don09

My hair thinned quite a lot all over my head and there were actually a few patches that were almost bald.  However, I did not lose all of my hair.

Your blood counts usually hit a low at about the middle of a chemo cycle (mid-point between cycle 1 and cycle 2).  This low point is called Nadir.  I experienced extremely low blood counts mid-cycle both times and during the first cycle received Neupogen injections to raise my counts.   I have pasted in the definition of Nadir from the website for Cancer Treatment Center of America for your reference.

 

Nadir

"In cancer treatment, nadir commonly refers to the lowest point that an individual's blood cell count will reach as a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The nadir for each blood cell type occurs at different times. The nadir for white blood cells and platelets normally occurs around day seven to 14 following the last day of treatment. Red blood cells, which live longer, will typically not reach a nadir for several weeks. Because the immune system is weak during this time period, patients are advised to avoid situations which could lead to an increased risk of infection. The nadir usually resolves and counts approach normal levels within about four weeks."

You might ask your doctor if Neupogen or Neulasta injections are indicated because of your low counts.

Martha

Hair question

Hi there,

My treatment was finished in late April of this year. My hair started falling out and continued to do so, never completely, but like you it was so thin that my pink scalp was on view. I also had my hair cut short, which helped. I was constantly going around with a sticky roller to pick up the hair, especially on my bed and around there. Suddenly, end of August, hair started growing in!! The new hair is unlike my normal hair, it is fine and frizzy-although growing in thick--and pure white! True, I am 68 years old, but my hair was never that white before. Oddly, my pubic hair grew back in completely dark, whereas it was gray before.

Sans hair.

During my 1st nadir, after I thought I avoided hair loss, it came out by the handful during my 2nd hospitalization. I had only a few wisps left. I shaved at that point. It grew back in tight Shirley Temple curls over the next year. Shocked the oncologist! But after that, it returned to my normal straight-ish texture, though it was darker and remains so.

The blood counts were something else. I was hospitalized three times during treatment for low white counts and neutropenic fevers. I was on multiple iV antibiotics to prevent infection. I had about 3 Neupogen shots the first time. The fever returned in a few days, though, so I was sent back to the hospital for a few days of IV antibiotics.

The 2nd nadir was much worse. I was hospitalized for 10 days and got Neupogen each day. I also received 2 units of platelets and 2 units of packed RBC. My WBC count was too low to be detected by the lab. I had fevers and again, antibiotics. I was in a private room and told not to leave it during visiting hours when all those people were around. There were days when I wasn't allowed to have my husband visit.

Exactly 4 months after receiving the last dose of Mitomycin, my platelets again plummeted. I was put on high doses of Prednisone for a few months. It now stays at about 100,000, but never did returned to normal range.

Most people do not have such bad reactions, though, thank goodness! Occasionally, someone may have worse reactions, like anaphylaxis from the chemo, but that's rare. The big majority of people seem to go through the 6 weeks of treatment without needing to stop or be hospitalized, the lucky ducks!

I hope that your course went smoothly.