Forum Discussion

TraceyWatkins's avatar
TraceyWatkins
Member
10 years ago

Hair loss and constipation - weekly paclitaxel and Herceptin 3 weekly, using cold cap

I'm hoping there is someone out there that has had similar treatment to me - weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks and Herceptin every 3 weeks for 1 year.  I'm up to my third cycle of paclitaxel tomorrow, which will also be day 15 since starting chemo.  I'll start hormone treatment (as I'm triple positive) in early September after chemo finishes.

I've opted to use the cold cap and have managed to get through the first two, but am anxious about tomorrow.  When the cap starts to numb my head at about 8 minutes I get a pain in my neck and feel nausea and anxiety.  The nurse gave me an Ativan for anxiety and that seemed to relax my neck and after a further 10 minutes when the tablet started working I was fine for the next 3 hours.

I'm wondering if anyone that has undergone same treatment as me with cold cap still lost their hair, or minimal loss of hair.  Trying to determine if it's worth the anxiety to keep my hair.  I have to get through another 10 sessions, although the nurse did suggest to take the Ativan earlier to make sure it had kicked in before the cold cap was put on.  

It also seems that many people lose their hair on day 15 - they get a tingling / pain in their head and some have even suggested a popping feeling and then they start losing their hair in clumps.  I'm washing my hair in luke warm water only twice per week in goats milk shampoo/conditioner - not rubbing, just smoothing through, no hair dryer, plus using a silk pillowcase.

I have chemo on Thursday and have two steroids only on the day of the chemo.  I find I'm fine on Friday, other than slight nausea which goes as soon as I have an anti-nausea tablet.  Saturday is my bad day where I feel antsy and yuck, then the constipation sets in on Saturday night/Sunday.  I'm trying to manage this by two coloxyl at night and a sachet of Movicol morning and night plus 10 prunes a day.  I've now just ordered a Squatty Potty as I cannot bear to go through another weekend with this pain.

Prior to BC and chemo on Thursdays when at work I used to look forward to the weekend, but now I dread Saturday and Sunday.

Any feedback or suggestions is much appreciated.

Tracey xo

 

hair-loss
herceptin
  • TraceyWatkins's avatar
    TraceyWatkins
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Maureen

    Thanks for the feedback, I'll buy some kiwi fruit too.  Anything to help at this stage.  Kind Regards Tracey xoxo

  • Mozzie_Bear's avatar
    Mozzie_Bear
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Tracey, I didn't use a cold cap but the constipation was  a shocker.  I used coloxyl as well but found pears and kiwi fruit helped.  Hope you find the right thing for you.  Maureen

  • TraceyWatkins's avatar
    TraceyWatkins
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Paula

    Thanks for your response.  I'll try the ducolax.  I do find the Coloxyl are quite intense.  I've been eating the prunes, but will also buy some pear juice.

    Thanks again for your support.

    Kind Regards

    Tracey xoxo

  • TraceyWatkins's avatar
    TraceyWatkins
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi NB, thanks for your response.  I'll definitely take along a bandage to tie the cold cap down on the top of my head.  Hopefully this helps.

    Thanks again, Tracey xo

  • TraceyWatkins's avatar
    TraceyWatkins
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Mary

    Thanks so much for your response.  I'll keep persisting with the cold cap if you think it worked.  

    I had the Ativan about 15 minutes before the cold cap yesterday and it seemed to be less painful.

    Thanks again. Tracey xo

  • mum2jj's avatar
    mum2jj
    Member
    10 years ago

    Ah the constipation,

    That was the one thing no one warned me about and it was awful.  I would start on kiwi fruit the day before chemo and then onto the prunes,  Also drank lots of pear juice.  I was eventually told by anoncologist to get ducolax SP drops and they are brilliant.  The best thing ever, you start with just five drops at night and increase if needed.  Felt they were much better and kinder than Coloxyl.

    Hugs to you.

    Paula xx

  • NB's avatar
    NB
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Tracey,

    I finished chemo 3 months ago and also used the cold cap.  I would definately do it again but learnt a few things.  Firstly make sure you take the Ativan  at least 15 minutes B4 the cold cap goes on so it is effective - the first 15 minutes of the cold cap were definately the worst.  Also are you using panty liners on your forehead?  - found these invaluable for reducing pain here -  strange look but effective.  For the last 3 (of 6) treatments I had a crepe bandage over the top of my head & under my chin (looked like I had the mumps) to keep the cold cap in contact on the top of my head where it didn't fit well.  I did lose quite a bit of hair, probably 1/2 in total, mainly from the top of my head where the cap sat up for those first three sessions.  I remember that after the second treatment I became convinced I would go completely bald as my hair was falling out all over the place but it didn't happen.  Despite losing quite a lot of hair I found with a bit of creative styling I could cover my balding patch. People in my personal and private lives were not aware I had chemo (at least to the best of my knowledge).  My hair is now regrowing and the regrowth is 2-3cms long and wants to stick up in the air a bit.... more creative styling.  If I had my time over I would still do the cold capping and am convinced if I had used the crepe bandage from the outset I would have had very little hair loss.  

    Good luck!

     

  • maryroset1's avatar
    maryroset1
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hey there. I had 6 chemo treatments and cold cap. I found it a bit uncomfortable but i managed ok. Unfortunately for me the cap didnt fit well on the top of my head so lost hair on top but kept it elsewhere. Overall very successful for me and would recommend persisting with it.  I did have tingling and it came out in clumps so cut hair short I also had constipation nothing really worked for me.