Growing Hair Back

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Hope40
Hope40 Member Posts: 26
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I was given carboplatin, taxotere, and hercepton for treatment. My hair has come back very fine and on top I can still see my scalp. It has been seven months since I finished chemo. My hair is only about one inch long and is baby fine. I keep trying to find articles about growing hair back after chemo but so far nothing has worked. I don't have chemo curls, it's not thick, and it isn't a different color. It seems like I am not like most chemo patients it feels like it is taking forever.  My eyebrows and eyelashes are very sparse. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or similar experiences that they could give some advice..

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  • weesa
    weesa Member Posts: 707
    edited June 2014

    That sounds frustrating! We are always  ready for our hair to come back so we can feel and look somewhat normal. My hair grew back thick and fast, but salt and pepper gray, then morphed back into my reddish-brown. So can't help you there, although my hairdresser sold me some hair products that are reputed to help hair grow back after chemo--can't remember the name, but somebody else might come along. Not sure they helped or not.

    But my eyelashes and eyebrows did not want to return. I finally bought Latisse and used it on both the lashes and the eyebrows, and in a couple of months I saw progress. My eyelashes are now thicker and longer than prior to chemo. Pit hair and leg hair never returned, which is more than okay with me. Weesa

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  • KSil
    KSil Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2014

    A friend of mine who had also had chemo suggested that I rub cheap instant (caffeinated) coffee on my head, which she did. Her hair grew back quickly and really thick. I followed her advice and my hair is growing really quickly and really thick. I have never had thick hair. Not sure if it was the instant coffee, but it's worth a try. :)

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  • Kathleen26
    Kathleen26 Member Posts: 210
    edited June 2014

    It took a really long time for my hair to grow back, and it's not nearly as thick as it used to be.   Four years later, I still don't have much in the way of eyelashes, and my leg hair is just starting to come back.

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  • Hope40
    Hope40 Member Posts: 26
    edited June 2014

    Hi KSil,

    This may sound funny but coffee grounds or coffee? Lol.. I am going to try it but want to make sure I am doing it correctly..

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  • klg49
    klg49 Member Posts: 21
    edited June 2014

    It took 2 years for mine to grow back to the top of my shoulders. It was wavy at first until it got a little heavier. I used Nexus shampoo just to try to be kind to it. It was frizzy on the ends so we kept "just tipping" it until the chemo hair went away. I am using Loreal thickening shampoo and conditioner and it has really helped. I also started taking Biotin ( a form of Vit B), 2 pills at night, I started taking that as soon as I was done with the chemo, and never stopped, also helps with the nails! I really think that is what made my hair grow back thicker. Wallmart $7.00

    Lost my eyelashes 3 times, and the eyebrows are thin too. I just use the eyebrow forms and the powder just enough to give them shape. You cant tell.

    LOL, I only shave my legs about every 2 months!

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  • KSil
    KSil Member Posts: 56
    edited June 2014

    Hope40 - Not a silly question at all. I used the grounds and let them just soak in my scalp for a few minutes every time I took a shower. I got the Shop Rite instant coffee in a jar and used about a handful each time. I kept it in the bathtub like shampoo. :)

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited June 2014

    I took the biotin and the B vitamins, and mine came back on schedule.  However, I had a totally different chemo regimen than you.  Have you also finished all of the Herceptin?  

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  • Hope40
    Hope40 Member Posts: 26
    edited June 2014

    Yes I am still on Herceptin. I have four more treatments. That could be adding to the problem. I am also taking biotin and vitamin B. I am definately gonna try the coffee grounds though. I will let everyone know how that goes!

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  • victoriasecret
    victoriasecret Member Posts: 333
    edited June 2014

    I used Mane and Tail avail at Walmart it is for horses but worked great for me ...I still whinney from time to time tho ...my sic sense of humour

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  • StefS
    StefS Member Posts: 157
    edited June 2014

    I had TAC, but my hair is still much thinner than before bc. There is no way I could even put it in a ponytail, and if I tried it would look like Pebbles from the Flintstones. I never got to experience the chemo curls (that was something I'd looked forward to). I'm 10 years out from chemo. My right side is fuller than the left and I now have a newfound sympathy for the guys since the crown is the most sparse! I've learned the combover well, lol. My eyebrows thinned and have not filled back in--haven't had to pluck since! My eyeglasses have also not gotten back to what they were before. I may have to try the instant coffe trick tough not sure if it matters with time.

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  • curveball
    curveball Member Posts: 3,040
    edited June 2014

    Taxotere can cause permanent hair loss, and there are a number of threads about that here on bco. I hope your hair is just slow coming back, not gone for good, but if taxotere has caused permanent loss or thinning of your hair, there is a support organization called A Head of Our Time for people with chemo-induced hair loss.

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