Newbie...will my hair ever grow back?

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tokenfeemail
tokenfeemail Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
Newbie...will my hair ever grow back?
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  • tokenfeemail
    tokenfeemail Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2008

    In October 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I have jus completed by chemo treatments (4-AC, 4-Taxol), waiting to complete reconstruction and start Tamoxifen. In October 2007 I participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk in Atlanta.  Little did I know I was carrying the dreaded disease myself. On Monday after the closing ceremonies of the 3-Day Walk I stayed in Atlanta for a biopsy at The Breast Care Specialist. After more biopsies and ultrasounds, I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, Stage 0. Before it was all over, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer, had a double mastectomy, and began chemo treatments. In less than 2 months, I went from walking 60 miles in three days to being unable to walk a mile. The toll on my psyche, my body, and my life was overwhelming.

    Now that I have finished the chemo...will my hair ever grow back? Before breast cancer my hair was thick, curly, and grew quickly...right now I have tiny white/gray hairs that can only be seen in the mirror under a lot of light. I look like a a newborn duck's butt...I haven't worn a wig the entire time because it just wasn't me... I have worn bandanas, scarves, and hats...Is there anything I can do to help speed up the growth process. Any info would be appreciated...Thank you

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  • RIV54
    RIV54 Member Posts: 359
    edited March 2008

    Dear token, sorry you had to go through all that, but I'm glad you found your way here. My hair started to grow back about 6 weeks after chemo, give or take. My hair had a lot of body and when it started growing back it came in soft and curly. Of course its been growing for about 7 months and is only about 2 inches long, and that's a stretch. I too preferred turbans and hats to a wig. My chemo went through the summer so a wig was too uncomfortable. Chemo does take a lot out of you, but consider yourself on the upswing. Good luck.

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  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited March 2008

    Hi Token,

    Congrats on walking 60 miles! I walked it in 2005 in San Diego. What an emotional experience. I now want the t-shirt, "I walked 60 miles and STILL got breast cancer!" My oldest daughter and sister are walking this year in the San Francisco area walk. I'll be whoo hooing them all the way.

    Yes, the hair comes back but never fast enough! If there's a product to speed-grow, someone would make a fortune. The only time I wore a wig was at my wedding and to have my name changed on my drivers license. They refused to use my pre-chemo picture. I went back to work in scarves and very few people recognized me since I had gained 20 pounds and had no hair. It seemed like an eternity, but eventually I could tie a bandanna like a thin headband and spike the back of my hair with gel. It came in curly, pencil lead gray and baby soft. It's been 7 months since chemo ended and I had my first hair cut two weeks ago. It's still curly, but I've colored it with Natural Instincts hair color, since it has no ammonia.

    Hang in there, be patient, (it's the hard part of this) and just keep remembering that you walked 60 miles and nothing can take that feeling of accomplishment away from you...

    Linda

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  • cmb35
    cmb35 Member Posts: 1,106
    edited March 2008

    Token,

    I wouldn't have believed this, but I had a sample of some hair growth shampoo for me (monoxydil or some such thing) and I SWEAR it made my hair grow faster!

    Barring that, I finished chemo at the end of October (2005) and you could no longer see my scalp through my very short hair by the end of February 2006. I rarely wore my wig either. Strangely, I felt the most self concious starting from early January, when I had some hair, but like I said, you could still see my scalp through it. Not to mention the ungodly battleship gray color that does not exist in nature. Just made me feel really vulnerable and exposed again or something, it was worse than being bald in a way. I think because it looked worse, I have small features, so I was a fairly cute baldie!

    Good luck to you, I know how hard it is when you are so close to at least looking normal.

    And congrats on the 3 day - you go girl!

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  • Paulette531
    Paulette531 Member Posts: 738
    edited March 2008

    I used Nioxin (think that's the name) for a year after finishing chemo and my hair came in fast. I used the shampoo and conditioner.

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  • Traci-----TripNeg
    Traci-----TripNeg Member Posts: 2,298
    edited March 2008

    Hi tokenfeemail, (you need to post on the "what does your sign on name mean' thread!!) Smile

    I'm posting this pic for you because the hair part of all of this was freaking agony for me. I hated it when I was bald and although I have hair now, I still hate it.

    Just last weekend, my 'lil sis went and bought me a bunch of little baby clips...which I LOVE cuz they keep my hair from puffing out like a chia pet. It is soooooo much better. That and half a bottle of gel and there is some sort of control to it.

    My last chemo was 8/15/07. I can't remember 5 minutes ago but I will never forget that date.  So, 7 months ago.

