Docetaxel

Hi. Sorry I have had no experience of the taxotere that you mentioned. However I have recently finished the 3 cycles of FEC and 3 of docetaxel. The docetaxel was easier to have administered and the side effects were less severe.

Like yourself I was very concerned about permanent hair loss. However any articles I read have confirmed that this rarely happens. My last chemo session was on 23 October and I’m pleased to say that my hair is starting to grow back and so are my eyebrows and eyelashes. I know that getting a cancer diagnosis is frightening and it’s only natural that you imagine the worst possible outcomes but please try not to worry, Just remember that it is very likely that your hair will grow back.

All the very best to you.

Hi Nis

I can see you've had some replies to your other post about this but wanted to reply to you here as you seem to be very anxious about this. My treatment finished over 4 years ago - I had 4 doses of EC and 4 doses of Docetaxel. personally, I tolerated the EC better but everyone is different and there will be many people on here who found it the other way around. As you know, the list of side effects is long but we don't get all of them - some get one, some another and nobody can tell you which one you will get - if any. Regarding hair loss, my hair started to grow back while I was on Docetaxel.

Remember, the internet will circulate the most extreme things - no-one is going to read an article about someone having a treatment that worked out as expected with no side-effects, we all go looking for the worst case scenario, it's our nature. Also remember that the internet represents the entire world - how many people out of a world full of breast cancer survivors experienced permanent hair loss? I'm guessing a tiny proportion - and that's what the oncologists and chemo nurses and drug manufacturers will tell you. Unfortunately, no-one can tell you that you are guaranteed not to experience it, but the likelihood is very low. 

This is your treatment plan and you need to be comfortable with it - if this is really bothering you then perhaps see if you can talk to your BCN or oncologist before you start on the Docetaxel - they should be able to reassure you.

I hope you find the reassurance you are looking for and that whatever treatment you have has minimal side effects for you.

R

People on the internet will say all sorts of things. Try to stick to forums on sites like this or Breast Cancer Now if you can.

I called a Macmillan nurse at one point, and it was probably the best conversation I had about chemo during the whole process. I got someone who'd been a chemo nurse for years, and he was incredibly reassuring and sympathetic to my questions. I'd recommend giving them a call if you're really worried and not getting much from your BC nurse.

I had docetaxel for the first two cycles (as well as 4 cycles of trastuzumb, pertuzumab and carboplatin) and then oncologist took me off it as my fingertips and 4 toes were getting numb. But even though i only had 6 weeks of docetaxel, it worked, as all the cancer that had invaded my breast was killed - a complete pathological response. And, to reassure you, my hair is growing back. Please God yours will too

Hi Nis. I had exactly the same a you, first 3 cycles of EC and then 3 of Docetaxel, from January to

Sorry, phone is misbehaving! Anyway, my hair is growing back really thick and strong, and I’m led to believe that permanent hair loss is incredibly rare. The EC made me really queasy and hung over for a week, then felt normal for the rest of the cycle. I was v worried about the Docetaxel but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I had a temperature for the first week of each cycle and flu like symptoms, aches and pains etc, and had to be checked out each time, including chest pains. But each time chemo

Soo sorry! Caption box keeps closing on me!! Anyway, I read a really useful post about how people only ever comment or review something if they’ve had a really good or really bad experience. All of the millions of people in the middle don’t comment. So don’t pay too much attention to the horror stories people post. They are usually the exception. Good luck my friend.