Weekly Taxol

[Emalou71]

Morning ,

I am just starting on weekly taxol and a trial drug for 4th line.

I completed Gem / Carbo in Febuary and started Olaparib but sadly it don't hold the bugger off and in April it was growing again. I got ascities and ended up in hospital for 5 days whilst they got me sorted. I'm getting ascities again which is really uncomfortable especially the pressure in my back but there's not enough for a drain at this time.

I'm a little apprehensive of the trial but after two days with the trial team and taking my first dose I do feel very reassured.

Could anyone advise as to when the hair loss kicks in for weekly taxol please? I did lose all hair on first line but I was 3 weekly then with carbo and lost most of my hair by the end of the second dose, just wondering if weekly was a slower process?

Xx

[Janet235]

Sorry to hear you are having a torrid rime at the moment.

I completed weekly taxol just before Christmas . Although my hair continued to grow through the 18 weeks ( I keep it pretty short normally anyway) about half way through the treatment it started to thin all over ( not in patches ) . Each day I would gather up a handful of hair I had brushed out and reckon I was losing 100 plus hairs a day.

The rest grew to about 10 cms and was straight and silky ( it is totally white now btw) and covered the gaps! However towards the end it all had to go - too much was falling out , but yes a much slower and different process than the 3 weekly taxol at first, when it all fell out pretty quickly.

Now it is totally diffent again after cisplatin/ etoposide tabs treatment ended 6 weeks ago. I didn't lose any but it is totally sticking up and frizzy! Taken 5 months to get to about 2 cm length but least it doesn't shout "chemo head" any more....

So weird... wonder what yours will do? I don't worry about it any more - other symptoms, like ascites and peripheral neuropathy are far worse.

Check out Bee Wild 'S posts - she has just started weekly taxol with a trial drug... wish it had been offered to me

Good luck with it all and keep us hair posted...

Janet x🌈

[Emalou71 in reply to Janet235]

Thanks Janet, I think I'll get a really short crop see if that helps, I did lose my hair 4 years ago and it can back so curly, the curls dropped over time which I actually missed as I've always had very straight hair xx

[BeeWild]

Hi lovely I’ve just had 3rd dose of 18 weekly taxols but I’ve chosen to use the cold cap, up to now my hair remains but it’s early days yet!

I will say I shaved my legs 10days or so ago and I’m amazed the hair is growing back, much slower than it would ordinarily but it’s definitely there! On first line I enjoyed not using the razor for a good few months so wasnt expecting to need to shave them again! On first line like you all my hair went by second dose I’m keeping everything crossed I’m not getting weekly brain freeze for nothing lol x

What is your trial called? I’m on CEBOC which adds in cediranib in a few weeks then olaparib after that x

Good luck with everything x

Bev

[Emalou71 in reply to BeeWild]

Thanks Bev, I've not been offered the cold cap but going to go very short and see what happens. I hope the trial has gone well for you? I'm starting the Boston trial over at Addenbrokes, fingers crossed xxx

[Juleswhee]

Hi there , sorry you having to go through this again .I had weekly Taxol last year , I had chemo on Fridays and it was the weekend after the fourth week that it started to come out in the shower , another few days and it was on the pillow every morning . I had my hair cut short prior to chemo to make it less drastic .My eyelashes were the last to go after I finished in August , they still haven’t come back much . My cheek length auburn / ginger with grey highlights hair has been replaced with a black / grey full on 80s look , head of curls, for those who remember “ eat your heart out Leo Sayer “ Julia. Xx

[Emalou71 in reply to Juleswhee]

I remember Leo Sayer, and that is what my hair looked like when I lost it before it never grew down just out.. I hope you doing ok xxx

[Lynn_B]

I am in the same boat as you.Im on weekly Taxol/ Avastin every other week..This is my third reocurance.My hair is falling out slower than Taxol every third week.But not liking the gray...Monday will be my 6th Taxol.Its thinning but still here.I have my new wig ready when Im ready to shave it.This is my third time losing my hair.Im prepared ,but it doesnt make it any easier even though I have awesome wigs.Having a scan to see if Taxol is working in a week..Crossing my fingers treatment is working so the loss of hair is for nothing...Best of luck to you..Lynn56💙💙💙💙💙

[Emalou71]

Thanks Lynn, I hope the scan showed good news xxx