Docetaxel, sold under the brand name Taxotere, is a chemotherapy drug that has been associated with irreversible alopecia (hair loss). Hair loss, or alopecia, is common during regimens of chemotherapy, as chemo agents attack healthy cells that divide rapidly. In a series of recent lawsuits, patients say Taxotere’s manufacturer, a French company called Sanofi, actively concealed its knowledge of one major risk: permanent hair loss. Hearing loss pain and redness of the skin at the place of earlier radiation treatment Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. I'm about to have my last fec and I've still got hair but with bald patches And still have eyelashes. It may sometimes be used to treat other cancers. Hair may not grow back or it may be thinner than before. Most of them are typical for drugs in this class, such as nausea, vomiting and temporary alopecia (hair loss). Typically, hair grows back within three to six months after discontinuation of treatment. Alopecia, or hair loss, is a common side effect of chemotherapy. Current lawsuits claim that the drug’s manufacturer was aware of the risk of permanent hair loss, and deliberately concealed this information from the medical community as well as the general public.Here, we present some … This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Taxotere (docetaxel) treats breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and stomach cancer. Taxotere belongs to a class of chemotherapy drugs called plant alkaloids. But rarely, the hair loss is permanent. Taxotere hair loss lawsuits were consolidated under MDL No. Hair loss ; Fatigue and weakness ; Infection ; Nail changes (Color changes to your fingernails or toenails may occur while taking docetaxel. The rare side effect can have a negative impact on survivors’ quality of life. Plant alkaloids are made from plants. Skin changes. **An infusion reaction may consist of the following: redness, fast heart beat, low blood pressure, shortness of breath or wheezing, anxiety or feeling warm. Hair loss Individuals who receive docetaxel treatment usually lose the hair on their head and are also at risk of losing their eyelashes, eyebrows and other body hair. Taxotere & Hair Loss. These side effects may be more severe when Taxotere is used with other cancer medicines. the 4-point scale for alopecia (0=no change, 1=minimal hair loss,2=moderate,3=patchyalopecia,4=completealopecia) of the World Health Organisation (WHO; offset publication no. If you have permanent hair loss or alopecia after taking Taxotere (docetaxel), contact our Taxotere lawyers for a free and confidential consultation. The phase IV clinical study is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 56,951 people who have side effects when taking Docetaxel from the FDA, and is updated regularly. Implications for cancer survivors: Clinicians should counsel patients regarding the risk of permanent alopecia prior to embarking upon taxane chemotherapy and routinely offer scalp cooling if available. It’s been used since January 2005 to help breast cancer patients. Howdy! In most cases, your hair will grow back once your treatments are over and sometimes between treatments. Docetaxel, Chemotherapy & Hair Loss. Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking docetaxel: More common. Although these drugs are intended to target malignant cancer cells, they do affect the reproduction of other cells as well – including hair follicles. Docetaxel is used to treat breast, prostate, stomach, head and neck and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).. Although many Taxotere side effects are temporary, one may persist after treatment ends: permanent hair loss, otherwise known as alopecia. Your scalp may feel tender. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Learn about side effects, ... hair loss (may be permanent in some cases); or. Degree of hair loss was assessed by a single practitioner using Dean's alopecia scale (grade 1/excellent [< 25% hair loss], grade 2/good [25%-50% hair loss], grade 3/moderate [50%-75% hair loss], grade 4/poor [> 75% hair loss]), by digital photographs, and by patient self-report of hair thinning or the need to wear a wig/head covering, or both. 2740 IN RE: Taxotere (Docetaxel) Products Liability Litigation. However, manufacturer Sanofi didn’t disclose this risk to consumers until the Food and Drug Administration updated the drug’s label in December 2015. New; Prostate cancer forum requires membership for participation - click to join Hair loss is common and may begin within a few days or weeks of treatment. ChemoExperts tips listed here. You may begin to lose your hair about two weeks after the first treatment, but it can happen earlier. Hair Loss. If you are worried about this, talk to your cancer doctor or nurse. Most people will lose all their hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair. Don't bleach, color or perm your hair — this can weaken it. Dry, red, hot, or irritated skin Incidence not known. The active substance in Taxotere, docetaxel, ... nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, alopecia (hair loss) and asthenia (weakness). 48) [23]. Hair loss is usually temporary, and your hair will usually grow back after treatment ends. