Hair growing success stories

goodvibes

Hair growing success stories

goodvibes

Hi Everyone , We were wondering if anyone could share hair growth success stories. How long after your last chemo did it take for your hair to start growing back, and how long for it to grow back to your former length? My wife will be done with chemo at end of December and we are looking towards a hairy 2008. Any info you can share would be appreciated.

GOOD VIBES!!

Jim and Barb

Stack

have you checked out the hair growth pictures thread by newter. it has all the stages. someone there said each pic was about a week apart

JaxsonHarley

Dear Jim & Barb,

 First I would like to say what a wondrful supportive and caring husband you are to come here and post. I finished chemo on July 3rd. I am now almost 5 months out , and I have a great " pixie do" . It is really coming in fast, and thick on top. Here's to a very Hairy 2008, and the best to both of you! Jax 

gsg

By 4 months out i stopped wearing a wig or hat to work...it was very, very short, but passable. 

i was a year out this past august.  i actually had the pleasure of my hairdresser screwing up my haircut this week....my head looks like a circumcised weenie....and for an instant i was upset...and then thought back to how this would not have been viewed as a problem in 2006.  having no hair for so long makes future bad hair days a nonissue. 

and by "an instant" i mean 1 to 2 days and occasionally now when i glimpse in the mirror. 

gsg

also, hair grows about 1/2 inch per month.

Harley44

Jim & Barb,

I finished chemo on Oct. 9th!  Even though it has been almost SEVEN weeks, I STILL have not much hair!  It is growing SO SLOWLY!, I fear that it will never come in all the way. 

I am looking for a pixie, and praying that I will have shoulder length hair sometime in the future, as that is how long my hair was before bc... 

I am very discouraged!!

Does anyone use any supplements?  I am going to start taking Biotin soon, and I am now using Nioxin shampoo, conditioner, and scalp therapy, but not EVERY DAY... only about twice a week...  since I don't have much hair, it seems silly to use these products daily!

Heck, I would be happy if I had at least a man's haircut for now... but it is really thin in spots, and darker and a little thicker where it's coming in...

HARLEY

BethNY

hair grows about a half inch per month.  The first year will really feel like it's growing soooooo slow.  But it does get better.  At one year, my hair was still very short, but as you can see in my avatar picture, my hair is really long now... not as long as I want it, but it's getting there.  My last chemo was 2-05, and I tooker herceptin till 7-06, which really slowed it down I think-- so 2 and a half years out from chemo, and my hair is past my shoulders.

It takes patience-- and the milestones are nice.  I remember buying my first pony tail holder, Being able to braid my hair again...

Now my BF yells at all the hair in the bathroom drain, I clean my hairbrush every week, and I am back to spending a ridiculous amount of money on shampoo conditioner, and styling products.

It takes a lot of time.  So be patient.  And if you're growing it out long again, be prepared to go through that awkward phase-- where its just an inbetween length, but you just have to get through it.

And you don't have to cut the back of your new hair up, to let the top grow out-- you may need an occasional shape up-- just to snip uneven ends, but its brand new healthy hair, you don't need to run out to the hairdresser... just let it grow in.

JoelKM

For what it's worth, I have a friend who cuts hair. He says that hair grows faster in the summer when your scalp is warm. Apparently, the blood flow stimilates hair growth.

Also, many people here swear by Biotin. My wife takes it and her hair is coming back pretty good now. Itstartedgrowing about 4 weeks after her AC was done. She is 4 months out of chemo and she goes without a wig at times. I think the short look is very becoming.

Anonymous

Yes, chicas.....BIOTIN, Nioxin and massage. My hairdresser is a huge proponent of massage and I'm finding that it helps even now. In fact, I've just bought a bottle of jojoba oil for my skin and now plan to massage it into my scalp for a weekly treatment. But even if you don't go that far, be sure to massge your entire scalp daily, using moderate pressure with your fingertips and drawing them all over in small circles. When I was post-chemo, I used a soft toothbrush to stimulate and massage my scalp too. I don't know for sure if it worked or if it just made me feel better, but, hey, give it a try!

~Marin

Harley44

Marin,

Thanks!  I'll try the massage, too!  What have I got to lose?  For me, the hair loss was worse than losing my breasts, and I knew that I would be very impatient, looking for new hair growth... 

