Worried chemo not working
 

Hi
Debbie, my wife has had two lots of EC chemo (the third is Thursday 1st Feb). After the first one her hair fell out as expected but left a few strands.

She was quite sick after her first session so on the second session they gave her a lot more fluid with the EC. Her concern is that her hair has now started growing again so she is thinking the chemo may not be working.

Can it be diluted too much on infusion?

Cheers, Ron

Ron,

Tell your wife not to worry! The chemo is working and they definitely do not dilute it. It's natural for her hair to fall out and depending upon what chemo you receive you loose your hair quickly or slowly. She probably has peach fuzz on her head and this is natural. I lost my hair exactly 2 weeks after I started chemo (A/C) and I was bald as a baby's behind. I began getting peach fuzz but that too disappeared. Just when I thought things were getting better - the peach fuzz was growing, I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes. Everyone is different and chemo affects people in different ways. Relax and just that it one day at a time.

I lost my hair and the peach fuzz came back rather quickly. I asked my oncologist the same question "has my chemo stopped working?" The answer was a definite NO. Then I lost my eyebrows and lashes. I spoke too soon. I'm sure your wife is doing fine.

I wouldn't worry about equating side effects to effectiveness of treatment. Everyone is different and may have more or less of the side effects. Side effects do not indicated effectiveness.

Best Wishes,
________
Tiffalicious

Dear Ron


Just because the treatment was diluted more makes no difference, as long as she is getting the same amount of drug for her body weight. If they use alot more liquid to infuse, it just takes longer but its the same amount of meds.

Nope, don't worry about hair=efficacy of treatment!

Hi

Your words of encouragement along with the practical and factual advice is such a great help. I am sure that you can never realise how much it really does help.

In this case it totally relaxed Debbie to the point were she never bothered to contact the oncologist and had no problem waiting until the next session of chemo (Thurs 1st Feb).

I just want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

'till next time....

Cheers, Ron

BTW, I'm fine!

Ron,

Tell Debbie I'm still waiting for the other 70% of my hair to fall out! I asked the same question and the oncologist said it has nothing to do with how well the meds are working...even had the return of my menstrual cycle between my 3rd and 4th AC treatments...the doc just giggled and said in his strong indian accent that I must have powerful eggs!

Best of luck to you both,
Steph