Saw a law firm infomercial stating that Docetaxel causes from 9 to 15% permanent hair loss in women with breast cancer treated with this drug. There are apparently numerous lawsuits against Sanofi, the drug's maker.
I am BRCA2+ currently being treated with the Olaparib PARP inhibitor. Docetaxel may be in my future. Anyone aware of or experienced this side effect?
If I needed it to survive, I'm not sure I'd care about my hair.
So true.
I am also a breast cancer survivor. Stage 2 . That was 15 years age 50. I went through a radical mastectomy. Followed by 4 months of chemotherapy. I still haven't got hair back on my legs and other places. For 6 months my body look like a newborn baby. No hair ANYWHERE. After chemo I did 5 years of a drug called tamoxifen. I beat breast cancer. Now with prostate cancer whatever chemo ( me too next on Docetaxel) they throw at me just to keep me alive I will do. Promise I made to my son. Personally I'm not worried about losing my hair if it gives me some time to still hug my grandkids. As my son told me having a bald grandpa is better than no grandpa at all.
New hair pure white and soft as a babies.
White beard only on jawline and below. Shave lightly every 6 weeks just to knock down strays that grow higher on face. After 20 yrs with full beard down over chest and full head of hair over shoulders and large pony tail, I had to get used to a whole new face I had never seen before.
My hair returned in full after about two months (Docetaxel).
Silvery grey now - peppery grey before.
More distinguished-looking now if one cares for that sort of thing.
I am happy just to enjoy each new day.
I did 6 cycles of Docetaxel and lost 90 percent of my hair.....everywhere. The bald head is no big deal but even my wife did not recognize me one day and walked right by me! The hair on my head is making a very nice comeback after my last infusion on Jan. 23rd. Just as it is making its comeback I began Cabazitaxel last Tuesday so I am sure to lose my nice regrowth. Funny how little it really matters if I am alive and feeling decent.
Hey wanna save your hair? Put it in a cigar box.....
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Sunday 04/14/2019 6:33 PM DST
Nope, had some hair loss but it came back thicker than ever and (my wife says) less white.
I liked every reply on this post. I'm not suing over my mustache becoming just a little fuzz now. Most other hair finally came back. I would do it again and thank them for extending my life. My warped fingernails are normal again. Both of the big toenails that I lost have grown back, just not as pretty as they used to be. This smacks of biting the hand that feeds you and keeps you alive. They tell you that going in. Lawyers preying on cancer victims. The lawyers should be sued.
How long did it take to get your hair back?
Trying to remember. Started falling out in huge clumps in about three weeks to a month in the shower. Very freaky. And then turned white. I have brown hair and first thing people noticed about me. I did not shave head as some do. Black hair I would think would even be more dramatic. If an issue, I can only think of hair dye or wig. Believe there is something you can buy that is frozen and you wear on head during infusions that is supposed to minimize hair loss. Don't know if it really works. So, I'm guessing, 6 mo. chemo lots of hair loss. (Only about a week of dramatic hair loss?) After chemo maybe 6 months or so getting a hair cut. I let hair grow long and scraggly before hair cuts. I need another haircut as we speak. Body hair is pretty much back. Good luck my friend. I just googled chemo cold cap and got a lot of hits. I've got foot neuropathy which I would trade all my hair for. Didn't know about this stuff before I did chemo. Cold cap for hair, chew on ice, cold gloves for hands and cold stockings for feet. I should of, would of, could of, if I had only known. Worth a post in itself to ask how the cold caps and etc. worked. Too late for me. Smiley face with a tear here. Enjoy.
In my humble opinion , that lawsuit is stupid, as hair loss is a known side effect of docetaxel, and indeed docetaxel may save, or at least prolong your life. This was the case with my treatment for stage III B lung cancer.treatment
Docetaxel rechallenge
Docetaxel and Sore Tongue
Docetaxel and headaches?
Docetaxel – questions
