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Hi everyone. Yesterday John had his first chemo treatment and first radiation treatment. I'm anxious and nervous dreading the upcoming side effects but trying to just take things one day at a time. When he met with the Oncologist he told him that he would most likely loose his hair. Yesterday the infusion nurse told him that only 30% of people on Cisplatin loose their hair. Since he will be receiving 1 dose a week for 7 weeks, I was wondering what personal experience people had with this. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend. Wanda


Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2
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Wanda, he will loose some hair from the exit radiation at the back of his head. This generally grows back. The extent would depend on the irradiation plan. Also he may will be able to throw away his razor except for trimming sideburns.... although that too seems variable. Now at almost 2 years out, more and more patches are coming back.

As far as cisplatin/carboplatin is concerned... it certainly did nothing (hairwise) in my case and most others here would agree wit that. Enjoy the peace for the next 2 weeks and let him enjoy any food that he might like before the radiation kills the taste buds.

M



Last edited by Markus; 02-27-2009 10:42 AM. Reason: added a comma.....

Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
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I had carboplatin and didn't lose my hair to that, but I did lose my hair from the radiation. It started falling out at the beginning of the second week. It was on the back of my head from a little below the top of my ears down - it formed a perfect line right across - you couldn't tell because my other hair covered it up. It's all mostly grown back in now - it's just not as long as my other hair is yet.


Stephanie, 23, SCC on the right side of my tongue, surgery on 5-19-08, over half my tongue removed, free flap constructed from my forearm, bilateral neck dissection, one positive node. Radiation (32) and chemo (carboplatin) started on 6-16-08. Recurrence 4/09 in lungs.

**** Stephanie passed away 12.15.09.... RIP our dear friend****


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Ditto for me. I am two months out of treatment and the hair on the back of my head is starting to come back. It is a different texture than the rest of my hair. It's more like "baby" hair. I hear (read) that some of the guys never have a "full" beard again.


40 yr old. Stage IV SCC found left tonsil. PET/CT shows cancer on base of tongue, floor of mouth, lymph nodes on both sides. HPV 16 pos. 6 weeks of cisplatin, 43 days of radiation. 73gy on each side.
ND March 2, 2009
reoccurance dx'd Aug 19, 2009
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I lost every hair on my head during my chemo and then just as it was growing back I lost the bottom at the base of my head to radiation. It is starting to come back now, but it is a different color and texture than it was before. The lady at MVD did not believe that it was me on my DL when I went to get a copy a few weeks ago. LOL

Patty


48
SCC Floor of Mouth 7/06
9/06 Surgery, bilateral neck dissection, 58 nodes clear PT2pN0pMx
35 rad 2006
Recurred 6/08, 1 Carboplatin, 1 Cisplatin
Surgery 9/08 - Total glossectomy, free flap from pectoral muscle, left mandible replaced using fibula
35 IMRT & Erbitux 11/08
4/15/09 recurrence
6/1/09 passed away, rest in peace
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I never lost any of my hair due to the chemo and I was told I wouldn't but like everyone else I also lost the hair on the back of my neck which did grow back and I also lost all of my whiskers and only the ones above my chin line recovered. I now don't have to shave below my chin ever again and that is THE ONLY good side effect of my Tx, other than killing the cancer.


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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I didn't lose much to Erbitux and rads. Just some between my sideburns and chin. I let that hair go witout shaving it for a couple of days. It grew into a perfect goatee. LOL I had to shave that ugly thing. As for hair on my head, I don't remember losing any there. My angels were on duty at that time.


Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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My hair thinned during my treatment, and like others, I ended up with a bald spot at the back of my neck. The thickness has returned, and most on the hair in back, although there are still some bald patches.


Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
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I had cisplatin and didnt lose any hair. It never even thined, it stayed nice and thick. I did have a couple spots on the back of my neck where I lost hair due to the radiation exit area. Its now grown back, but it did take about 6 months after treatments before it started to come back.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile

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