Hair Hair Hair - Another question

GraceB64

I have been told 2 different stories about hair regrowth.... one was that it comes in thicker and curlier after chemo (my dream come true as I have fine hair).  The other one is that after a while it goes back to the texture it was before it fell out.  For those of you a few years out from chemo, which one is it?

dltnhm

GraceB64 -



You will receive as many different answers as there are hairs on people's heads. There is no one size fits all scenario.



My hair was naturally curly before my chemo and it returned naturally curly. When it first started coming in it was downy soft (which does seem to be quite common for many) I considered it virgin hair - thus, soft as a newborn baby's hair. As it grew in I thought it would be curlier based on my hair texture but considering the length - it made sense.



I'm 12 1/2 months pfc and it's my hair - just as before on the curl front but super soft considering there's not a hair that's older than 14 months (my hair started coming back in while I was on my 12 weekly Taxols).



Hope your hair journey is as pleasant as mine :0)

LW0919

I'm 7 1/2 weeks pfc and have about an inch of hair growth all over. It's pretty thick and is a lot darker than it used to be. I noticed there is a lot more grey too. Things did get a little stressful over the last 7 months so I guess I'm lucky it's not all grey. I'm excited that it has started growing over my ears a bit. When it gets a little longer, I'm going to try for extensions. The wig is starting to itch again now that my hair is growing back. Not to mention that its sliding around now too. I'm worried I'll have it on crooked one day and not know.

crazyride43

Grace, my hair grew in straight and then got super wavy at about the one year mark.  I also have some crazy cowlicks at the front that I never had before.  My hairdresser says those are likely to stay.  Overall, it's the same texture as prior to chemo, just with a lot more wave, but that may be because it's still short layers and those curl up more than longer hair.  At 15 months post chemo, I can imagine that when it's back to my old shoulder length it will have around the same texture and waviness as pre-chemo.

IamNancy

enclyclias - thanks for posting that link - I am so encouraged by all her pictures.. I should scrolled to the bottom of page first.. LOL.. I'll be looking at that more and more

WaveWhisperer

Grace, I'm 17 months PFC, and my hair, formerly straight, grew in poodle-dog curly. But as it grew out, the top is now straight while the bottom remains curly. My hair dresser said the chemo curl should be gone by the 2-year mark. I did also developed new cowlicks, but over time they've gone away. I'd say my hair is not quite as thick, but the old texture is returning.



Have to say, I was naive about how long it would take for my hair to return and grow. It's still not quite shoulder level. A long process!!!

lago

GraceB64 Some people get curlier hair, some wavier and some it still remains straight. Some will change color (mine came in black and grey. I have brown and grey hair). I always had very shiny hair but it took months before my old shine came back. My hair seemed more like fur than hair.

As far as thicker, it appears that way but what's really happening I believe is more hair is growing at the same time. Hair grows in cycles so while some are at rest others will grow. Now that you've had chemo the cycles take a while before they get out of sync again. Granted you won't go bald again but this is more noticeable with the eyebrows and lashes. About 12-18 months your old hair will return.

Starynights

Lago I still look like your 3/11 pic. I have so many thin spots. I swore Id go topless August 10 but just not sure I can do it yet. BTW you look fabulous !

Angie

lago

Thanks Starynights. My avatar is from Thanksgiving of last year. Might need to update. I don't think you are that far behind me. My hair grows pretty quickly although a bit slower on herceptin. Still faster than lots of other folks. My last chemo was Jan 20th 2011. You don't seem to be that far behind. I also think my hair started to grow before chemo ended. I just didn't pay attention till PFC thinking nothing would start till I was past the 3 weeks. I was wrong.

I too worried it wasn't going to fill in but it did.

jpmomof3

hi ladies, i havent posted in a while.  my avatar is out of date. i have about 5.5 inches of curly to wavy hair now which i am very glad just to have hair.  I am 13 month PFC.  

Maybe I am paranoid but I am thinking of starting to use rogaine and spironoactone cream.  I feel like my hair is thinning.  It might be the tamoxifen, it might be my age.  My periods are irregular now, it might be menopause.  Does anyone have experience with rogaine or spironolactone?

lago

jpmomof3 I started to use minoxidil after chemo because I had used it before. My hairline was receding (I was in perimenopause back then). My hair has started to recede again about 1 year on Anastrozole but it still looks much better than before chemo. I only use it once a day. I'm sure if I used it twice as directed I wouldn't lose any.

I feel it's lack of estrogen. So you might be just like me losing it because of less estrogen due to perimenopause. I recommend starting now. It will help you hold on to it longer. I use the women's generic from Walgreen's

jpmomof3

Thanks lago, that's kind of how I felt. I can tell my hair is thinner than before all this started and I am shedding heavily. It's not bad yet but I figured the stuff would have the best chance of working if I started early.



