Support group for cancer baldness

A BRITTANY woman whose chemotherapy treatment has left her permanently bald is looking to get in touch with other English-speakers in France with the same condition to provide mutual support and raise awareness.

Ann Adams, who has lived in France for the past 10 years, was one of the first people to take the Taxotere drug in December 2005 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Four years later, her hair has not returned.

“I was told the drug would cause complete hairloss but would return. My medical team were so surprised as they said they had never seen this happen before,” she says.

“Had I been told I would be left disfigured I would have asked for a different chemo drug. Oncologists are still telling women that their hair will grow back.”

Ms Adams set up an online support group two years ago “to raise awareness that this can happen and there’s somewhere to turn to” and the group now has English-speaking members around the world.

“People perhaps think they are the only one,” she says. “It’s great when you're in touch with other people. We get mails coming in virtually every day saying: I don’t know what I’d do without this group.”

Ms Adams says her consultant knows of 17 similar cases in Brittany and a formal complaint is being lodged with the drug’s producer, pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Aventis. Wigs cost about e600 each and only last nine or 10 months.

“I have been disfigured by this drug and lumbered with a financial burden. There is no price on my distress,” she says.

Connexion asked Sanofi Aventis about a link between Taxotere and permanent baldness, but the company did not reply.

A website for the group is due to launch at www.aheadofourtime.org but until then you can send an introductory email to this address: taxotears@googlegroups.com