If you had breast cancer, you may have been given Taxotere (docetaxel) as part of your chemotherapy treatment. Sadly, countless women have been unable to grow back a thick, full head of hair or eyebrows and eyelashes after completing this drug.

Here are five things that you should know about Taxotere and hair loss:

1. You should have been told your options. - Taxotere (docetaxel) and Taxol (paclitaxel) are the brand names of two separate but similar chemotherapy drugs that are used to treat breast cancer. While both medications are from the same drug family, they do have some distinct differences in their administration and their side effects. Sometimes Taxol is given in smaller doses so that fewer side effects will occur. This may cause patients who use Taxol to go in for treatments more often than those who take Taxotere. Taxotere has a potency that is twice as strong as Taxol’s, but this doesn’t make it more effective; it just means that there could be fewer doses and fewer doctor’s visits. 
    Taxotere and Taxol have similar results on treating cancer and similar side effects - except only Taxotere has the potential to cause permanent hair loss even after chemo is completed. 
2. You did everything right. - If you were diagnosed with breast cancer, then you clearly went through a physically and emotionally stressful time. You were doing your best to manage your family, juggle doctors’ appointments and care for your sickness. It wasn’t your fault that you didn’t know about the possible adverse effects of Taxotere… no one told you. 
3. There is no treatment for permanent alopecia (hair loss). - This is heartbreaking, but if your doctor has diagnosed you with permanent alopecia, there is no miracle cure or cream that can grow your hair back. Permanent alopecia is usually diagnosed when hair hasn’t grown back after six months of completing chemotherapy and includes growing only wisps of hair, hair in patches, a light fuzz, or being totally bald. 
4. You have a right to be angry. - Many women who struggle with permanent hair loss after chemotherapy feel guilty or ashamed for being angry. You may be thinking, “At least I’m alive, why do I care so much about my hair?” Just because you are furious in no way takes away from the fact that you’re grateful to be alive and in remission. A woman’s hair is her identity and self-confidence and not having hair is a painful struggle. If you knew that you had another option that didn’t cause permanent hair loss, you may have made a different choice. But you weren’t given that choice and it’s okay to get mad. 
5. You’re not alone. - Thousands of women have experienced the same hardship as you concerning Taxotere and permanent hair loss. A Head of Our Time is a great support group that you may want to look into. Also, there are a lot of helpful websites that have natural looking wigs and head coverings that look way better than your grandma’s did. 
    Finally, you were never told about the risk of permanent hair loss. If you took Taxotere or docetaxel before December 2015 and have been diagnosed with permanent alopecia, contact us today. You have the added expense of wigs and other accessories and you shouldn’t have to pay for harm that this detrimental drug did to you.

‍