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IL 2 treatment completed weeks later hair loss
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IL 2 treatment completed weeks later hair loss

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › IL 2 treatment completed weeks later hair loss

  • Post
    • July 14, 2011 at 11:22 pm
    Karin L
    Participant

      I finished round 4 of IL 2 treatment 4 weeks ago and within the last few days have been losing much hair.  I realize this is a less common side affect of treatment, but I wonder if anyone knows if it certain to be complete hair loss or extreme thinning? 

      Thank you for any and all replies in advance.

      Karin

      I finished round 4 of IL 2 treatment 4 weeks ago and within the last few days have been losing much hair.  I realize this is a less common side affect of treatment, but I wonder if anyone knows if it certain to be complete hair loss or extreme thinning? 

      Thank you for any and all replies in advance.

      Karin

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • July 15, 2011 at 3:48 am
        Rocco
        Participant

          Hi Karin,

          About 6 weeks after I stopped IL-2 I started loosing hair.  This lasted for about 12 weeks.  I'm guessing that I lost about 1/3 of my hair all over my head.  I had a fairly thick head of hair to start with and most people wouldn't have noticed – but I certainly did.  The thinning eventually stopped, the hair grew back in – curley.  Then the curls ended up going away. 

          Hang in there!

          • July 15, 2011 at 3:48 am
          Rocco
          Participant

            Hi Karin,

            About 6 weeks after I stopped IL-2 I started loosing hair.  This lasted for about 12 weeks.  I'm guessing that I lost about 1/3 of my hair all over my head.  I had a fairly thick head of hair to start with and most people wouldn't have noticed – but I certainly did.  The thinning eventually stopped, the hair grew back in – curley.  Then the curls ended up going away. 

            Hang in there!

            • July 15, 2011 at 5:25 pm
            ChrisB
            Participant

              I don't think anyone can tell you for certain whether you will loose it all or not.

              Like Rocco my hair started thinning around the 6th week after treatment ended.  I lost about 1/3 of it and it grew back just fine.

               

              Best wishes,

              Chris

              • July 15, 2011 at 5:25 pm
              ChrisB
              Participant

                I don't think anyone can tell you for certain whether you will loose it all or not.

                Like Rocco my hair started thinning around the 6th week after treatment ended.  I lost about 1/3 of it and it grew back just fine.

                 

                Best wishes,

                Chris

                • July 16, 2011 at 7:50 am
                Kim K
                Participant

                  Yup, my hair started thinning around week 4 and lasted for a couple of months.  After 3 months or so it stopped.  Not a problem, just annoying to have to keep cleaning out the shower drain – lol.  It wasn't noticeable to anyone except the person who cut my hair.  When my hair grew back it was all sticking out sort of because the short hairs were mixed in with the long ones.  Oh, and my mom complained about my shedding.  I have to say the dandruff trail I left behind after the first month was the worst. 

                  I jumped up and down a week after my second treatment and it was like I was in the middle of my own personal snow globe.  If anyone abducted me, no problem for a tracking dog to sniff my trail of epithelials!  We had hardwood floors and there was this flakey trail that kept following me……… OK getting TMI.

                  Considering how close to death they bring us, its no wonder our body goes into shock and we lose some hair as a result.  Let's see….. it was a race between my lungs filling with fluid, my kidneys shutting down completely, my liver enzymes going nuts, my electrolytes so out of control we were always playing catch up ( K+, Phos, Cl-, Mg++, Ca++ to name a few…..), the heart arrythmias, and finally spontaneous bleeding from my kidneys due to a very very low platelet count…..  Did I mention the best BP I could manage with support was 55/30?!

                  So yeah, no wonder my hair started to fall out!

                  Hell, at least it worked and I am now NED.

                  (Then again I have my 1 year scans next week – here's to staying NED *fingers crossed*)

                  BTW – how are you doing otherwise?  Still a responder?  Did you make the 6% club?

                  Take care,

                  Kim

                  • July 16, 2011 at 7:50 am
                  Kim K
                  Participant

                    Yup, my hair started thinning around week 4 and lasted for a couple of months.  After 3 months or so it stopped.  Not a problem, just annoying to have to keep cleaning out the shower drain – lol.  It wasn't noticeable to anyone except the person who cut my hair.  When my hair grew back it was all sticking out sort of because the short hairs were mixed in with the long ones.  Oh, and my mom complained about my shedding.  I have to say the dandruff trail I left behind after the first month was the worst. 

                    I jumped up and down a week after my second treatment and it was like I was in the middle of my own personal snow globe.  If anyone abducted me, no problem for a tracking dog to sniff my trail of epithelials!  We had hardwood floors and there was this flakey trail that kept following me……… OK getting TMI.

                    Considering how close to death they bring us, its no wonder our body goes into shock and we lose some hair as a result.  Let's see….. it was a race between my lungs filling with fluid, my kidneys shutting down completely, my liver enzymes going nuts, my electrolytes so out of control we were always playing catch up ( K+, Phos, Cl-, Mg++, Ca++ to name a few…..), the heart arrythmias, and finally spontaneous bleeding from my kidneys due to a very very low platelet count…..  Did I mention the best BP I could manage with support was 55/30?!

                    So yeah, no wonder my hair started to fall out!

                    Hell, at least it worked and I am now NED.

                    (Then again I have my 1 year scans next week – here's to staying NED *fingers crossed*)

                    BTW – how are you doing otherwise?  Still a responder?  Did you make the 6% club?

                    Take care,

                    Kim

                Viewing 5 reply threads
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