How long before hair starts to grow after chemo?

october7
october7 Member Posts: 9
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi,

Can anyone tell me their experience about how long it takes for hair to start growing back after chemo. I had my last chemo treatment 6 weeks ago and still there is no hair growing, no fuzz either and I am starting to get really worried. My Dr. has giving me different answers about this. First she said 3 weeks after, then 6 to 8 for it to start growing and now she is saying it could take months for the hair to even just start growing back. What is your experience? I don't have anyone to talk to about this and it is starting to freak me out. I have eyebrows and eyelashes left but nothing new on my head. Please advise. Thanks.
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Comments

  • calvertcrafts
    calvertcrafts Member Posts: 93 Member
    Hair
    After chemo, I had 36 rad treatments finishing up the end of March 2010. By May 2010 I had enough hair to "carefully" style and feel OK to go out without a hat. Today, my hair is still coming in. In some places it's still uneven, but it's getting back to the way it used to be. Before all my treatments, I could'nt go anywhere if my hair didn't look right. Now, I'm like, "who cares, at least it's there." I'm sure your's will begin to come in soon and you'll be making an appointment with your stylist before you know it. Keep happy thoughts!!
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    I did
    2 rounds of Chemo before my surgery and my hair seemed to grow back quicker then. Now after 4 more rounds (finishing June 15th)& losing it again, it is still only about a 1/2 inch long, maybe longer in some spots. The hair everywhere else has made me feel like I am becoming a member of the primate family! Peach fuzz, thicker hair on legs, etc...Don't freak out, it WILL grow back!
    ♥ Cat
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    We're all different!
    All my hair has come back differently. The only hair I lost while on A/C was my head hair. Had 5 weeks between the end of it and the start of Taxol (had surgery 2 weeks after last A/C and then 3 weeks before starting Taxol). Had no signs of it 'thinking' about growing back during that time. When Taxol started - everything fell out. Last Taxol was Jan. 28 '10 followed by 25 rads. About 2 weeks into rads, brows and lashes came back, then hair 'down-under' started back about the time rads were over but only about 1/4 of it has come back and is grey (which wasn't before). In May, head hair started back but is growing incredably slow - it's only about 1 & 1/4 inches long now but is still as dark as ever. (I'm 64 so I should have some white/grey in it but I still don't - just genetics I inherited from Daddy's side of the family.) Leg and arm hair finally started back about a month ago and is only a very light short 'down' now.

    There is a shampoo and conditioner that is supposed to be designed for those on 'heavy; medical treatments but as it's more than I'll pay for shampoo, I've never tried it. I don't remember the name but its Nax-something, Nox-something or Nex-something.
  • october7
    october7 Member Posts: 9

    Hair
    After chemo, I had 36 rad treatments finishing up the end of March 2010. By May 2010 I had enough hair to "carefully" style and feel OK to go out without a hat. Today, my hair is still coming in. In some places it's still uneven, but it's getting back to the way it used to be. Before all my treatments, I could'nt go anywhere if my hair didn't look right. Now, I'm like, "who cares, at least it's there." I'm sure your's will begin to come in soon and you'll be making an appointment with your stylist before you know it. Keep happy thoughts!!

    when did the hair actually start growing?
    Thanks for the info. I was wondering when the hair actually started to growing after the last treatment?
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    Rague said:

    We're all different!
    All my hair has come back differently. The only hair I lost while on A/C was my head hair. Had 5 weeks between the end of it and the start of Taxol (had surgery 2 weeks after last A/C and then 3 weeks before starting Taxol). Had no signs of it 'thinking' about growing back during that time. When Taxol started - everything fell out. Last Taxol was Jan. 28 '10 followed by 25 rads. About 2 weeks into rads, brows and lashes came back, then hair 'down-under' started back about the time rads were over but only about 1/4 of it has come back and is grey (which wasn't before). In May, head hair started back but is growing incredably slow - it's only about 1 & 1/4 inches long now but is still as dark as ever. (I'm 64 so I should have some white/grey in it but I still don't - just genetics I inherited from Daddy's side of the family.) Leg and arm hair finally started back about a month ago and is only a very light short 'down' now.

    There is a shampoo and conditioner that is supposed to be designed for those on 'heavy; medical treatments but as it's more than I'll pay for shampoo, I've never tried it. I don't remember the name but its Nax-something, Nox-something or Nex-something.

