Chemo - TAXOTERE - Cancer: Breast Message Board

Laura B · 06-10-2008, 09:08 AM

I had a lumpectomy and going through 8 chemos. I was told that the Chemo will change to a different kind after the first four. After I completed the first four the nurse told me, good news, the next four will not affect your hair growth anymore, you hair will start growing back- I'm bald now. Yesterday I had the first of the additional 4 treatments - Taxotere. I did not read the brochure they gave me until I got home and and it lists under side effects "Loss of Hair"
I have an appointment with my oncologist in 10 days for a follow up check up and will ask, but is anyone on this board familiar with Taxotere, why would the nurse say that? It made me so happy and the brochure is such a let down.
Laura

mrsg1202 · 06-11-2008, 06:05 AM

My hair did not return while I was on Taxol. Generally, hair starts to grow back three weeks after the last treatment, but as I remember, my eyebrows and eyelashes came back pretty quickly. Good luck with your treatments.

JOJO39 · 06-12-2008, 08:55 PM

Hi,
I also had 4 rounds of taxol and I was still bald. But your hair will start growing soon after you stop the chemo.

Laura B · 06-13-2008, 08:59 AM

I talked to the head nurse in the infusion room, she told me since I get only 4 treatments it will not affect my hair anymore, with other words, the growing process is starting, but it usually takes 2 - 3 months for hair to grow out because of the other chemo I had.
I have one bad side effect from the taxotere - besides no appetite - I had the first treatment on Monday and I got the worst taste in my mouth, today it's Friday and the taste seem to be a little better. Did you experience that also, it is really an unusually bad taste.
Laura

Linda49er · 06-14-2008, 12:18 AM

Hi Laura and mrs g. Hey jojo!!!!!!! Found ya lol

Sorry got excited when I saw jojo

I am not sure if taxol and taxotere are the same drug. Anyways, I had the A/c for the first 4 and then taxol for the last four. By the time I started the taxol if i recall correctly I was already bald. I had just a fine buzz when i was done with chemo and started rads. I do remember the rads oncologist saying my hair wouldn't grow back til I was done with the rads either. Once it starts coming back its amazing how it grows back. Mine was to my wasit, straight and brunette. When it came back it came back salt and pepper in color, and curly. I am now 2 yrs and 14 days survivor and my hair is laying on my shoulders and still curly on the ends. I love it

The main think I remember about the taxol is the leg, muscle and bone pains. I can't remember 100% if i had a funny taste in my mouth. Sometimes with some of these meds you can get kind of a metallic taste. What ever you do don't garle with mouth wash that has alcohol in it. Biotene is an excellent mouthwash to use when u are on chemo. The ones with alcohol will burn the lining of your mouth and cheeks and you might get ulcer like sores in you mouth. I found this out the hard way. Once I stopped the mouthwash with alcohol the sores went away.

Good luck with your treatments....you are halfway there

Hugs, love and prayers,
Linda

p.s. jojo..i left you a msg on the other board lol