Harley

abbadoodles

Harley, mine didn't start growing until about 6 weeks after my last treatment (A/C only) and I was getting very worried, too, that it would never start growing.  One thing that did obscure the new growth was that I never completely lost the old hair and some of that was chopped off just above the scalp.  Maybe it's the same with you.

Anyway, once it started growing, around July4!, it never stopped.  I count the growth starting with that first sighting LOL, so now, at almost 5 months of growth, it is very thick, very, very curly and somewhere between 2 to 3 inches, depending upon where you measure.  Of course, it looks shorter because it is so curly.

BTW, the curl is new. My friends, who never guessed I had bc, chemo or no hair/wearing wig, are just amazed not so much at my new short cut but at the curl.  They all say the same thing: I never knew you had such curly hair.

I can say that I have not had it cut or trimmed because no hairdresser could improve upon it the way it is growing and shaping up.  NOT trying to sound conceited but it looks pretty nice just the way it is.  It is true, though, that I wish my "bangs" would be a lot longer as I have a "high forehead" and have always worn some sort of bangs.  Right now, on a bad day, I look kinda like Julius Ceasar!

Hang in there, ladies, it's coming and it's probably gonna be a surprise.

Tina

caaclark

I completed chemo on June 15th 2006.  Went without wig by the end of August.  My avatar shows me a year and 2 months after chemo ended.  My hair was very long before bc but now it is shoulder length.  I also thought it would never grow in but thankfully, I was wrong.

5graces

  I had my last chemo Sept. '06 and by January had enough hair that everyone kept telling me to stop wearing the scarves.....but I kept wearing them until about April when I had about 1/2"? of very curly hair (my hair grows slow) and I have now had 2 haircuts. I plan to keep my hair short and I am loving my new look....best hair I've ever had!

Harley44

Tina,

Thanks!  I also never lost ALL my hair, either.  Maybe that is why it looks as if it is taking FOREVER to grow out!  I am thinking... WTH?!  Because it has been almost SEVEN weeks, and it is still SO VERY SHORT, even though it seems to be coming in darker.  Last night, after my shower, I took another look at my scalp, and in the front, it is lighter and shorter and still WHITE!  all around my hairline, but the darker hair is in the middle, and the back and in the front, too.  I started taking Biotin yesterday, but I don't seem to be good about taking vitamins EVERY DAY, so I don't know if it will help. 

I don't want to cut my hair, either, because I want it to be shoulder length... so I wish it would HURRY UP ALREADY!!

Thanks!

Harley

my3girls

my hair started to grow back between a/c tx and taxotere. then during taxotere..it shed a little.  Now about 10 weeks since last tx...I have about 1 inch or longer of hair.  It is getting thicker by the day (I have always had thick hair), and so far, pretty straight.  It is very salt and pepper.  I have a feeling I had alot of the grey before, I just kept it highlited so well..haha.

My plan is, before Christmas, to have my hairdresser color it..and go without the wig to work. (I only wear the wig at work).  I can't wait! I want to grow mine long again...just because I can..haha.

Pharmmom

Hi Jim and Barb

I recommend Biotin also.  I take 5000mcg daily.  I stopped treatment in 2003.  I take an AI which caused me to start losing some of my hair.  Not enough for anyone to really notice but me (however I was not a happy camper!!).  The Biotin has helped me tremendously.  It took me about 4/5months to go hatless.  It takes time for those follicles to "wake Up" but they do.  I did use Nioxin and did not really find that it helped me all that much.  It just was wasting my money (this is my opinion others don't feel this way).  Try everything you have nothing to lose.  It will happen. 

Barb

janet11

My last chemo treatment (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin) was 11 months ago (Dec 27, 2006).  My hair grows VERY slowly and is VERY thin (*sigh*).  So I still wear a wig to work or to special events.  I actually had it trimmed (it's a couple inches long on the sides), but I can still see my scalp through the hair because it's so thin.  And the top looks like I'm trying to do a 'comb-over' to cover the bald areas.

Per my onc, I'm now using minoxodil (5%) almost daily (when I remember) and that seems to be helping.  I've always had thin, fine hair, but it's NEVER  been so thin you can see the scalp through it.  It looks like that simply may be my future though.  