    Its hard to remember I
    Its hard to remember I finished at the end of jan 2010. it seemed it took a while for it to grow perhaps 6 weeks, then I noticed it down there and was so mad, then all the sudden it started to grow really fast , like a light switch had been turned on. I grew back curly and dark. with some gray. I had it trimmed once to even it out, but it is now staring to reach my ear lobe, but very close to my head, I tuck it behind my ears and and right at my neck in the back. biotin is supposed to help. I think others have longer hair than me at this stage as I always had slow growing hair. One thing that I hate is at my temples I had like a male pattern baldness that is starting to grow in. made me very self concious.
    so how does your hair usually grow? My eyebrows and eyelashes grew in quicker, then fell out in June now back hopefully to stay. so dont panic if this happens, they grow baCK REAL QUICK.
  • rene9
    rene9 Member Posts: 214
    Heeey!
    I haven't posted in a while since I've started back to work and everyone was soooo cool with responding when I did post. Well, I finished chemo on May 7th. I was told 6 weeks after chemo I would see hair. Well I didn't. Then, I thought I would be able to go wigless on the 4th of July. Didn't happen. I thought when I went back to work August 3 I wouldn't have to wear a wig...Not...So, about 2 weeks after returning to work, my husband cleaned up the hair on my neck and side burns and I liked it and I've been wigless since 16 weeks after chemo to be exact. It is short but it covers my head. It is growing even and people think I have good hair. I have been told I can rock this short do, but I am going to let it grow as long as it will. It was shoulder length before chemo. But, I know I watched it everyday! It will grow. I was very worried at six weeks because I still had a clean head. I took biotin at first then I realized it was going to grow without it. I have eye lashes but my thick eye brows are coming in slowly. I have no complaints, just watching my hair grow...Good Luck! It's coming!


    rene9
  • pgrace35
    pgrace35 Member Posts: 122
    Everyone is different
    I finished my chemo in December, my hair started showing some "fuzz" late Jan and I really didn't see any real hair come in until Feb. Once it does come in it will be strange. I'm coming on a year since my chemo and my hair texture is still really funky. Keeping it super short till it starts to hopefully return to it's normal texture. But I'm told it may be different. Don't fret, it will come back.
  • putzie
    putzie Member Posts: 66 Member
    same here october..
    I finished chemo mid-July and figured I would have some hair by now. I spoke to my hairdresser and she said the hair growth cycle would be about 8 weeks for the new stuff to start. Funny....a day or so after I spoke to her I noticed I am getting fuzzy. It has been 9 weeks today. I am so excited!!!!! So give it time...it does happen...but I will say..I never thought I would be so happy to have 'mouse fuzz' on my head!!! Just the beginning for us so it will be interesting to see how it comes in. I think we are all happy just to have some hair, no matter what it looks like. Good Luck!!!
  • october7
    october7 Member Posts: 9
    putzie said:

    same here october..
    I finished chemo mid-July and figured I would have some hair by now. I spoke to my hairdresser and she said the hair growth cycle would be about 8 weeks for the new stuff to start. Funny....a day or so after I spoke to her I noticed I am getting fuzzy. It has been 9 weeks today. I am so excited!!!!! So give it time...it does happen...but I will say..I never thought I would be so happy to have 'mouse fuzz' on my head!!! Just the beginning for us so it will be interesting to see how it comes in. I think we are all happy just to have some hair, no matter what it looks like. Good Luck!!!

    thanks that helps
    I know I am panicked about this but I think it is because everyone gives these time lines and I look for hair every day expecting it to appear according to what the Dr. and others have said. Now that you say it took 9 weeks I am a little relieved. I have this fear after everything that has happened thus far that permanent hair loss is the next "thing". I can wait for it to come back as long as I know it will.
  • october7
    october7 Member Posts: 9
    rene9 said:

    Heeey!
    I haven't posted in a while since I've started back to work and everyone was soooo cool with responding when I did post. Well, I finished chemo on May 7th. I was told 6 weeks after chemo I would see hair. Well I didn't. Then, I thought I would be able to go wigless on the 4th of July. Didn't happen. I thought when I went back to work August 3 I wouldn't have to wear a wig...Not...So, about 2 weeks after returning to work, my husband cleaned up the hair on my neck and side burns and I liked it and I've been wigless since 16 weeks after chemo to be exact. It is short but it covers my head. It is growing even and people think I have good hair. I have been told I can rock this short do, but I am going to let it grow as long as it will. It was shoulder length before chemo. But, I know I watched it everyday! It will grow. I was very worried at six weeks because I still had a clean head. I took biotin at first then I realized it was going to grow without it. I have eye lashes but my thick eye brows are coming in slowly. I have no complaints, just watching my hair grow...Good Luck! It's coming!


    rene9

    more than 6 weeks
    Its good to know it took more than 6 weeks. What week did you first see hair and did it grow pretty fast after that? Did you have any hair by the 4th of July? Its not so bad wearing the wig. I just want my hair back!
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    october7 said:

    thanks that helps
    I know I am panicked about this but I think it is because everyone gives these time lines and I look for hair every day expecting it to appear according to what the Dr. and others have said. Now that you say it took 9 weeks I am a little relieved. I have this fear after everything that has happened thus far that permanent hair loss is the next "thing". I can wait for it to come back as long as I know it will.