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Because the active ingredient, docetaxel, is a strong chemotherapy drug, it also has a long list of side effects. Docetaxel causes hair loss. Prostate Cancer Group - Discussion Forum docetaxel and hair loss. Take the following steps throughout your treatment to minimize the frustration and anxiety associated with hair loss. Hair loss … TC is a 2-drug chemo treatment that kills breast cancer cells before or after surgery, side effects and infusion times vary. *Hair loss from carboplatin + docetaxel is often noticeable. Your hair loss generally can't be prevented or controlled, but it can be managed. While hair loss during chemotherapy is often unavoidable, permanent hair loss after treatment should be rare. but it can happen very quickly, possibly over a … Docetaxel and hair loss. Along with its needed effects, docetaxel may cause some unwanted effects. Docetaxel is a chemotherapy medication that also goes under the name brand Taxotere and is distributed by pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis. Implications for Cancer Survivors Clinicians should counsel patients regarding the risk of permanent alopecia prior to embarking upon taxane chemotherapy and routinely offer scalp cooling if available. This includes tumour cells as well as hair follicles, bone marrow and other germ cells. Hair loss is usually gradual . Taxotere (Docetaxel) chemotherapy side effects, how it's given, how it works, ... nausea, diarrhea, and/or hair loss. Scalp cooling is successful in preventing severe chemotherapy-induced alopecia in almost half of the patients with breast cancer treated with docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 – cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m 2. Be gentle to your hair. Your doctor will talk to you about this treatment and its possible side effects before you agree to have treatment. Before treatment. For this reason, common chemotherapy side effects such as hair loss … hair loss (may be permanent in some cases); or; fingernail or toenail changes. Hair loss is one of the most common side effects of Taxotere. Hair loss is found among people who take Docetaxel, especially for people who are female, 50-59 old, have been taking the drug for 1 - 6 months. Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of cells in the body which results in tumors. Find information about common, infrequent and rare side effects of Docetaxel Intravenous. Their signs, symptoms and severity differ so vastly from one person to other, making it […] Initially 33 lawsuits from 25 districts were consolidated under the MDL in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. While hair loss is a part of many cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, it is temporary in those cases. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. fingernail or toenail changes. After you have finished docetaxel treatments, your nails will generally grow back) (see skin problems). This portion of the eMedTV archives offers more information on Taxotere and hair loss, including an explanation of when hair loss usually starts and some tips for dealing with hair loss. dry skin hair loss or thinning of hair stopping of menstrual bleeding swelling or inflammation of the mouth weight loss Less common. Get to know everything about Taxotere hair loss before taking it. Kaz k over 2 years ago. Conclusions: Both docetaxel and paclitaxel may cause permanent scalp hair loss, but it is significantly more prevalent with docetaxel compared with paclitaxel. But some studies have linked the drug to long-term hair loss. All study participants received prednisone to … Side effects like low blood counts, fever, hair loss and nausea were seen more often in 25 percent of patients on the tri-weekly regimen of docetaxel, but many of the side effects are manageable, according to the study authors. Regarding hair status one year after treatment, 47 patients (55.3%) reported no changes compared to their hair status before treatment. Different drugs may affect different parts of the body. Hi Has anyone found any difference in hair/eyelash loss between fec and docetaxel? For the full list of side effects of Taxotere, see the package leaflet. The most common and primary side effect of a anti-cancer drug, docetaxel is hair loss. In extreme, but rare, cases nails may fall off. But some women who took Taxotere reported permanent hair loss. Both docetaxel and paclitaxel may cause permanent scalp hair loss, but it is significantly more prevalent with docetaxel compared with paclitaxel. Because docetaxel is a cell-cycle-specific agent, it is cytotoxic to all dividing cells in the body. Conclusions. Your hair may thin or you may lose it completely. The multidistrict litigation was created in October 2016. With this drug, it appears the hair loss is permanent, which is a side effect the company did not make known when the drug was put out on the market. It is best to read this information with our general information about the type of cancer you have.. A wig or hair piece may be desired to camouflage the absence of hair until it grows back. Taxotere (docetaxel) is a chemotherapy drug that is part of the class known as taxanes.This class also includes Taxol (paclitaxel).Both drugs are mitotic inhibitors, meaning that they interfere with the process of mitosis, or cell division. Does docetaxel make your hair grow or make it … Sadly, one of the most common breast cancer chemotherapy drugs, Taxotere, is also the only drug that causes permanent hair loss. Hair loss may occur on your face and body. Docetaxel may affect your skin. Call my office at (215) 948-2718, email me at msk@thlawyer.com , or use the contact form below. Black, tarry stools; bleeding gums Get in the habit of being kind to your hair. Is Taxotere Linked to Permanent Hair Loss The psychological effects of hair loss often surprise many people and may even prevent cancer patients from seeking the proper lifesaving treatment.