But every time I get feeling down about it, I look at a photo from a month ago (i take photos about monthly) and realize I CAN see growth and improvement. It's just SLOW.

So don't give up!!!  Some of us are just a bit slower than the others. 

Janet 

wakebrat7

O.k., I have to share my success story. 

I am two years out of treatment now and my hair is half way down my back, past my shoulder blades.  It grows like a weed and I already cut it 3 times already.    My hair has never grown as fast or been as thick and beautiful.

Now, here is the trick and I swear it works.  Once you stop the chemo, start using Nioxin Shampoo and Conditioner.  It stimulates the scalp and I swear by it.  You can get it at a beauty supply store.

Next, make sure when the hair comes in, and once it gets past that pixie stage, trim off some of the hair because it has chemo in it and its not very healthy and may be frizzy.   

Good luck and please know that all of this will be a fading memory for your wife and life WILL go back to normal and she will feel herself again very soon.  Once the chemo stops, in just a couple of weeks the hair will start coming and it will just keep going and going from that point on. 

Take care.

Lillie

abbadoodles

Lillie, how nice to hear such a wonderful story as yours!

Wow, past your shoulder blades.  Mine has never grown past my shoulder tops in my life.  It's genetic for all of us, I've read.  When I was a teenager and wanted waist length hair, I just couldn't get it there.   Life is tough when you're a teenager. LOL

Tina

my3girls

Lillie...thanks for sharing!!  My hair has always grown fast, and is thick..etc.  A dear friend gave me Nioxin shampoo and cond. when I started chemo.  I use it now every day, and I have to agree with you...my hair is growing in quickly..and thick!  I just started using it this past month..and wow..I can't believe the difference.  I am hoping to go without the wig (at work) and get some color on it to hide the gray before the holiday!!  I am looking forward to long hair again some day...you have given me that hope!

Good luck to everyone and their hair growth!!

xoxo

Lisa

abbadoodles

Quick question:

Can you use the Nioxin products if you color your hair or will it strip out the color?

Tina

my3girls

I am not 100% sure...but I did use it on my hair before it fell out...hopeful last ditch effort to save it..haha..and my hair was colored...I saw no change at all.

Anonymous

I've used it on colored/highlighted hair and it's been fine.

~Marin

myrenewal

Abbadoodles - there is a specific line (system) of Nioxin products for color-treated hair.  It should be available whereever Nioxin products can be purchased. 

LaurieL

I finished chemo 11/12/06 and on Ash Wednesday, (February), 2007 I had to give something up for Lent.... so I gave up my bandanas as I had enough hair to go without!  What a wierd feeling but it was great!  I started using Nioxin about oh, September and it came back in great.

Laurie

goodvibes

great info. thanks to everyone!

mkl48

I have posted, but woud like to serparate these stories into er+ women who started an AI after chemo. I think we may have a different pattern of hair growth and would want to hear from you- missing an obvious etter on keyboard.Beth

sunlove

It has been only 3 weeks and I have stubble that is attached. I tell ya it was the best Christmas present. I used Nioxin before AC treatment and will use again. The stuff is great. I lost all my hair but AC is pretty nasty stuff. I used to be a hairdresser, and getting the ends snipped just abit will help. I'm looking forward to 2008 as a hairy one. Take care all and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

twink

I had a five o'clock shadow before I finished with Taxotere.  Less than 3 months later I went wigless.  At the 4.5 month mark I actually had my first haircut.  Now, I'm at the 7 month mark and I look like Shirley Temple (an old version).  My hair came back curly curly curly.

nosurrender

I can give a hair growth update of my own for once!

I started chemo 9 months ago and lost all my hair with the adriamycin. When I started abraxane I lost my eyelashes and eyebrows. I don't know which is worse- you can wear a wig but it is hard to fake the lashes and brows.

When abraxane was over and I was into the xeloda my eyebrows grew in overnight literally. I woke up and there they were! The eyelashes came and went two more times but now they are thicker than they ever were before.

I have been using the nioxin and have noticed a definite difference. My hair seems to be on overdrive.

I was told it wouldn't work- but it does!