Paclitaxel and hair loss

I had pac for 12 weeks and mine started shedding after 3rd infusion… regrowth didn’t start happening until about 2 months after the last EC I had and carried on shedding…

Everyone is different though xx

Just feels a bit disheartening.

I know EC is harsh on the hair but I thought it would slow down with Paclitaxel ️

Yea I completely agree - it is disheartening. 
But remember it’s hopefully only for a short period and hopefully it’ll come back. 

I wash my hair every day now with one called grow me. Gosh knows if it’s doing the trick but my hair has grown! 

Unfortunately, they’re both harsh on the hair xx

It’s hard isn’t it ️

For me the hair loss has been one of the hardest parts of this cancer journey.

i didn’t really lose any hair until the day before EC cycle3,  and almost believed I was going to be one of the really lucky ones who kept most of my hair…..then when it’s started falling out, I thought it’ll ease when I start Paclitaxel but it really isn’t ….️

Yea I get it. Loosing your hair is part of loosing your identity. 

Some people don’t recognise me anymore - then I open my mouth and then they do lol. 

This is just a bump in the road. Just don’t play with your hair too much. Like wash it once a week or just when you go chemo - whatever your plan is xx

I had 12,weekly sessions of Paclitaxel and I am having 3 weekly injections of Herceptin until the end of the year. I cold capped and I have a thin covering of hair, but I wear a wig when I go out.  It's now 8 weeks after ending Paclitaxel and I have no regrowth yet!  It is very worrying.  But apparently Herceptin causes thinning hair too!  Hopefully regrowth will start soon??

Hello NewJourney 

I’ve just finished 3 EC and found my hairloss started in earnest between cycles 2&3 despite the cold cap. I’ve lost it in a hairband shape from ear to ear. The back has thinned and bizarrely my fringe is hanging on! 

I got my hairdresser to free-hand chop it into a short bob. I found the large handfuls of hair so heartbreaking and it was mainly length rather than volume.

I also found washing it was hard as the water loosened the shedding hair which then matted and needed to be gently combed away but that just resulted in massive handfuls of wet shedded hair - that only stopped happening when I lost the length. 

I’d heard loss slows a little with the taxel drugs - I’ll be doing Docetaxel - and that regrowth can start a little but am not holding out much hope. Everyone is different.   

I’ve read that the cold cap can continue to help even after loss as it protects the follicles from damage and aids regrowth but I’ll decide that when my next treatment comes round depending on loss in this cycle. 

It’s so hard. I dread getting ready everyday ️

That’s exactly like me, I’ve lost it too in the same places as you describe.

i had it cut into a long bob, but find where i had lights on the ends it’s really dry, and what’s not fallen out just breaks.

I’ve got two more chemo to go before moving onto Radiotherapy so want to persevere as I’ve heard too it helps with regrowth‍♀️

just don’t feel or look like me anymore.

Rubbish isn’t it xxxx

Gently comb your hair before you wash it to get the loose hair out. Any hair that comes out with combing was going to come out eventually anyway. xxx