cancer help: hi not sure if anyone can help me... - My Ovacome

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cancer help

cupakediva75 profile image
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hi not sure if anyone can help me but im going through my 2nd round of chemotherapy. (first lot didn't work) :(

im now going to be having caelyx. I was told I might lose my hair or get thinner. which I don't want. my last chemo I didn't lose my hair but feel it got thinner. any advice on how i might feel?? thanks.

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cupakediva75
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26 Replies

Hi, reading between the lines, I guess your first line of treatment was single agent carboplatin hence why your hair thinned. Had you had Taxol you would have lost your hair. Caelyx is another chemo whereby the majority do not lose their hair, some may get thinning especially if they have fine hair. The main thing to watch out for on caelyx is that you may get mouth ulcers and skin sores. (not everyone). Caelyx is also a bit slow at taking effect and lasts in the body longer so when its has finished it still has a benefit for a few extra weeks. Good luck. Love Paul. X

jennybutler profile image
jennybutler

Thanks for your post Paul I am starting my 3rd line with caelyx and carboplatin on Friday having lost my hair last time with paxi taxol /carbo. with very short remission hoping for better results this time. hope you and sandra doing ok much love to both Jenny xxx

I just want to say that losing your hair is a small price to pay for saving one's life,

I have lost my hair twice now and then when I had Caelyx my hair went very thin (I am still losing it months after finishing chemo) to be honest I would have preferred to have lost it all than have thin hair... but some people have not noticed the difference because their hair hasn't got very thin on Caelyx so yours might not notice either I wonder if mine was worse because I had already lost it twice thus weakening my hair.

Best wishes love x G x

in reply to

I should add that other factors can cause hair thinning. Sandra has lovely thick hair and has lost it 3 times thus far. No chemo since Jul 13 but her hair is thinning at the moment due to malnutrition. Xx

wendydee profile image
wendydee in reply to

Just wanted to say Hi, Paul. Been wondering how things are. I hope that Sandra is still feeling as comfortable as poss. Best wishes to you both

Love W xx

in reply to wendydee

Hi, nurses come each day to refill her driver. Not sleeping at night keeps coughing up fluid from lungs, GP coming tomorrow to review. Xx

wendydee profile image
wendydee in reply to

Thinking of you both xx

sharonforce profile image
sharonforce

In 2011 my hair actually grew back whilst on Caelyx. Having lost my hair after two sessions of Caboplatin/PaclitaxeI I then had to change to Carboplatin/Caelyx because I had major problems with the Paclitaxel.

In 2012 when I was on my trial drug my hair thinned on top to an unacceptable level for me I went to a place in London where I had a mesh hair integration system added to my hair which I am extremely pleased with.

Good luck to you

Sharon

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75 in reply to sharonforce

tks Sharon, yeah chemo is horrible I guess I will have to wait and see. I have my first treatment on Wednesday. how r u doing

I've not had caelyx, but I have lost my hair or most of it with two different sets of chemo drugs. First time I shaved it all off; second time I cut it very very short. I found once it started falling out I couldn't stand the feeling of cobwebs everywhere.

Last time around - taxol- people were surprised that I didn't lose all of it. I came across this reference to selenium which may have had something to do with this as I've been supplementing with daily brazil nuts for years. I don't want to get your hopes up as my hair was still a mess but I do feel it's grown back better with having had a bit of a start.

Sieja K and Talerczyk M. Selenium as an element in the treatment of ovarian cancer in women receiving chemotherapy. Gynecol Oncol. 2004;93:320-327.

Otherwise it's striking eye make-up; interesting hats or wigs, I'm afraid.

Best of luck with it.

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75 in reply to

tks mac27, I did have chemo 13 years ago with taxol and lost my hair. and now this time I had another chemo that didn't work, but didn't lose my hair. but now having caelyx, im hoping I wont. its my bday in a month and I don't want to be having my party with no hair. but thanks for all your information, I appreciate it. how r u feeling anyway??

in reply to cupakediva75

If you've not started the chemo yet you may hang on to your hair for a month, if not longer. If memory serves, I started finding it really irritating about 3 weeks in, but I still had a fair amount left. We're all different so maybe you'll stay fine with it for a good long time. Let's hope so - that would take you beyond your birthday! Touch wood, I am feeling absolutely fine. 4 months since last chemo. My hair is now a stylish 3/4 inch or so!

