Hair Loss

I have a bc friend whose hair didn't grow after chemo either.  She went to a dermatologist who helped.

Sylvia....I've heard of this happening occasionally, but the women eventually find some method that helps. I'm assuming that you've tried Nioxin products? If not, give the shampoo a try. There's also  Rogaine and I know women who have tried that as well. If it were me, I think I'd first try Nioxin, the use of a soft brush to continually stimulate your scalp (finger massage might help too), and take biotin. I started taking 5mg of biotin (that's a megadose!) about 9-10 months after chemo because I wanted to thicken up what was growing back and speed up the re-growth. It worked wonders for me. I'd agree that a visit to a dermatologist is in order too. You need to attack this on all levels. Hang in there and have hope! You may just need to jump start it all!

~Marin

Thanks, I'll try almost anything right about now.

sylvia59

 Did you have any hair regrowth during your treatments anywhere on your body? ie legs etc? I am half way through 6 cycles of FEC and reading about hair not growing back is freaking me out!!!!

Yeah, Skate Girl I am the exception to the rule. It used to feel good being different than most people but this is a little more than I bargained for. Unlike most people I didn't have a problem with lossing my hair to chemo because I believed like most people's does, it would come back once treatment as over. Imagine the devastation when I finally realized something was wrong. And the feelings of being violated when my oncologist didn't think enough of me to call me back after my expressing my concern several times. Enough of feeling sorry for myself, life is good I just need to continue to pray for strength and endurance to deal with this thorn in the flesh. I suspect everything will go well with you Skate Girl, but ask as many questions as possible of your healthcare providers and do your own research. You already have something I didn't when I was going through my treatments, this site is a blessing for women everywhere. By the way I had to update my name because my email address had expired on me.

Cynthia,



In Tampa they have a Women's Hair restoration salon which may be nation wide...goggle it. I called and they said they treat chemo pts, alopecia pts, etc...I have no idea how much they charge... I just finished treatment on Wednesday and hopefuly will see some regrowth in about 6 weeks!



Good luck! Barb

I know exactly how she feels, I hope something can be done. I'd be glad to know if her condition improves, I've made an appointment with another dermatologist who is also and immunologist, I'll keep you posted.

I'm so glad to see this discussion because I was feeling like I'm the only one who isn't getting my hair back "normal enough".  I'm now 10 months past the end of chemo (TCH) and my hair is still so thin on the crown, back, and front 'corners' that I finally went and bought a wig yesterday.  I never wore one throughout treatment -- scarves and hats were fine.  But now I want to go PAST this disease and the hair (or lack of it) is a constant reminder.

And everything I read said that the hair comes back.  Yes, it is growing (what I have is about 2 inches long).  But it's so thin that it's not anywhere near "normal".

photos: http://mysite.verizon.net/wb9zph/hair/ 

Oh well, the wig looks good and I got it matching my hair color so if the hair I have sticks out, it will still look fine.

Janet 

Mine were Taxotere, Carboplatin, and Herceptin.  I didn't do Adriamycin.  My oncologist says "sometimes this happens" and she suggested I see a dermatologist to see if there was any other problem affecting my hair.  (the derm appointment was totally worthless). 

Now I'm using Rogaine (5%) daily which is helping (I think).  No one else can see a difference... but I've only been using it for 2-3 weeks.  So will continue for a couple months at least.

I also have high blood pressure -- but doubt if that had any impact on my hair (*smile*).

Janet 

hi, I have to do  three series of treatment for my BC but I was told by my oncologist that my hair would not return till the third series, I was so happy when towards the end of the first part I started to see peach fuzz, but as it is started to really show I see that it was very very fine, nothing like the coarse hair I had !  I was starting to get concerned but my daughter reassured me as did the oncologist that new hair is always "FUZZY" but will grow in coarserness which I was already skeptical about but now that I am reading your stories I am really beginning to wonder !  Maybe it is still too soon for me to really tell but has anyone else's hair come back finer than their original hair that they lost and eventually gotten thicker?

whew, thanx wendyk13, I sure hope you right !  it's funny what you said about bad hair days, how many days when I had hair did I wish I did not have to take so much time to fix it and now I wish I had it back !

Good luck, cynthia.  I'm hoping the Rogaine will 'shock' my hair follicles too.  Let's hope our 'shock treatment' works (*smile*).

Janet 

Hi everyone,

I am 2 1/2 months out from chemo and have growth except for a bald spot on my crown.  I too am using biotin and nioxin, but have a feeling it won't return. I had my hair trimmed this week since some of it (a very little bit) never fell out so it was really, REALLY ugly. Now it is a neat, very short buzz cut.

I keep hoping I won't see this bald spot in the mirror soon.  I have heard the 5% rogaine is not good for women.  You can grow hair in undesireable places with it so may do the 2%.  This is tough to get thru, I do get so sick of my wig even though I rip it off as soon as I get in my house.

 I wonder how often this happens that parts don't grow back? Nobody warned me about this. I was also told do not use any hair color for 6-12 months post treatment.

Joanne 

Ok, I think I'm getting an idea of when I can expect some fuzz on my head.
BUT what about eyelashes and eyebrows? Anyone else lose theirs and when did they start returning? I'm tired of looking like a big bug and using brow pencil - I feel like such a clown and a fake. Don't use the false eyelashes - can't figure out how to put them on correctly.

I have to apologize to Sylvia for cutting in and asking my own questions about my eyebrows/lashes. My heart goes out to you and I hope you find a solution.

thanks, Maryann! I'll look forward to maybe plucking again soon! By the way, my sister bought me those same boxing gloves!