I Did Not Lose My Hair But….

When most people think of cancer patients they think of a person that is frail, skinny, looks sick and they are bald. I have been lucky so far and have not lost my hair. I have however had changes to my hair and scalp.

After starting chemo, the skin and scalp challenges began

My second treatment was a chemotherapy combo of Cisplatin and Alimta. I did this regimen every three weeks for 6 rounds with both drugs and two rounds of just Alimta. While on this drug, as mentioned, I did not lose my hair but I did have scalp changes and other dermatological issues. I was referred to a dermatologist that specialized in oncology.

Shortly after starting the chemo my scalp started getting blisters and was very itchy. I remember being very anxious to get to the appointment to see the dermatologist. We were on our way to the city and my phone rang. My appointment was canceled. My scalp was so itchy I did not know if I was going to be able to handle the annoyance much longer. I saw the dermatologist and they put me on two prescription medications. It did not take long for relief to come and I only had to use one of the prescriptions once.

Side effects from radiation

While on the chemo drugs I also received radiation to my cervical spine. I received 5 high does to the back of my head and neck. This resulted in a slight loss of hair by my neckline. Thankfully, I could not see it and it didn’t bother me much. It also helped that I have long hair and it was barely noticeable.

My hair changed color

After participating in a clinical trial, I began taking Tarceva and Cabozantinib. This drug combination was rough, and I will write about that at another time. I did not lose my hair and it did not start thinning as I have heard this happens when on Tarceva.

My hair started turning white. I had developed a two-toned almost ombre look. It did not bother me much even though it looked like I was going grey in my early-30s. I remember going out to eat with my dad, sister, and husband. We went to a little café in Indiana and the host was sitting with us. He handed my dad and me senior menus. I was a little taken aback and when the server came to our table I asked if it was because they thought I was over 65 and the server said probably. I laugh and tell this story often. After I stopped taking the Cabozantinib my hair started coming in as my natural color again.

Scalp issues persist

I am currently only taking Tarceva for lung cancer and I still have issues with my scalp. I purchased a spiky brush on Amazon to use in the shower to help with the itching. I sometimes also get the Tarceva sores on my scalp.

One of the first questions that I asked my oncologist was if I was going to lose my hair. I am sure that they answer this question daily. Some people handle losing their hair better than others and I hope that I never have to find out how I will handle it. It is also important to note that everyone handles treatments differently so while one person may lose or have thinning, not everyone will.

Looking to connect with others to talk about side effects?