    I just took this pic of my hair for you.

    Hugs girl, it seems like it is taking FOREVER to grow back.

    Traci

    chemohead" I really need to do something with the hair on my face! I didn't realize it was that bad 'til I took the picture!!!!

    ps Paulette, I'm leaving right now to go buy some Nioxin.

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  • snowyday
    snowyday Member Posts: 1,478
    edited March 2008

    This is a great conversation, my sister who is a hairdresser is coming to help me move this weekend and she wants to cut my hair. I told her it's not even an inch long and she said she wants to shape it and give me some wax or something so it will look like a style.  Hope it works.  On Oprah today they are showing the 100 haircuts I'm watching it as I type.  I wrote awhile back when I was bald that I had part envy, now it's bangs.  I'll let you know if she was able to perform a miracle. Oh yeah the other day I went to see the rad onc

    (wrong day because of the holiday) I even phoned and they didn't tell me it was the wrong day.  Well I did my makeup, put in big earrings, and when I went to style my shorties I realized I somehow didn't even have a comb or brush, I must have thrown them out (chemo brain) probably a hissy fit.  So I had to use a root touch up brush thingy. So I thought okay you don't look to bad, last laugh.  That night I wanted to see what it looked like in the back and I have this big single crown 3/4's of the way down the back of my head with a great big white bald spot showing through.  Crap. I did have a little chuckle though, so thats what my sis has to teach me to concentrate on. The joys of chemo and hair and no hair. Traci if the wax holds it down I will send you the name.

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  • TerryNY
    TerryNY Member Posts: 603
    edited March 2008

    Token, I am 6 months out from chemo and my hair is probably about 1 1/2 to 2 inches, straight and until two days ago what I call chemo gray.  I had it colored as close to my natural color that I could and I'm very happy with it.

    So, yes, it does grow back, just not as fast as we would like.  The stylist I went to is a BC survivor herself and she used, and recommends, Nioxin for shampoo and scalp treatment.   I bought some to hopefully fill in my head.  I had very thick, wavy hair before cancer and it is coming back in thinner.  

    Congrats on finishing the 60 miles, that's quite an accomplishment! 

    Give yourself time to recuperate from fighting this disease, it does take its toll but you'll regain your stamina and feel anew, in time. 

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited March 2008

    My last tx of A/C was Feb 8th and I have maybe 1/3 of inch. Some are an inch long.  Maybe 8?  Surprised  HA!  THe yokes on me!  Looks unkept even when micro growth is there!  Sad situation!

    Sadder yet, is my hair has always been straight as a board and I was 'kind of' hoping I'd get the curls everyone talked about! HA!  Another of Mother natures sorry jokes! IT's still straight and stands straight up like a frightened cat!  Softer yes, whiter yes, but some darker ones (not sure of the color yet) are coming in prickly and making it itch again I think!  PLUS, it makes my scalp looks dingy or dirty! Driving me nutty!  I don't mind grey, white or what ever, but ONE color would have been nice! :(  Not 3-4~ UGH!!!!!!!!!!

    At what point (length or time frame) did those with curls start curling?  Maybe it's just not long enough yet? :(  I can hope hey?

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    This is just my favorite topic! I also thought that my hair would never grow back and when it did, I often found myself tugging at the little wisps to see if they were really "sticking"! That was 2 years ago and I've only become more hair-obsessed over time, spending a fortune on products and styling. I'm growing my hair to as long as it will grow, but am having it shaped and highlighted so that it looks fabulous at every stage. I take mega-doses of biotin and swear that that has sped up the growth and enhanced the thickness. My hair is now shoulder-length, so it has a long way to go (I hope!). Soon I'll try to get a new pic/avatar since my look has changed dramatically with the new growth.

    Hang in there, girl....it absolutely WILL happen! You're through the worst part already. I'm gonna bump up the "hair pics" thread because it starts with a link to pics a photojournalist took as her hair slowly returned and it's fun to "stage" yourself.

    BTW, Traci..........your hair is TOTALLY ADORABLE! What a babe you are!!!!!

    ~Marin

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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited March 2008

    It will honey, At first it seems like forever, but it does. Promise.

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  • gsg
    gsg Member Posts: 3,386
    edited March 2008
    Relax...it'll grow..about 1/2 inch per month.  My av picture was taken exactly 1 year post-chemo and had one haircut.  I'm actually missing the very short Jamie-Lee Curtis stage and am thinking about going back to it.  It was great doing nothing to it.  My hair also came in curly and the color was pencil-lead grayish/brownish, which I think is very common...but my hairdresser took care of that!
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