Chemo postponed due to low white blood count

Hi I had capox and lost my hair,despite being told it would only thin.I was given a prescription for a wig .I did pay a little extra for one but there were some lovely ones available for free

I took along a photo of my hair previously as I wanted the wig to be similar and by then my hair was getting very sparse.

Strangely I didnt loose eyebrows,eyelashes or those annoying chin hairs.

All the best

By the way 18mths on my hair is thicker,less greasy and longer than before.It came back grey but as I used to dye it that may have happened anyway

Kath

Hi Kath, Where did you have to go to buy a wig? 

Nicola

Hi.I live in sheffield and was given a choice of two places nearby.the one I chose had lovely staff who were very understanding and knowledgable.

The staff on the day ward where I was having the oxalyplatin gave me the prescription and told me where to go for the wig.

Kath

Thank you

Hi Nicola, 

So pleased to hear your last 2 rounds have been more manageable. The  plan with me is also to reduce my infusion to 80%, I just need my cell count up first. 

I’m back at the hospital on Monday so I will ask about the injections you were given. I haven’t even got a telephone review with my oncologist until 8th October, which I think is awful. I hope my treatment can start again on Monday, if not I won’t be leaving without medication to increase my cell count!

Thank you so much for your help. I hope the rest of your treatment goes well for you. 

Sharon x

Hi All this thread,

I had FOLFOX and was given Accofil (Filgrastim) to inject for 5 nights from 24 hours after pump finished, even so I found my neutrophils were low and treatment postponed on a couple of occassions - very frustrating.  The injections can make your bones ache and suggest getting into bed with hot water bottle before injecting.

I was also told my hair would thin but I wouldn't lose it.  However, I did lose a lot of hair and it's still coming out now, 3 months after chemotherapy finished.  I've invested in a wig too and am contemplating shaving my head.

Take Care everyone,

Net77

Hello Everyone,

I am on Folfox and I am also having Filgrastim injections for 5 nights  but starting on the fifth day after treatment after having 3 days of steroids. I have had one night of bone ache and the hot water bottle is a good suggestion. I am feeling so much better having infusion only. 

I now have an ear infection, pleased that I went to A&E this morning and now on antibiotics  for 5 days, they even checked me out in case of sepsis. 

Worried about my hair, as like most told, hair would not fall out completely but just thin. Early days as yet, but good to hear about the wigs. Certainly good to hear that they give a prescription for wigs. Can anyone advise  timing for hair fall out, does it go gradually or  fairly suddenly?

Many thanks

Catsski

Everyone is different but mine started gradually after the second lot of capox.it didnt come out in clumps,just filled the plug hole when washing it and coated my jacket around the shoulders.

All the best

Kath

Hello Katz51,

 Thanks for that. As mine has only just started,it only comes out when brushed, but the amount of hair strands seems to be growing daily.

Joy

Hi Catsski.

Mine didn't start falling out until after 4th cycle (about 2 months after chemo started), it actually got worse once chemo had finished.  It didn't come out in clumps but I got a comb full when I combed my hair, and is still coming out (finished chemo at end of May). It's thin all over but I've lost much more on top, front and at temples (like male pattern baldness) and at nape of neck. I have very fine hair anyway and not a lot of it so maybe shows more on me.

Take Care, Net77