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#44877 05-07-2005 12:40 AM
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Nelie Offline OP
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I've been told by the oncology nurse who has the most experienec at the med. oncologists office, that I probably won't lose my hair from the 3 cisplatin chemo treatments although sometimes people do thin a lot or lose hair. I am due for chemo number two on Monday.

But just in the last few days I have been losing lots and lots of hair in my hands when I run my hands through it. I think it must be from the first chemo. I have long thick curly hair, it's a feature I'm vain about, I admit, and I had left it long hoping it would escape all this cancer treatment unscathed. I don't ever brush it hard, I comb conditioner through when wet, let it dry naturally and then finger-comb. Do I need to be worried about losing it (if I do, I'd probably want to cut it shorter first)?

Nelie


SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
#44878 05-07-2005 05:43 AM
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Nelie,
My friend Rod had the 3 rounds of cisplatin also. People were shocked when they saw him, suprised that he was going through cancer treatments because he had a full head of hair. He lost his facial hair and some hair underneath like where they radiated his neck and that was it. He made me laugh because one morning after tx, he woke up to find his mustache on his pillow...lol He now has a goatee and is very happy because he could never grow one before!His hair fell out some when he ran his hands through like you said but not bad at all. Since tx ended, all his hair that fell out underneath has grown in and is even thicker. I think you will be fine as far as that goes.Correct me if I am wrong guys but I think Cisplatin is one chemo tx that doesn't cause hair loss!!I hope this helps! smile God bless!Maureen


maureen (friend to Rod SCC tonsil diag. Mar 04 stage 4 -concurrent rad. & chemo) Finished tx July 04
#44879 05-07-2005 06:18 AM
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Tim Offline
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Nelie, Maureen is correct. Cisplatin (and carboplatin) are not known to cause hairloss. The radiation does though! On me, it ended up with very angular lines delineating zones of hairloss on the back of my head. I have since shaved my whole head, as I wanted to get a hair cut and I would have ended up looking like a dog with the mange!

It has begun to come back though!

Tim


SCC Right Tonsil, T2N1M0, Dx 12/04, Tx 40 radiation (180 rad), 8 Chemo (carbo), Tx ended 3/15/05, Selective neck dissection 5/24/05, 22 nodes, 4 levels, no evidence of metastatic malignancy!!! :-)
#44880 05-07-2005 06:26 AM
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Not entirely true. Medline reports that Cisplatin can cause "brittleness and thinning" of hair. It should recover completely post tx. The radiated area is another matter. It usually kills the follicles outright.


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
#44881 05-07-2005 09:38 AM
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Nelie
Pete had Cisplatin and his hair fell out, it happened right on schedule . The Doc had said around 15 days and sure enough , Pete said that his hair started to hurt , not his head his hair. When we started I had cut his hair very short, when we shaved it he said it was relief as it was quite painful.
I am a hairdresser and most, not all, of my clients who have had the same drug regimen have lost their hair. When it comes back the texture is very different for a few months, I refer to it as Chemo hair.
But hey ..I does come back that`s the main thing.
My advice would be .. cut it a little shorter, if it starts to hurt shave it . You will be beautiful anyway!
Take care
Marica


Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
#44882 05-07-2005 11:35 AM
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Nelie Offline OP
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Actually, Marica, now that you mention it, 15 days from the last chemo is about exactly when big gobs of my hair started coming out when I ran my hands through it. And my hair follicles did hurt for a day or two on and off. One night this week I recall being pretty irritated from the feeling. But that sensation has gone away in the last 48 hours and so has the amount of hair coming out. And I still have hair left that would look like a good head of hair to most people, it's just me that knows it is a lot thinner than it was.

Of course, I also have not washed my hair since the hair follicles started hurting , I thought I'd go a little easier on the washing schedule.

I'll wash tommorrow as gently as possible and see what happens. If I start losing more hair, or lose a lot more 15 days after round 2, I'll probably just cut it very short or shave it. I do have some chemo hats someone gave me if I need them.

As for the radiation, supposedly they aren't radiating anywhere near the back of my head where I'd have hair loss. I asked them on Friday. As for the hairs on my chin, I hope it does get rid of those so I don't have to anymore wink


SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
#44883 05-07-2005 02:29 PM
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Nelie, I think it isn't correct to say that cisplatin doesn't cause hair loss. It is stated to be a probable side effect for some people, not all. I got prepared for total hair loss before treatment by making a wig for myself. Very luckily, I just lost a few more than usual after washing my hair during treatment. I didn't need the wig at all and hope that I never need it for the rest of my life.People react differently and as far as I know, the lost hair will grow fairly quickly after treatment. And usually it looks even stronger and thicker than before.

Karen


Karen stage 4B (T3N3M0)tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001.Concurrent chemo-radiation treatment ( XRT x 48 /Cisplatin x 4) ended in 12/01. Have been in remission ever since.
#44884 05-08-2005 01:22 PM
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Nelie,

Harry started losing his hair after the first treatment. For him, the first thing to go was his facial hair. He hasn't had to shave since Feb.

The hair on his head fell out to a point and then stopped. For a while I had to change his pillow case quite often because it would be covered with hair. About the time he started the third treatment he actually started growing his hair back and a couple of days ago we had to shave his upper lip only.

My thought is that in the beginning his body reacted to the introduction of something very foreign to it. After a while it got used to the drugs and now his hair is coming back.

Even if you lose the hair it will probably return soon.

Hope this helps.

Cindy


Caregiver to ex-husband Harry. Dx 12/10/04 SCC stg 3, BOT with 2 nodes left side. No surg/chemo x4 /rad.x37(rad comp. 03/29/05)Cisplatin/5FU(comp. 05/07/05)-T1N2M0-(cancer free 06/14/05)-(12/10/06) 2 yr. Survivor!!!

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