How to Prevent Taxotere Hair Loss

Chilling the scalp can relax your nerves during chemotherapy treatments.

Docetaxel, or Taxotere, is a yellow/brown liquid medicine that helps cancer patients throughout their chemotherapy treatments. Cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer, are among the illnesses that can be treated using Taxotere. Patients using this medication may see slight thinning or complete hair loss two weeks after the first dose is administered. The hair loss is usually temporary, and with scalp-cooling treatments, you can help prevent any hair loss.

Things You'll Need

• Ice pack
• Chilling machine

Instructions

1. Cool your head and scalp. Your scalp needs to be chilled for at least 30 minutes before and while you are taking your chemotherapy medication. Use a cooling machine or an ice pack to chill your scalp.

2. Leave the ice pack on your head after the chemotherapy medication. Your scalp needs to be chilled while the drugs circulate in your system. If you use an ice pack, it will need to be replaced every 20 to 25 minutes, but, unlike a cooling machine, you will have the ability walk freely.

3. Take off the ice pack or cooling machine after one and a half hours. Do not wet your hair directly after your scalp-cooling session; wait at least 24 hours afterward.

Tips & Warnings

• A cooling machine can be used at your doctor's office. Tell your nurse that you want to try scalp cooling, and she can set up a cooling machine.

References

• Macmillan Cancer Support: Docetaxel (Taxotere)
• Taxotere: Taxotere Chemotherapy Side Effects
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Scalp Cooling