Lizzy Musi's Hair Loss Journey
- Lizzy Musi is currently undergoing treatment for triple-negative breast cancer with Trodelvy in a clinical trial and having a hard time with hair loss as a result.
- She said on Instagram that she was struggling with her self-confidence, and then she revealed that she shaved her head to cope.
- Sacituzumab govitecan, sold under the brand name Trodelvy, is a type of drug called an antibody drug conjugate which means it has an antibody attached to an anti-cancer drug. This means the antibodies can deliver the drug directly to the cancer cells when Trodelvy enters the bloodstream via IV infusion.
- The drug is already approved for certain breast cancer patients, but it is still being studied for use in other scenarios as we can see in the case of Musi.
- Side effects of certain cancer treatments like chemotherapy, as well as Trodelvy, can include hair loss, among others.
- Hair loss is an emotional journey for many cancer survivors. One of our experts recommends talking to others who've been in a similar situation if you're struggling with hair loss.
A regular driver on the Discovery Channel reality series "Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings," Musi is used to being put to the test. She was diagnosed with stage 4 triple-negative breast cancer in April 2023 after she found "a marble-sized lump" in her breast after breast augmentation surgery (a procedure to increase the size of the breasts, according to Mayo Clinic).
Read MoreShe was supposed to have a second by now, but it was rescheduled because her blood cell counts got too low, which can cause complications.
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“This whole cancer deal, I don’t know, it sucks, it really sucks. I ain’t gonna sugar-coat it,” she said. “Racing honestly is the only thing that’s giving me my motivation right now. So, yeah just keep it going.”
Musi is happy to report Trodelvy has shrunken the lump in her breast “big time.” However, she’s been having a hard time with the side effect of hair loss.
Coping With Hair Loss Related to Cancer Treatment
“I’m used to my hair being long,” she said in the video. “We got this first race coming up and I am struggling guys, you’re gonna have to help me out here with some self confidence.”
Musi then showed that her hair is coming out. She went on to say she had bought some wigs, but it’s all taking an emotional toll on her.
Chemo Plus Immunotherapy for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
“It’s hard, like I just don’t feel like myself,” she said. “I’m just gonna hold on to the best I can and make the best out of it.”
In a post a few days later, Musi shared a beautiful selfie of her with a shaved head. Her partner, Kye Kelley, gave her the haircut.
“Never thought in a million years I would post a picture like this,” Musi wrote.
“I want to share every raw moment with you guys through my journey,” she added. “I had to shave my head due to extreme hair loss. Kye shaved it for me and it was at the race track. I don't think I would have had it any other way. Every time I brushed my hair it would just fall out in clumps. I had bald spots and excessive shedding it was just getting to the point where I was ready to take that step.
“Well here is the new me….some days are tough to look in the mirror but there are days where I feel stronger than ever.”
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Hair loss can be an overwhelming and painful part of anyone’s cancer journey. Musi shows other survivors that they’re not alone in it.
We’re happy to see that Musi is being open about her feelings during the process, which we know can be a comfort to others going through the same situation. And it’s nice to see that she’s finding strength in these different stages of her cancer journey.
What Is Lizzy Musi’s Treatment Trodelvy?
Sacituzumab govitecan, sold under the brand name Trodelvy, is a type of drug called an antibody drug conjugate, which means it has an antibody attached to an anti-cancer drug. This means the antibodies can deliver the drug directly to the cancer cells when Trodelvy enters the bloodstream via IV infusion.
This type of delivery means the drug reaches the cancer cells with minimal effects on healthy cells.
"These medications actually use an antibody to find the tumor and then bring chemotherapy (the anti-cancer drug) directly to the them. And, being a smart bomb, you have less toxicity in the entire body," breast oncologist Dr. Sylvia Adams, director of the Breast Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health's Perlmutter Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.
Still, it’s important to note that Trodevly is not without side effects as we’ve seen in the case of Lizzy Musi with her hair loss. Other potential side effects on top of hair loss include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Fatigue
- Appetite loss
- Rash
- Abdominal pain
Trodelvy has already been FDA-approved to treat certain breast cancer patients.
It is approved for use in adults with unresectable (not eligible to be surgically removed) locally advanced or metastatic (stage 4) triple-negative breast cancer or hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer that has already been treated with at least two prior therapies for their metastatic disease. Metastatic means the disease has spread to other parts of the body.
That being said, we know Trodelvy is still being studied for use in other scenarios like in Musi’s clinical trial. So, the treatment could be available to more people outside of clinical trials in the future.
Talk with your doctor about Trodelvy if you have breast cancer and are wondering if this treatment is available to you in or out of clinical trials.
Coping With Hair Loss
Hair loss can occur as a side effect of some cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. As we’ve seen in the case of Lizzy Musi, it can have a major impact on some people’s self confidence.
"The dread of losing one's hair can lead to sort of sleepless nights and you know, a feeling of anxiety," Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, said.
"Talk to people who have been through it, get their advice, voice your concerns to your caregiver and see what they can do."
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Chemotherapy-related hair loss generally begins about three to four weeks after starting chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment. It is usually temporary, however, and people can expect regrowth around four to six weeks after treatment has ended, thought the color and texture of their hair might be different when it grows back.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are currently no treatments that guarantee your hair won't fall out during or after chemotherapy. Still, some treatments like the following may help:
- Scalp cooling caps
- Minoxidil (Rogaine)
Radiation-related hair loss can occur in certain cases as well when hair is in the path of radiation for a tumor being treated. One such scenario could be in the case of radiation for a brain tumor.
"If you do lose hair, it will regrow several weeks or months after treatment," radiation oncologist Dr. James Taylor told SurvivorNet.
"Fortunately, for most patients, hair loss is not a concern when having radiation therapy."
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Hair loss caused by radiation will often grow back 3 to 6 months following the end of treatment, according to the National Cancer Institute. But a very high dose of radiation may cause your hair to grow back thinner or not at all.
Thankfully, there are many options to explore if you’re a cancer warrior struggling with hair loss. From wigs, to wraps, to hats, to scarves, there's no shortage of creative ways to cope with hair loss if rocking a bald head is not for you.
Make sure to talk with your doctors about resources and potential treatments to mitigate the loss whenever you feel the need.
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