Hair regrowth

J.R. and June
J.R. and June Member Posts: 60
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi Friends:

 

Well, I spoke with my mom and the mouth sores are still the same (hurting like hell with no relief). Also, she lost her hair, so she is shaving it off. How long does it take to grow back? I am visiting her this weekend, I am hoping that I don't freak out and go nuts seeing my mom so sick.

 

Thanks.

-Robin

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Hair Today...

    Gone tomorrow...

    Robin, not sure where your mother is in treatment... But for me, I lost all of my hair..., ummm all  of my hair.., and even my toe nails, somewhere between my first and second round of chemo.

    But it actually started growing back right away.. But it did stay pretty fine and thin until I finsihed up treatment. 

    The only part that didn't grow back was the small strip on the back of my neck blasted from radiation, and most of my beard, especially  under the jaw line.

    Hang in there, the hair will grow back before she knows it....

    Best,

    John

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #3
    robin, you will need to be

    robin, you will need to be strong for your mom.  if you lose it she will worry about you!  just know that she is going to get better.  the acs will give your mom a wig free of charge.  find her local office and call them.  i'm sorry she is still in so much pain from the mouth sores.  it seems like the docs could find something to help her.  several on here had them, maybe they will chime in with some suggestions.  I hope she's feeling better soon.  i will keep you and your family in my prayers.

    God bless,

    dj

     

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    My hair got very thin

    by the third month into chemo....didn't all fall out, but I did end up cutting it as short as a boy's.  Once chemo is over, I'd say she'll have a "cap" of hair within 6 weeks or so....and from there, it's either grow it out or keep it short.  The strip of hair on the back of my head started coming back in by Nov or Dec.....my last chemo was the end of August.  That hair comes in much slower.

    Gawd, I'm sorry to hear she's still suffering for those damn mouth sores.  I'd think there might be something the Dr. can think of to help numb them until her treatment is over.

    p

  • J.R. and June
    J.R. and June Member Posts: 60
    #5
    Skiffin16 said:

    Hair Today...

    Gone tomorrow...

    Robin, not sure where your mother is in treatment... But for me, I lost all of my hair..., ummm all  of my hair.., and even my toe nails, somewhere between my first and second round of chemo.

    But it actually started growing back right away.. But it did stay pretty fine and thin until I finsihed up treatment. 

    The only part that didn't grow back was the small strip on the back of my neck blasted from radiation, and most of my beard, especially  under the jaw line.

    Hang in there, the hair will grow back before she knows it....

    Best,

    John

    Ugh - toe nails

    That must have been very painful for you. Thanks for the post. It is good to hear that there is life after cancer.

  • J.R. and June
    J.R. and June Member Posts: 60
    #6
    debbiejeanne said:

    robin, you will need to be

    robin, you will need to be strong for your mom.  if you lose it she will worry about you!  just know that she is going to get better.  the acs will give your mom a wig free of charge.  find her local office and call them.  i'm sorry she is still in so much pain from the mouth sores.  it seems like the docs could find something to help her.  several on here had them, maybe they will chime in with some suggestions.  I hope she's feeling better soon.  i will keep you and your family in my prayers.

    God bless,

    dj

     

    Thanks DJ

    You are right. I will hold back on being emotional in front of my mom. It sounds terrible, but I almost want to avoid the situation.

    Thanks for the tip. I will look into the free wig.

  • J.R. and June
    J.R. and June Member Posts: 60
    #7
    debbiejeanne said:

    robin, you will need to be

    robin, you will need to be strong for your mom.  if you lose it she will worry about you!  just know that she is going to get better.  the acs will give your mom a wig free of charge.  find her local office and call them.  i'm sorry she is still in so much pain from the mouth sores.  it seems like the docs could find something to help her.  several on here had them, maybe they will chime in with some suggestions.  I hope she's feeling better soon.  i will keep you and your family in my prayers.

    God bless,

    dj

     

    Thanks DJ

    You are right. I will hold back on being emotional in front of my mom. It sounds terrible, but I almost want to avoid the situation.

    Thanks for the tip. I will look into the free wig.

  • J.R. and June
    J.R. and June Member Posts: 60
    #8
    phrannie51 said:

    My hair got very thin

    by the third month into chemo....didn't all fall out, but I did end up cutting it as short as a boy's.  Once chemo is over, I'd say she'll have a "cap" of hair within 6 weeks or so....and from there, it's either grow it out or keep it short.  The strip of hair on the back of my head started coming back in by Nov or Dec.....my last chemo was the end of August.  That hair comes in much slower.

    Gawd, I'm sorry to hear she's still suffering for those damn mouth sores.  I'd think there might be something the Dr. can think of to help numb them until her treatment is over.

    p

    Thanks P

    When I called her today, my aunt was there cutting her hair. I don't know if they shaved it off, or cut it short like a boy. My dad is a long hair kind of guy, and he was already giving her a hard time for having semi short hair, so if it is short like a boy he might really freak out... LOL

  • sin9775
    sin9775 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #9
    Seeing your mom for the first time.

    Hi Robin,

    I know exactly what you are feeling.  I prayed and prayed and prayed that when I saw my brother for the first time after his tx began that I wouldn't freak in front of him.  I am glad I prayed, because it was only with God's help that I was able to not break down in front of him.  He lost a lot of weight, quickly of course, so his skin was hanging on him.  I swear he aged 15 years since I last saw him.  The sparkle had left his eyes and he was in pain.  As depressing as that sounds, a month and a half later, I saw him again and he looked marvelous! 

    It is so very hard when we love someone so desperately and have to see them suffer.  Be strong.  Your mom will pull through and get back to her old self - well, maybe as the warriors here say, her new normal, but she WILL get better!  You know, your mom will be in good company with her short haircut, I just saw a picture of Pamela Anderson with her new pixie cut.  Let her know that she is in vogue now with all the glamorous Hollywood set who have cropped their hair.  Just tell her to stay of the wrecking ball.  :-)

    Sending up prayers for healing for your mom and strength for you. Good luck.

    ~Shawn~

     

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
    Hi Robin

     

    When my mother was going through treatment it took her almost 3 months before it started growing again I guess it took that long for all the chemo to flush out of her body. I never did have the best hair in the world before treatment but now I do. Don’t know what the chemo did to it but I love it now.

     

    All the best to your Mom

    Hondo

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #11
    Its all good

    I lost every hair on my body, including eyebrows, eyelashes, everything.    It probably took six moths to grow back.  My head hair was pretty neat for awhile, it grew back tight and curly like a brillo pad.  i actually wouldn't have minded if it stayed that way, but it didn't.  Eventually  it looked just like before.  My eyebrows stayed pretty thin, though.

  • J.R. and June
    J.R. and June Member Posts: 60
    #12
    longtermsurvivor said:

    Its all good

    I lost every hair on my body, including eyebrows, eyelashes, everything.    It probably took six moths to grow back.  My head hair was pretty neat for awhile, it grew back tight and curly like a brillo pad.  i actually wouldn't have minded if it stayed that way, but it didn't.  Eventually  it looked just like before.  My eyebrows stayed pretty thin, though.

    shawn, hondo, and longtimesurvivor

    Thank you for the posts. You guys managed to make me laugh and feel inspired as well.

    Everything will be fine!

    Best regards,

     

    -Robin

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    J.R. and June said:

    Ugh - toe nails

    That must have been very painful for you. Thanks for the post. It is good to hear that there is life after cancer.

    Didn't Hurt..

    Actually I didn't even know when I lost one, I'd just find it on the carpet, LOL...

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