Hair regrowth on Pax/Carbo. - Cold capping

Hi Harrigoose

While I don’t have experience of cold capping or having Pax/Carbo I noticed that you haven’t had any answers yet so I thought I’d check in with you and see how you are doing. I noticed that you are also a member of the breast cancer forum so why not put your question in that group as it’s a busier group than this one.

Wishing you the best of luck with the rest of your chemo.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Good evening, 

Thank you for your reply. I’m doing ok thank you, this heat is no fun with the old hot flushes! 

I’ll take your advice and try reposting, I did get a response on a social media site that suggested even with regrowth to stick with cold cap to protect hair follicles. I’m still interested in personal in experiences from here though. 

Thursday marks 9/16, crossing that halfway point!

Hi Harrigoose,

I apologise I also don’t have experience yet but I am starting 12 weeks of pac/carbo on Aug 3rd. I’m having carbo every 3 weeks. I didn’t have the option of cold cap where I am but so far haven’t lost all my hair but I have lost most of it. It’s cut as short as it can go. To be honest I would rather it was all gone so it would all grow back fresh. How are you finding pac/ carbo? I just had my 4th AC  last Wednesday. Hope you are doing well. Milliemop

Morning Millimop, 

Thanks for your reply. I just had my 6th Pax/Carbo yesterday (smaller dose of Carbo weekly) my hair is growing back but I am sticking with cold cap, I’ve come this far now.

Wednesday I had my hair cropped into a pixie type cut and the hairdresser confirmed that it’s growing all over with no shiney or bald bits. It really isn’t me BUT I do feel better without all the whispy long bits. It’s still a bit thin on the longer bits but will have it trimmed ina few weeks.  I have wigs although it’s been too hot to wear one. As it gets cooler I may start to wear one as I feel more me with long hair.

Good luck with Pax, personally I’ve found it easier for side effects but I need a liver Scan and they have reduced the Pax by 20% which I think is common. I feel good most of the time. 

xxx

Thanks so much for the reply Harrigoose! I’m glad to hear you’re halfway through and that it’s seeming a slight bit better. I was a bit anxious wondering how it will be. It’s so nice to hear from someone who is going through the same treatment and can relate. You have put me at ease now somewhat so thank you for that. It’s all a learning curve isn’t it?! 

I have a wig also and have yet to wear it for the same reason! It’s just too warm. I don’t mind just wearing a baseball cap anyway now as it is what it is isn’t it?. I also feel the same about shorthair. It isn’t me at all but I’ll be glad when I see it coming back all the same ️. 

Hope the liver scan goes ok for you. Keep me posted on how it goes xx

Hi Harigoose

I hope you are getting on okay with your chemo and your hair is continuing to grow back. I thought I would share my experience with you in case it is of use. I was diagnosed with TNBC in October 2020 and had 5 months of chemo. I started with paclitaxel and carboplatin. I had 12 weekly cycles of paclitaxel plus 4 cycles of carboplatin given 3-weekly. It is the paclitaxel that causes hair loss and I used the cold cap throughout my chemo. I found it thinned with paclitaxel but there wasn't too much loss. I then had 3 cycles of FEC given 3-weekly, I continued with the cold cap which helped. I had greater hair loss with the FEC, probably losing in total about 70% volume, plus I had a small bald patch on the top of my head where the cap didn't fit well. At the end of the chemo my hair was thin and felt straggley, I couldn't have it cut due to the lockdown. It started to grow back very quickly and when I could I had a short hair cut which helped me feel better. I is now 17 months after my last chemo and my hair is fully grown back and I think it is thicker and stronger than before. If you can bear it keep going with the cold cap as I'm sure it protected my follicles and has helped with the re-growth. 

Good luck with the rest of your treatment x

Good evening, 

Thank you for your reply, and sharing your experience. I am now almost at the end of my Chemo, with only 3 weeks of Pac/Carbo left  (One week break week after next, yay)! I have continued to cold cap and I did lose a little more just after starting this type of Chemo but the majority was from EC. A few weeks ago I bit the bullet and had my hair cut into a pixie cut, as it was so thin but it had definitely started to thicken up at the roots, so the aim was to match the regrowth. I hate it so short but am thankful for cold capping and will continue to the end. It is growing back quite thick and I’m not sure if it’s curling on the top as there is certainly a “kink” as it’s growing. I still cover it mostly but am trying to embrace the shorter length, I don’t think I’ve ever had it this short! 

My advice to anyone is give it a go, it’s not easy but for me has been worthwhile. 

xxx