HerThing profile image
HerThing

Hi, Like you, Angie's first line of Carboplatin was not very effective and she also went onto Caelyx instead. She is now more than six months out of treatment and doing really well. The Caelyx shrank her tumours dramatically and the CA125 continued to fall for months (not weeks) after completion. What's more she didn't lose any hair at all so that was a bonus. Best wishes to you for an equally welcome response.

Andy x

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75 in reply to HerThing

hi andy, thanks for your message, im so happy for angie, and glad she is doing well. I had my first treatment today and hope it works for me too. and many thanks for your kind words. take care. best wishes to you both. xo

thesilent1 profile image
thesilent1

I had really thick hair and I thought I wouldn't be able to cope losing it. I had never worn my hair off my face as I felt my face was too fat and I didn't suit it but you know, when I weighed it up, I knew I'd rather live than worry about my hair. I lost my hair, I was given a wig but I couldn't wear it as everytime I took a hot flush, it felt too tight. Instead I wore a variety of a scarves and was much more comfortable. Chemo ended I n December 13 and I am pleased to say my hair has grown back. It is still very short but I have a full head of thick hair. Try to remember hair loss is only temporary. Take the best treatment available to you and don't worry about your hair. Ann xo

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75 in reply to thesilent1

hi ann, thanks for your comments,, I agree, losing hair is not as important. but for me it is. its a girl thing. lol. like I said in my other message. I was just asking other people who are on caelyx what the there affects were. . thanks for sharing with me your journey. hope you are well.

Seachell profile image
Seachell

Dear cupake, if losing ones hair means no more cancer it is worth it! Please, have a positive attitude as life is an adventure live it to the fullest! Count your blessings not your dismays ! In Christ, Michelle!

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75 in reply to Seachell

hi michelle, thanks for your reply. I know losing my hair might be a factor however, I have two jobs and cant afford to lose them. if u know what I mean, and like I said before I lost my hair 13 years ago and was beyond upset. im just hoping and praying that I don't. that's all I can pray for. and yes being cancer free is most important. I appreciate your comment. hope you are well.

Seachell profile image
Seachell in reply to cupakediva75

Dear Cupcake I didn't mean to sound insensitive! I feel your pain and I hope you are doing well! You are in my prayers!

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75 in reply to Seachell

hi seachell, tks for your message. that's ok. I didn't take it that way ,hope I didn't come across rude. but all our journeys are different. tks for the prays I appreciate them, my thoughts are with you too. take care, talk soon. xo

osborne1963 profile image
osborne1963

Am on Caelyx and Carbo. Last one next week. Hair full and strong - no loss or thinning. A few mouth ulcers but only one or two.

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75 in reply to osborne1963

hi osborne1963, thanks for your feedback. glad your hair is strong and full. im hoping the same for me too. will keep you updated. I had my first treatment today. next one is in may. hope you are well.

osborne1963 profile image
osborne1963

Have tolerated it well in general. Found it better than Taxol. :)

Jackie

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75 in reply to osborne1963

that's great Jackie, happy to hear that. best wishes. xo tess

Turnarounddj profile image
Turnarounddj

I started losing my hair from day 10. I had a headache like someone had two hammers one on either side of my head and just pounded away. I would never had chemo again, even if my oncologist tells me I should. The pain I am having now in joints and muscles has made me feel like a 90 year old and I've only just turned 60.

cupakediva75 profile image
cupakediva75

Hi turnarounddj, I'm so sorry to hear to hear about what you have been going through, it's not nice to be going through this horrible disease, I'm having my 2nd treatment next week, but since I have had my first one, I have been feeling ok, just started to get ulcers, but not sure if it is from all the stress from my party I'm having this week. Lol, but I'm sure I will find out after it. Otherwise i will be glad when it's all over. Can I ask what's in store for you now?

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