Tarceva

Hi: Has anyone experienced shedding hair, using Tarceva? I have been on Tarceva for 2 1/2 months and I am shedding every day. Not in clumps, just strands. Any advise out there for this problem??
My small mass in my upper left lung has gotten smaller since taking Tarceva. I have gotten over most of the terrible rash (as a last resort I tried bacitracin) and for me it has helped. I feel very lucky that so far the Tarceva is working and shedding hair is a small price to pay. I just hope it keeps working.

AnnieD

Annie -
I was on Tarceva for 3 1/2 months and did not have any problem with falling hair but it was not working for me either. I never developed the rash either.

The first time I had chemo, my hair grew back in completely, just like it would normally. After my second round of chemo (first Gemsar and Taxotere which didn't work and second Carboplatin and Taxol) my hair has hardly grown at all. It has been 11 months since I completed those therapies and my hair is still only about 1 inch long. I hate it!

dotdot

DotDot: Sorry to hear that it didn't work for you. Every one has such a different make up, it works for some and not for others. I have not had chemo or radiation. It was my decision not to have it and try Tarceva. I was not a smoker and most likely a victim of second hand smoke (I am sure among many others).
Thanks for taking the time to get back to me. As I said, shedding is a small price to pay if this works.
I lost my son to Lung cancer two years ago. He was a smoker for many years and gave it up 7 years ago. He was only 49.
Hang in there and never give up. I know I won't.

AnnieD

Me too! I have been on Tarceva for 3.5 months and my hair is falling out - not in clumps, but strands, like you. I am amazed at how much hair is left in the shower or on the floor after blowing my hair dry. I checked the Tarceva web-site and it only states that Tarceva will not cause "complete" hair loss! I discussed this side-effect with my doctor last week - she informed me that hair loss is a common side-effect along with brittle hair. She did not have any advice for stopping the hair loss. I'm going to my hair stylist tonight to get a haircut that might suit my thinning hair. I agree, it's a small price for having it shrink my lung tumor!

Thank God! (not that you are loosing your hair) I was beginning to think I was the only one. I don't have an answer either. I am very careful and don't use any commercial shampoo. Sent to Vermont Soap works for their Shampoo bar. No chemicals. And also I put olive oil in my hair about an hour before I wash it and rub it (gently into my scalp) it seems to slow it down. My next step is that I am considering a wig if it gets much worse. I have very fine hair. Use warm water to wash. Also when you rinse, do it with cold water, it constricts the blood vessels in you head. Not the answer but a little bit of help. Again a small price to pay. Hang in, this too shall pass!

AnnieD

I also had hair loss on Tarceva. A few months into it, I lost about half my hair,strands at a time. I had thick hair. I got a wig and prepared for baldness. Then my daughter, who is a hairdresser, said to try Alterna Life products (they have a web site). She got me the shampoo, conditioner, and liquid to rub on after. My hair has not fallen out since. The products are very expensive, but she gets her discount. Perhaps the hair was ready to stop falling out anyhow. Since then, it has started to grow back. When I had thinning hair, I changed to style. People could not notice. I also had trouble with other hair falling out including eyelashes. Everything has grown back even tho the dosage has increased. I go to a large cancer center and they said I was the only person losing their hair on Tarceva. Since then, one other person has hair loss and I am hearing of it on discussion boards.

I am doing beautifully on Tarceva for 9 months. Breathe much better. I was not a smoker. I am interested in hearing from anyone with inner eye problems or toe problems on Tarceva. Thanks.

I've been on Tarcevia since 4/1/05 and doing great. My lungs for the first time in nearly 5 years are clear. Tumor markers are less than 1.7. What a miracle. I lost my hair on gezmzar and naveline before tarcevia and it is just not growing back. I had a bad break-out on the body and face. I'm dropping to a lower dose (100 mg) per md's instructions. You should see my eye lashes, they are long...and thick. Having some trouble with the eyes but I know it is a small price to pay to still be alive after almost 5 years.

My mother is a lung cancer patient. She has been on Tarceva for about 2 1/2 months. She too has recently noticed some hair loss. We are interested in knowing what specific hair care products you are purchasing from Alterna. Are they able to be ordered online?
Thanks

Another request for which shampoo, conditioner and liquid of the many Alterna Life Products that was helpful in hair loss in patients taking Tarceva.

i am of course very interested in knowing what
shoampoo and so forth you have been using that
helped. the tarceva is working but for the
pimples on my face and the newly falling out
hair. i would sure like to help the hair from
falling out if i can.

thanks for your tip.
--kati