eyelashes falling out

My eyelashes and eyebrows both fell out a couple weeks after my last chemo; I was prepared because a friend who had been through chemo before me had it happen to her too and she warned me. I don't think it's at all uncommon. They grow back pretty fast. Good Luck! Ruth

My eyelashes fell out about a month after finishing chemo...they came back in super thick and long, then proceeded to fall out again...grow back....fall out again; I think about 3 or 4 times.  This is *very* common.   I noticed that each time they fell out again, there were some that didn't, so I didn't look totally eyelash-less.  Now they're back to stay : )

I finished chemo on May 11 and did not lose all of my hair, eyelashes or eyebrows until May 15.  I thought I had escaped it but was not so lucky.  I shaved my head back in January when I started chemo but still had a light covering of hair.  Now I have no eyelashes, hardly any eyebrows and no hair.  It is like adding insult to injury at this point and very disappointing.  I hope it all grows back quickly.

Jenny,

It is like being kicked when you are down isn't it?  I lost mine a full 2 months after I finished chemo.  From what I understand, hair and eyelashes grow in cycles.  Chemo resets the cycle so instead of one or two eyelashes falling out occasionally, they all fall out at the same time.  It takes a while to get the cycle reset which is why some people lose them more than once.  The good news is that eyelashes actually come back pretty quickly.  Especially if you have dark eyelashes, you will see them come in within a few days. 

If it really bothers you, go to Target, buy some nice fake eyelashes and some clear glue and use those when you are out and about.  I used them for about 2 weeks, put them on every morning before I went to work.  Super easy.

Good luck! 

Mine fell out about 6 or 7 weeks after chemo but they grew in super fast. Chemo is the gift that keeps on giving hu? Glad you are done with chemo. Praying to the "lash god" for you. Hugs!!

I was told by a nurse navigator that it would happen when my hair was growing back in. She said during chemo lash growth stops and it is the new lashes growing in that push the old ones out. I read somewhere, probably on here that you should be very gentle in the existing lashes so you don't pull them out. If you must wear mascara to use the tube forming kind like Kiss Me mascara so you don't have to rub the lashes with makeup remover. The tubes just fall off with warm water.

Hello DeliriumPie,  Thank you for sharing some information. I have been very gentle with them. Btw, I do not apply any mascara. So that may not be the reason. But thanks in advance i'll know now which mascara to buy, if I ever feel like using it. Does exposure to strong wind for a long time, would make my lashes fall??? Is it possible? Have they seriously become so fragile? 

hi sweetie yes mine also fell out eyebrows eyelashes but they do grow back so hang in there it gets better. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast then got married was planning our 2nd marriages when found lump. Then rads 7wks and 5 5yrs on Tamoxifen.