Hair falling out due to Radiation

CiAnnaBananna
CiAnnaBananna Member Posts: 105
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
So, i'm 12 treatments into radiation, and suddenly my hair is falling out again on the back of my head. I am only getting radiation to the chest area, and was under the impression you would only lose hair at the radiation site. Did anyone else lose their hair during radiation? i am finished with chemo, and already lost my hair during chemo, so this is not chemo related. AHHH! I don't want the little hair that I have to be falling out again....and already!

-CiAnna (stage 3 hodgkins)

Comments

  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #2
    Rads
    The only place I lost hair was 1/2 of my pubic hair (sorry guys) but I was getting rads to my left hip.

    Have you talked to your radiation onc about the hair loss? I don't blame you for not wanting to lose what's slowly coming back.

    Thinking of you!
    Beth
  • CiAnnaBananna
    CiAnnaBananna Member Posts: 105
    #3
    dixiegirl said:

    Rads
    The only place I lost hair was 1/2 of my pubic hair (sorry guys) but I was getting rads to my left hip.

    Have you talked to your radiation onc about the hair loss? I don't blame you for not wanting to lose what's slowly coming back.

    Thinking of you!
    Beth

    i'll talk to him tomorrow
    i'll talk to him tomorrow when i go in for radiation. it just started this afternoon!
  • cathyp
    cathyp Member Posts: 376 Member
    #4
    CiAnnaBananna said:

    i'll talk to him tomorrow
    i'll talk to him tomorrow when i go in for radiation. it just started this afternoon!

    hair loss
    I lost the hair on the back of my head in a horseshoe or arch pattern. When I was laying on my stomach for the rads, the field of radiation extended from the middle of my head to above my lower back.
    Love your look in the pic! I lost my hair in 1990, so I had longer permed (OMG) hair that covered the bare spot!
  • forme
    forme Member Posts: 1,161 Member
    #5
    Yes
    Hi CiAnna,
    I did lose hair, not all but it was so thin that I looked bald. radiation does that to some people. My guess is that your hair folicles are so newly growing and sensitive, that as soon as the radiation gets enough in your system, out comes the hair.
    peaceful healing,
    Lisha
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #6
    hair
    I lost my hair in the back of my head in chucks, I looked like Charlie Sheen in the movie Major League! The rads were only targeted to the left side of my neck, I was bolted to the table with a mask so the rads. did not hit the back of my head, but that is were I lost it.......... you been through it before it will grow back.(I know that does not help now) Vnny
  • Newfoundcancer
    Newfoundcancer Member Posts: 40
    #7
    dixiegirl said:

    Rads
    The only place I lost hair was 1/2 of my pubic hair (sorry guys) but I was getting rads to my left hip.

    Have you talked to your radiation onc about the hair loss? I don't blame you for not wanting to lose what's slowly coming back.

    Thinking of you!
    Beth

    Hair loss
    I second that, I also lost hair around my pelvic area. And is slowly comming back!
  • CiAnnaBananna
    CiAnnaBananna Member Posts: 105
    #8
    vinny59 said:

    hair
    I lost my hair in the back of my head in chucks, I looked like Charlie Sheen in the movie Major League! The rads were only targeted to the left side of my neck, I was bolted to the table with a mask so the rads. did not hit the back of my head, but that is were I lost it.......... you been through it before it will grow back.(I know that does not help now) Vnny

    yeah apparently the laser is
    yeah apparently the laser is hitting the back of my head so that explains the hair loss. it's no big deal, just surprising cause i thought i was done with the hair loss
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #9
    CiAnnaBananna said:

    yeah apparently the laser is
    yeah apparently the laser is hitting the back of my head so that explains the hair loss. it's no big deal, just surprising cause i thought i was done with the hair loss

    sucks
    I hear you, I'm starting to get my facial hair back now, and some on the top of my head, I know it would bother the hell out of me if I had to start losing it again! Wishing you well, positive thoughts your way........ Vinny
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #10
    CiAnnaBananna said:

    yeah apparently the laser is
    yeah apparently the laser is hitting the back of my head so that explains the hair loss. it's no big deal, just surprising cause i thought i was done with the hair loss

    Still with hair!
    Hi CiAnna,
    You will probably say to me .."be greateful old woman"...when I tell you that I'm still sitting here with all of my hair and have finished round 4 of chemo. I have slight thinning, but the majority of my hair is still here. I know..I should be very happy, and "I AM" for sure... but everyday I jump out of bed and check my pillow and then go to the bathroom to gently comb through my hair. Each time I wash it I just wait to see huge chunks laying in the sink trap, but so far it's only been minor amounts of hair. I am praying it stays this way! Now... with that being said, I "truely" am sorry you are back to loosing your hair. I know loosing it, getting it back, and then loosing it again is far far worse than waiting to lose it. One thing is for sure my dear...you look mighty fine with no hair at all and you are cute as a button with a smile that could stop traffic! Hang in there sweetie. Love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #11
    allmost60 said:

    Still with hair!
    Hi CiAnna,
    You will probably say to me .."be greateful old woman"...when I tell you that I'm still sitting here with all of my hair and have finished round 4 of chemo. I have slight thinning, but the majority of my hair is still here. I know..I should be very happy, and "I AM" for sure... but everyday I jump out of bed and check my pillow and then go to the bathroom to gently comb through my hair. Each time I wash it I just wait to see huge chunks laying in the sink trap, but so far it's only been minor amounts of hair. I am praying it stays this way! Now... with that being said, I "truely" am sorry you are back to loosing your hair. I know loosing it, getting it back, and then loosing it again is far far worse than waiting to lose it. One thing is for sure my dear...you look mighty fine with no hair at all and you are cute as a button with a smile that could stop traffic! Hang in there sweetie. Love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

    Side note..
    Hey CiAnna,(forgot to mention)...
    I showed your picture to my 20 year old (hip)grandaughter and she said...quote..."dang gramma, she's hot"! In our opinion, once you get past all of this you will be kicking guys to the curb from all the attention you will attract. Can't imagine that your not having to do it now! Remember..beauty is in the eye of the beholder and from where I'm sitting I behold a beautiful young woman in you. I told Chelsie your picture should be on every cover of cancer literature that sit in all of the clinics around the world. She agreed. I think Kaye's picture should be right next to yours as she also radiates confidence and a sense of well being. Just sayin sweetie... Love, Sue
  • CiAnnaBananna
    CiAnnaBananna Member Posts: 105
    #12
    allmost60 said:

    Side note..
    Hey CiAnna,(forgot to mention)...
    I showed your picture to my 20 year old (hip)grandaughter and she said...quote..."dang gramma, she's hot"! In our opinion, once you get past all of this you will be kicking guys to the curb from all the attention you will attract. Can't imagine that your not having to do it now! Remember..beauty is in the eye of the beholder and from where I'm sitting I behold a beautiful young woman in you. I told Chelsie your picture should be on every cover of cancer literature that sit in all of the clinics around the world. She agreed. I think Kaye's picture should be right next to yours as she also radiates confidence and a sense of well being. Just sayin sweetie... Love, Sue

    haha thanks
    Thanks Sue for the kind words! I'm thrilled you still have your hair. Once my hair started remotely falling out, I just said "the hell with it" and shaved it off! Losing my hair really sucked, BUT it wasn't the end of the world. I hate that its falling out agin, but as of monday I will be completely done with all my treatments, so it's a small price to pay!

    And of course I'm already beating the guys off with a stick! I met an amazing guy during all of this cancer mess, who loves me just the way I am. oddly enough, when he met me, he didn't know I had cancer. He just thought I was a hot chick with a shaved head! silly boy!

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