    I am 11 weeks out of chemo.
    I am 11 weeks out of chemo. I have started noticing fuzz in the last 2 weeks. I look in the mirror everyday too just checking to see what is going on. I can tell that is growing now so I feel better. We will all just have to wait and be surprised to see what color and texture we end up with! God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member

    I am 11 weeks out of chemo.
    I am 11 weeks out of chemo. I have started noticing fuzz in the last 2 weeks. I look in the mirror everyday too just checking to see what is going on. I can tell that is growing now so I feel better. We will all just have to wait and be surprised to see what color and texture we end up with! God Bless
    (((Hugs))) Janice

    my second set of eyelashes
    my second set of eyelashes are almost as long as they used to be. I love to wear mascara because i can!!!
  • Emilyfimily
    Emilyfimily Member Posts: 141
    I'm 5 months from last chemo..
    My last treatment was April 15th - right at 5 months ago. It took a looooong time for my hair to grow back. It was growing fuzzy and uneven, so I reshaved the fuzzies off at 11 weeks out. By the first week of August, I finally looked like I had a longer buzz cut with some thinning up top. Now, I'm finally looking like I have an almost normal amount thickness-wise, aka the thinning hair look is going away. And it's about 1.5 inches long, and darker, and the top's wavy but the sides and back have curls.
    Just takes a long time. You'll get there, though. :)
  • rene9
    rene9 Member Posts: 214
    october7 said:

    more than 6 weeks
    Its good to know it took more than 6 weeks. What week did you first see hair and did it grow pretty fast after that? Did you have any hair by the 4th of July? Its not so bad wearing the wig. I just want my hair back!

    Yes-
    Yes, I did have hair on the 4th of July because I was pulling back my wig showing everyone. But, it was very little fuzz, but it was there. Every week you can really see the difference. I have never worn anything on my head so I felt the wig was really hot and I always sweated. Now it's curly/wavy and I get a lot of compliments. It's growing and getting thicker. Luckily it is growing even all over. I am very happy for that. I know how you are feeling. I was in the mirror all upside down trying to find a hair and feeling it and massaging. It will grow...


    rene9
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member

    I'm 5 months from last chemo..
    My last treatment was April 15th - right at 5 months ago. It took a looooong time for my hair to grow back. It was growing fuzzy and uneven, so I reshaved the fuzzies off at 11 weeks out. By the first week of August, I finally looked like I had a longer buzz cut with some thinning up top. Now, I'm finally looking like I have an almost normal amount thickness-wise, aka the thinning hair look is going away. And it's about 1.5 inches long, and darker, and the top's wavy but the sides and back have curls.
    Just takes a long time. You'll get there, though. :)

    I like sooooooo many others .. thought .. great chemo over
    now my hair grows back .. WRONG.. About 8 weeks, and you see spikes, or angel wings -- our hair grows back in different areas of your scalp - not all at once. In fact when I had my first trim/that turned into a cut, and I cried like a baby .. the back of my scalp was about 1 to 1.5 longer than the top of my hair. Werid .. before my trim/cut combo .. I looked like bozo .. longer sides and back, shorter on top.

    Thinner than my normal thickness .. I've continued to wait for my lashes and brows to fill in .. still waiting .. tick tock ...


    Vicki Sam
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    VickiSam said:

    I like sooooooo many others .. thought .. great chemo over
    now my hair grows back .. WRONG.. About 8 weeks, and you see spikes, or angel wings -- our hair grows back in different areas of your scalp - not all at once. In fact when I had my first trim/that turned into a cut, and I cried like a baby .. the back of my scalp was about 1 to 1.5 longer than the top of my hair. Werid .. before my trim/cut combo .. I looked like bozo .. longer sides and back, shorter on top.

    Thinner than my normal thickness .. I've continued to wait for my lashes and brows to fill in .. still waiting .. tick tock ...


    Vicki Sam

    Emily .. I adore your new photo !!
    Good going - Girl!


    Vicki Sam
  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    VickiSam said:

    Emily .. I adore your new photo !!
    Good going - Girl!


    Vicki Sam

    Emily,
    I agree with VickiSam, I love your new picture. You look wonderful!
  • webbwife50
    webbwife50 Member Posts: 394
    no hair?
    I did 4 rounds of AC and 4 of Taxol. I didn't hair a single hair anywhere on my body when I finished chemo. About 7 weeks after I had finished chemo I notice a very fine white fuzz starting to sprout. It's was slow getting going but it has been almost a year now and all my hair has grown back in. Please don't waste to much of your time and energy worrying about it, it will grow back.
    God Bless,
    Alison
    ps I also had the same white fuzz growing on my face, but it eventually fell out and has not come back. Just be forwarned it's not exactly what we'd like it to be in the beginning. I am still having a difficult time with my eyelashes. The uppers are just not growing back. Oh Well, I'm here.
  • Emilyfimily
    Emilyfimily Member Posts: 141
    Jean 0609 said:

    Emily,
    I agree with VickiSam, I love your new picture. You look wonderful!

    Thankyou!
    Thankyou VickiSam and Jean!! That picture was at a St Louis Cardinals game Labor Day Weekend. I'm a huge Cardinals fan, and I was so excited - I got to go down on the field and meet some of the players. What a GREAT fun day!!
  • missingtexas
    missingtexas Member Posts: 146
    I finished chemo on July
    I finished chemo on July 22nd. I am just now getting fuzzy baby-like hair and eyebrows. No eyelashes though.