Has anyone had experience using spironolactone along with rogaine? It's usually an oral medicine but there is a company that makes as a topical cream. Minimal side effects that way I would hope...

lago

Just remember that Minoxidil can take 3-6 months to work/start seeing growth so be patient. My other friends that had the same issue have also had pretty good luck with it.

angelanature

Hi Everyone,i'm new to this whole hair loss thing,had long,naturally curly red hair,i loved it my hubby of 3 yrs loved it,lost it last friday after second tx of ddac. I woke up this morning crying after having a dream of it being normal again reached up to feel stubble and burst into tears. I know im fighting for my life here but i just has devasted me. Will i ever have my beautiful long red hair again? Angela

Shasha10

Hi everyone

Off with he wig!!! Yey Just fuzz maybe 1/4" but I decided enough. Feel very liberated! PCF June 10. so I'm ok with the growth. Hair color. When, and what?? I'm white with grey and really want color...

Any ideas??? Will see mo on Monday and ask, but may do color anyway.

Thx

lago

angelanature you will have your hair again. It will take some time but it comes back.

kjiberty

JPMomof3:  Good to hear from you!!  Hope you're doing well

DizzY:  Coloring my hair made a world of difference in how I felt about myself.   I did it at 9 weeks.  Went permanently topless 10 weeks PFC.  WOuld have done it sooner, but I didn't want to be bald for the pics for my son's wedding. I did, however, take it off at the reception and it never went back on my head again.

goldie0827

I don't know how many of you saw this on my FB, but it's a video of a little girl. She is messing with her car seat, and her dad is asking her if she wants him to help, but she is persistant. Very cute, watch it. If it doesn't bring a smile to your face, then nothing will! It's less than a minute long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A6Bu96ALOw 

TNNurse

My hair was my favorite part of me.  I had a wig ordered that matched it pretty well and I wore it wherever it mattered to look like me....work..etc.  Otherwise, a hat, cap or scarf or nothing at home.  Wigs are HOT.  I cried and mourned for my hair....but it is back.   I made it through and so will you.  You can cry, get mad and pout whatever you want to get through it....and you will.  All of those who have been where you are really do understand.  We cannot take away what you are feeling but we can let you know that you will get through it as we did.   You will certainly be in my thoughts.

Goldie1431

Hello,



I am 5 weeks PFC and have about 1/8 inch of sparse white hair. For those of you who have already gotten your hair back, do you remember how long from where I am that you started to see darker hair? I am so anxious! Your input would be appreciated. Thanks!

adagio

Goldie - I am 5 months PFC and my hair is about one inch long and it is totally white all over!!! I keep waiting to see darker hair appear, but nothing yet. This is a shock for me - but it is lovely and soft and tight little curls. Each morning I am still taken aback when I look in the mirror! LOL

kjiberty

Goldie:  My head was covered with dark hair by 8-9 weeks. 

melody46

After i got the fuzz it seems like 3-4 weeks the color showed up

NickyJ

I'm 4 months out and I've just measured my hair lol! It's 2 inches, its starting to curl and is much darker than it used to be. It's quite thick though. I went topless 5 weeks ago, and that really helped. It started to thicken up practically straight away once the air could get at it. Still using Phytocyane shampoo but never took any supplements.

Nicky

IamNancy

I am just about 4 months out and still only have maybe 1/2 inch of hair.. its fuzzy and very soft.. I would be uncomfortable going without a wig or scarf as you can even still see my scalp.. I only go without at home..Now, I am wondering if keeping it covered is stopping it from growing faster?

Shasha10

Looking for product ideas for my hair. Natural semi permanent blond for 1/2" hair.

Any Input appreciated

Thx

Goldie1431

Thanks for your replies. I will try to be patient for a while longer!

Skigirl72

A friend of mine used this stuff....

http://www.suryabrasilproducts.com/hennacream.html

I am 7 weeks PFC and I have fuzz... enough where I am becoming less afraid to go topless... I am almost there. I have eyebrows coming back fast. My lashes are coming in too... It seems to be coming in quickly. I started biotin the day after my last taxol. I don't know if it helped, but, I am still happy with the growth that is coming in so far... I will color it in a few weeks....

Carrol2

Ok i have not posted this in a while. I am 2 1/2 years PFC. My hiar is longer and thicker now thatn it was in my life. I had pink extensions put in but just got them out a few days ago.

I was blonde from a mega amount of hilighting pre BC but went back to my natural brunette and a bit of grey.

this is me right before i was diagnosed 3 years ago.

Here is my timeline. I took lots of pics cause it helped me to see how fast it was really growing. I think a little bit faster than many but not crazy. I really did not go topless until about 6 months. I might have done it sooner but it was only just getting really hot out at that point.

This is me now.

I hope this gives some perspective to those of you still dealing with the emotions associated with losing your hair on top of losing one or both breasts. There is a light on the other side of the tunnel. It will get better. Be brave sisters. We are all in this together. You are not alone. You are all beautiful.

Myleftboob

Carol

Your hair timeline is what kept me going in the early days.  Although I have to say you're hair grew fast!  Due to f*cking herceptin I was where you were at week 32 at like week 50, and my hair always grew fast. 

Happy to report though the pace has picked up.  I know my hair is actually growing when the grey roots show through.  Yes ladies, I'm using a non amonia dye to cover the gray, have been since it was about 1/2 long.  I thought it looked like I had more hair.