?)!

i hope this helps. Breast cancer patients always lose their hair - our chemo is different and while hair loss is possible, it is really not the norm.

I wish you the best
Betsy

Hello Catherine,

Following is a link to a previous post on this forum regarding hair loss.

http://www.acscsn.org/Forum/Discussion/thread/view?
lid=csn:rel:feworks1034215697001168710313&msgrid=3

A few more things: most people I know who have bought wigs rarely wear them. That said, it might be nice having a safe guard. I too visited a wig shop, but once I looked at the price tags I decided to forgo a wig and instead wore baseball caps for the last two months of my chemo. Plus, my boyfriend seemed a little too enthusiatic about a wig, which was somewhat worrying (joke). Although some people lose some of their hair while on FOLFOX, the hairloss is not nearly as radical as those receiving treatment for breast cancer. I doubt very much that you will look like a sickly, bald invalid and if you already have thick hair then it is likely that no one will notice the hair loss, if in fact you have any. From what I've read, it is not recommended that people dye their hair during chemo. In fact, I think that one is to stave off dying their hair for six months following treatment. I too went from a blonde to brunette in a matter of months.

I also have a Mac and have found the only way to avoid the annoying symbols is to avoid quotation marks and conjunctions. As a result my posts sound a little formal, as I am typing words such as I am as opposed to I'm.

Best,
Monique

I just noticed that there were no annoying symbols in my message to you. I wonder if it's
because I typed directly into text box, as opposed to cutting and pasting from a word file?

Monique

I had FOLFOX for 10 months (6 week break in the middle for surgery) and didn't lose much hair. It did thin out a bit, but not in patches. If you wind up on Erbitux, I would recommend Head & Shoulders for sensitive skin to help take away some of the itch.

I have not found a way to deal with the ' and I am on a standard 'ole PC.

--Eben

Hi Catherine,
I have been on Xeloda, Folfox and Folfox + Avastin and never needed a wig. My hair has thinned and I've had to stop dying it because of scalp irritation caused by chemo. I seem to be the only one that can tell that I have less hair than I did before.
Take care,
Jamie

I had hair thinning. Bought a wig and never wore it. (I don't begruge the money as it gave me comfort when I needed it). Eventually I cut my hair short -- looked better that way. I've read that you shdnt dye your hair but I did anyway -- important for my morale! (I'm an artificial redhead). However, because your hair essentially stops growing, didn't need touching up very often -- no 'roots'! I found the hair thinning thing difficult emotionally -- one of the few things I cried over. On the up side, didn't have to shave legs/underarms for months. Thinning eyelashes/eyebrows also. Good luck to you. I've never heard of a colorectal cancer pt on 5FU/folfox-type chemo who lost "all" their hair. As others have said, it's not like the breast cancer chemos.
Tara

Hi Catherine,

The colon cancer chemo isn't nearly as hard on hair as the breast cancer chemo. I had 6 months of Folfox. My hair thinned but I didn't need a wig. I just had it cut short so it still appeared normal. I think all of the missing hair grew back afterwards. Don't worry, I don't think you'll look sickly or balding. A friend of mine told me that she thought of her protruding mediport as her 3rd nippe :-)

I stopped hair coloring when I was on chemo. You just never know about drug interactions. Also, your liver will have so much to deal with already, any other toxic load (junk food, chemicals, alcohol) will just add on to the load.

That said, I used an Italian all nature hair color before. Maybe organic, vegetable dye is a good compromise?

The ’ is very annoying. They only happen when I write the text elsewhere and copy them in. This editor is pretty under-powered. It just can't deal with special characters.

Cheers,
Ying

I did 6 months of FOLFOX with Avastin and had no problem with my hair (I even kept bleaching it!) however when I had a recurrance last August and started on FOLFIRI with Avastin I started losing my hair with the first treatment and was near totally bald ALL over by the 6th treatment when I had to stop due to a chest infection. Now my hair is growing in - approx. 1/2 inch long. OH well at least I look cute with really short hair!!!
Don't know how long I'll keep it as I'm awaiting results of a bronchoscopy I had yesterday and have a cyscoscopy scheduled for Tuesday to see if I'm having another recurrance.

catherine58 said:

Thank you all so much for such reassuring and practical advice. I wish I had time to write to you all personally as I can't tell you how much you have helped me. I think I'll put the wig on hold.

Arex630 - I'm so sorry about the recurrence and will keep everything crossed for your test results.

Catherine

Thanks Catherine for keeping everything crossed for me! I really believe good thoughts do help!!
I do recommend you have a hat on hand so if your hair does thin you can protect yourself from sunburning your scalp. Believe me that really hurts!!
Aleda