Hair loss and Abraxane

[Gemma-A]

Hello

I am currently having chemo for ovarian cancer. I had a reaction to paclitaxel do I am on Abraxane instead. My Doctor told me my hair wouldnt fall out and I wouldn't need the cold cap but I'm starting to see it come out at 2 weeks since the cycle. I'm just wondering if it's the start of it all coming out or whether it will just be thining. Has anyone else had abraxane and can tell me their experience please.

Thanks

Gemma

[Seena2020]

Hi Gemma- I also had a reaction to the Paclitaxel on my first round of chemo and continued on the other 3 with just Carboplatin. My hair all fell out due to having the Paclitaxel. Just the one dose made mine fall out on my head and spotty everywhere else. I guess just introducing it to my system started the process going. Did you receive a full dose of it originally? XX

[Hidden]

I looked into Abraxane last year with a view to trying it. It is paclitaxel (taxol) with something added - I forget what. If I were you I would go talk to your oncologist again, ask him to explain his choice of medication, before you decide. Good luck

[SUE7777]

The paclitaxol makes your hair fall out but the abraxane shouldn't, hopefully you won't lose much as you had to stop the paclitaxol. Take care Sue xx

[Gemma-A]

Thank you all for your replies. Both times I tried the paclitaxel on cycles 1 and 2 my reaction came within the first few minutes so there wouldnt have been enough administered and it was before xmas. I had abraxane 2 weeks ago my dr said my hair wouldnt fall out so I was surprised that it has started to come out. Just hoping it is only thinning and not completely coming out 😪

[AusTig]

I reacted instantly to paclitaxel so had to stop it and carboplatin only. That seemed to work and I had 18 months before recurrence. That is when they tried abraxane with the carbo. It was explained to me that it was taxel based but in a different carrier format. I tolerated it well. I did lose my hair, although that didn’t bother me if it was doing good.

[Gemma-A in reply to AusTig]

Thank you. How quickly did you lose your hair once it started coming out? I suppose being in lockdown no one will see me at the moment anyway.

[AusTig in reply to Gemma-A]

It took a couple of treatments although I had my hair cut really short beforehand. All the best wishes to you.

[carolleigh]

I guess this was written a while ago. Meanwhile I started Abraxane 3 month ago. My doc and the things I read said I would have hair loss. I didn't for 2 weeks. My doc upped the dose. Then I lost some hair for about 2 weeks, then it completely stopped. I don't see much hair around the sink. I wear it pretty short and don't brush it, so not sure about that.