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Youngwithbc
Youngwithbc Member Posts: 167
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I am at about 9 weeks since the last chemo. Hair is definitely growing but it's really sparse and I can still see my scalp and the color is very light. I've seen some women who definitely have more hair than me by this point, so just hoping for some encouragement from those of you who had a bit of a slower hair growth process. I really want to believe it will come back, at least enough so I can't see the skin underneath and can stop covering my head! That's the dream.

Also, for those of you on tamoxifen. Did you find it did cause any hair thinning or hair loss? I have filled the prescription and just keep putting off starting it for one reason or another. But the idea that it could make the hair situation even worse makes me feel more apprehensive. Hoping some of you out there have a positive story to share. Thank you!

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  • ssla01
    ssla01 Member Posts: 480
    edited May 2013

    Hi. I am on tamoxifen. I'm sorry to say there has been some hair loss, but certainly nothing like chemo causes. Two suggestions...my hairdresser and Oncotype both recommended that I take biotin and I got a shampoo and conditioner at the local beauty supply that is for chemically treated hair. The sales clerk knew the one as soon as I said cancer.



    Good luck, Sharon

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  • Youngwithbc
    Youngwithbc Member Posts: 167
    edited May 2013

    Thanks! I have been thinking of taking Biotin. There is some in my shampoo, but likely not the same as taking an actual supplement. Is this typically something that should be approved by an oncologist, or is it fine for BC patients to take regardless of ER status and all that. ?

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  • ssla01
    ssla01 Member Posts: 480
    edited May 2013

    My Oncologist wants any supplements or vitamins approved, but he said 5000mcg per day would help. Either that or the shampoo (Nutri-Ox) is helping or may my body is just adjusting, because there is less hair falling out now than before.

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  • HairWithACause
    HairWithACause Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2013

    Biotin works well. Quinoa protein also helps it penetrates the hair shaft, working from inside to help strengthen and repair. You can use phellodendron and barley to seal in moisture. Then use castor, jojoba and meadow foam seed oils to smooth hair's surface. Also to strengthen hair you can do a deep cleanse and prepares the scalp by activating its microcirculation. This is a Concentration of Stimulating Essential Oils of Lavender and Orange. It tones the scalp instantly and prepares the hair bulb with nutrients and stimulating elements. Lipids strengthen and rebuilds the cuticles within hair.

    Tim

    Hair With A Cause

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited May 2013

    I wish I could tell you that my hair came in fast but it didn't...slow but steady though:) someone on the boards mentioned Nioxin hair products and I started using those - my hair "felt" thicker and looks thicker on the Nioxin...It's been 5 months since my last chemo cycle and it is nice and thick, only about 2 - 3 inches long, very fine texture and several different colors LOL...but it's there and keeps my head warm at night. It looks like an old fashioned "pixi" haircut so great for summer, I still wear my wig to work but I don't wear it at other times so, there's hope, it just takes a while, hang in there...(((Hugs))) Maureen

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  • Youngwithbc
    Youngwithbc Member Posts: 167
    edited May 2013

    I am hoping for the pixie cut look soon... just any style that is acceptable and doesn't make people stare at me. Right now there is too much scalp peeking through for me to be comfortable. I feel like I am just staring at it, waiting to grow! And really scared to start Tamox if it's going to have any type of negative hair effect...

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  • cmharris59
    cmharris59 Member Posts: 496
    edited May 2013

    I didn' take Tamox, so I cannot give you any advice about it. I DID lose my hair twice, once with Adriamiacin/Cytoxan and once with Taxol. My hair came back slowly at first, but then grew with a vengeance. It has been almost 5 years since it started to grow back.  My hair is thicker, healthier, and is waist length now. It has actually grown longer than it ever did before the chemo. It did come back with more gray than I wanted, but dye helped there. Texturally, my hair is about the same, wavy and fine.  Here's hoping you have similar experience.

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  • crazyride43
    crazyride43 Member Posts: 154
    edited May 2013

    Young, I have been taking tamoxifen since I finished rads last September, and I haven't noticed any hair loss other than normal shedding.  I do take biotin every day, and I also used nioxin shampoo right after chemo until the bottles ran out.  Now I just use regular gentle shampoo and conditioner.

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  • Youngwithbc
    Youngwithbc Member Posts: 167
    edited May 2013

    Ahhh I can't imagine having waist long hair again... that would be amazing!

