FEC and Docetaxel

Hi mitteny

if you can cold cap for the chemo (the docetaxel part at least if you don't want to do all 6) then it should stop that happening.  I did 4xEC where I slowly lost most of my hair due to one of thr machines not being cold enough, but it grew back with the Paclitaxel. I still lost my eyebrows and lashes with the  T, but avoided a wig. X

Hi mitteny

if you can cold cap for the chemo (the docetaxel part at least if you don't want to do all 6) then it should stop that happening.  I did 4xEC where I slowly lost most of my hair due to one of thr machines not being cold enough, but it grew back with the Paclitaxel. I still lost my eyebrows and lashes with the  T, but avoided a wig. Take a look at  the Paxman cold cap website for data. X

Hello

I had fec and docetaxel fir my her2 positive breast cancer. My hair actually started to grow back when I was on docetaxel and I've not heard of it causing hair loss on a permanent basis. 

Julie x

Thank you so much for replying. Unfortunately my Hospital which is in Belfast does not offer the Cold cap

Hi Julie, thanks for replying. Good to know you didn't have any problems and your hair actually started growing back on Docetaxel. I think I will give it a try, if that's what they recommend. I wonder what the percentage difference is between 6 FEC or 3 FEC and 3 Docetaxel when it comes to chances of reoccurrence

Hi,

I also had FEC T,and my hair grew back on T.I now also have thick jet black curly hair growing on my legs!It was fine and blonde brown and straight previously lol Had hoped the eyebrows would be Brown again but they are still grey and Brown.Eyelashes also thicker and Brown,no grey back.

  Yvie

Hi Yvie,

Thanks for replying to me. Good to know your hair is back. Gives me hope!

Hi mitteny Welcome, and sorry that you find yourself here. I had 3 x EC and then 3 x Docetaxel. I lost all my hair on the EC, along with eyebrows and eyelashes, and stayed that way until about 6 weeks after finishing Docetaxel. It then started to grow back thick and fast. Just to reassure you that 5 months after chemo I currently have a full head of hair about 1 inch long, eyebrows, eyelashes (a bit thicker than before!?!), and the obligatory leg hair too. I know it does happen to some people that hair grows back thinner. I think its fairly rare that it doesn't grow back at all. Try not to worry because it will almost certainly reappear after chemo (and may even surprise you with a variation on your usual colour or hair texture!). Best of luck with your treatment. x

Hi PictureThis2,

Thank you for your warm welcome and relating your experience for me.

So glad all your hair is back after your treatments.

I think I just needed reassurance from others in the same boat. Its bad enough to loose your hair, but the thought of it not coming back would be devastating!

Best wishes

I think that the two different ones are called 3rd generation (as opposed to 2nd generation (F)EC, and are more successful in stopping recurrence.. The 'E' part can affect your heart, and that is more likely with the number of doses and/or dosing regime (how much each time).

Good luck with your first session, and take a look at the pinned chemo thread as it's a great source of information!