    Is the Nioxin shampoo safe to use, or is it full of lots of chemicals? I am using a thickening shampoo that has biotin in it, an Organix shampoo... but not sure if it does anything or not, I think it just makes me feel like I'm at least trying.

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  • Maureen1
    Maureen1 Member Posts: 614
    edited May 2013

    FYI - Here's a link to the Nioxin webpage with information on how it works http://nioxin.com/en-US/products/how-does-nioxin-work-page.aspx 

    My stylist recommended the Nioxin and said it would help cleanse the scalp and open the folicles/pores...it does feel good on my scalp and the hair feels squeeky clean when I rinse it. It is expensive so I don't plan to use it for the long run, just for the next 3 to 6 months. 

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  • Youngwithbc
    Youngwithbc Member Posts: 167
    edited May 2013

    Hi Maureen, thanks for including the link. It doesn't seem to work for me but I'm sure I can just google it and read about it.

    Does anyone know if Biotin is considered to be an antioxidant? It's a B-complex, so I don't think so, but I'm not positive. I just know I was told to avoid antioxidants in pill form during radiation.

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  • julie0957
    julie0957 Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2013

    Hi, all,

    Does anybody know how much Arimidex affects hair re-growth?  I'll be done with chemo on July 5, and will be looking forward to my hair coming back,

    but now I'm reading that this hormone therapy - Arimidex in particular - can cause "thinning" hair.  What?  Not exactly what you want to hear when

    you're sans hair already. :)

    Any experience anyone can share will be helpful!

    Thanks so much,

    Julie 

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  • Youngwithbc
    Youngwithbc Member Posts: 167
    edited May 2013

    My hair is still so fuzzy and kind of growing "straight up"... not the best look! I guess this is how new hair grows in? Can anyone share how long it took them to have "regular" looking hair? I am getting so impatient!

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  • cmharris59
    cmharris59 Member Posts: 496
    edited May 2013

    Hey,

    I think I can post a couple of pictures of my hair as it was growing back.  I had adriamiacin/cytoxan for first hair loss.  6 months later, I had Taxol and lost my hair again.  This picture was taken approx.. 9 months after treatments stopped... I hope this works

    Me Jan 2009

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  • cmharris59
    cmharris59 Member Posts: 496
    edited May 2013

    I was trying to post pictures of my hair growth. I guess I still have chemo brain fog and cannot read directions .... lol

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  • Youngwithbc
    Youngwithbc Member Posts: 167
    edited May 2013

    Haha... that's okay, I appreciate that you tried! I've googled a bit to try to find pics of people's hair growth after chemo, but it seems that everyone is so different so it is hard to judge. I am on Herceptin too, so I think that affects it a bit. It is just so frustrating waiting for it to come in, especially when I used to have such thick long hair. And the sticking straight up thing is not my favorite... I really hope it will "fall" like normal hair at some point again! I guess I am just being impatient...

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  • cmharris59
    cmharris59 Member Posts: 496
    edited May 2013

     trying again.. Al l i see is a box with a red x.. though.. this was at approx 4 months

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited June 2013

    Everyone is different, that's for sure, but it still helps to compare notes. :-)



    I'm 4mo PFC and my hair is growing in nice and thick, but not long. I had the sticking straight up thing going on there too! Finally the last week or so, I can get it to lay down enough so I don't feel ridiculous, with the help of a little leave-in conditioner. :-)



    Good thing because it's getting rather warm for hats here now. I've ventured out "topless" a few times and so far nobody has looked at me too funny!

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  • sewingnut
    sewingnut Member Posts: 1,129
    edited June 2013

    This thread was a help when I was going thru the falling out/ growing in phase of this journey.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/707348?page=626#post_3576514

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  • Youngwithbc
    Youngwithbc Member Posts: 167
    edited June 2013

    I've been close to going out with nothing covering it lately, but so far the hospital is the only place I really feel comfortable doing that. One step at a time I guess. But I love seeing the hair come in, even if it is so slow. I take photos so I can compare them to old photos and that helps me realize it really is growing! I'm a bit obsessed...

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  • Theresanne
    Theresanne Member Posts: 90
    edited August 2013

    Well...the hair loss was a tough one. I finishedTAC chemo one yr ago. I am on femara right now. My hair was always baby fine. It was slow, much darker and very fine when regrowth started. I began using Pura d'or shampoo. I searched all over for a natural product that also was cruelty free. It has done wonders! My hair is thicker now than it was before treatment. I found this on amazon. It's not cheap, but it has been wonderful for me. Look it up!

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