hair n chemo

terril

Hi everyone!
I have been on CPT-11, 5-FU, and avastin for about 6 months. Most of my hair fell out (about 98%). Well, I am still on the chemo cocktail, but something strange has happened. My hair is starting to grow back. Can this happen while on chemo? I always understood the hair falls out and will not grow back until the chemo has ended. I have/had very thick hair. Anyone out there experience this? I now look like Julius Caesar. Hail semi colons!!!! Terri

JADot

No big help on your question but want to let you know that I think you are Julius Caesar! You've fought the disease so valiantly!

Hail semi colons - that's just toooooo funny!

Ying

KFalvey

Hi Terri,
I just had my first treatment of the same chemo. Just hoping you could tell me how fast you lost your hair. Last Thursday I bought a wig since my Oncologist told me I would most likely lose my hair but was just thinking of going ahead and having mine cut off (it is pretty long) to donate to before I lose it. Any other info on side effects I'd appreciate also. This is my 2nd regimen; did FOLFOX4 last year, recurrance in Feb. Thanks and sorry I can't answer your question. Kandy

kerry

It is funny how chemo affects us all differently. I was on CPT-11, 5FU, Leuk for 6 months and lost only a small amount of hair. My hair is also very thick so no one even noticed. In fact, it thinned so that I could finally fix it better than before. Now it is back to being thick again and sometimes looks like I'm wearing a helmet.

I figure ANYTHING can happen on chemo...... Just wear your crown, Julius and get well!

My best wishes to you.

Kerry

KathiM

Terri, YES during my chemo (minus the avastin) and then during the bc chemo (AC every 3 weeks) my hair started growing back IN BETWEEN infusions!!! It actually got a little irritating, cause then it would be 1/4 inch hair falling out...itchy!
But yes, my dear, it happened to me...and, 8 weeks after stopping all chemo, I have soooooo much hair (mind you, 1 inch or less in length...but growing daily)that I NOW get told what a pretty summer haircut I have, not 'Oh, I see you are going thru chemo'!!!! (My own little head of AstroTurf!)
Hugs, Kathi
P.S. on Taxol for the bc, my eyebrows fell out. I swear to you, one night after chemo was over, I went to sleep hairless, and in the morning, I had EYEBROWS....the 'hair fairy' must have visited during the night...the image of that guy in the pink tutu for fig nutons keeps coming to mind...hehehehe.
Hugs, Kathi

lfondots63

Hi Terri,

Send me good hair vibes. I'm not on the same regiment (on folfox) so loosing hair now. I can tell and so can my hubby. It is thinning. I'm only half way through so might be hairless (darn only on the head) soon. BTW my 11 yr old daughter is growing her hair to give to locks of love. It has to be 10 inches from where you put the ponytail. She is so great to do this. Take care and don't forget the good hair vibes my way. LOL.

Lisa

Betsydoglover

lfondots63 said:

Hi Terri,

Send me good hair vibes. I'm not on the same regiment (on folfox) so loosing hair now. I can tell and so can my hubby. It is thinning. I'm only half way through so might be hairless (darn only on the head) soon. BTW my 11 yr old daughter is growing her hair to give to locks of love. It has to be 10 inches from where you put the ponytail. She is so great to do this. Take care and don't forget the good hair vibes my way. LOL.

Lisa

Hi Lisa -

What a sweet daughter you have!

Take care,
Betsy

terril

Hello again!!!
Thanks to all of you for the info. I guess anything goes when you are on chemo.
To Kerry...it is amazing how chemo affects us. You lost very little. For me, it was a wipe out!!! When I was on 5-Fu 2 years ago, my hair thinned very little, but the big change was all the natural curl was gone. Chemo is weird.
To Kathi...how strange you hair came back so fast. I also have the eyebrow wipe out. I tried to use a eyebrow pencil to put some on, and I looked like Joan Crawford!!!!!! Scared the hell out of me. I started over. Regarding my hair on my head, it might come back as a fro!!
To Kandy...my hair loss was very gradual over 6 months. It became so thin so I began to wear hats. But it took 6 months. I chose to not wear a wig. I have lots of hats and scarves. I am a teacher, and the faculty and the students are always giving me hats. As far as side effects, I have had very little. I get the "chemo funk" which is extreme fatigue about 48 hours after I get hooked up. I sleep a lot. Also, during these 48 hours, I have low level nausea. The 5-FU gives me sensitive hands and feet. I control mouth sores by avoiding acidic foods. Good luck with the cocktail!!! E-mail me on this website if you have any other questions.
Lisa, you child is a blessing. I get choked up when I hear of kids reaching out to cancer patients. Kudos to you as a mom!!!
To Ying, you are too funny. How about this...Friends and semi colons lend me your wigs! Or lend me you preps. Lend me your ports. I am in a goofy mood. If my hair continues to grow, I will go from Julius Caesar to Foxy Cleopatra!! Terri

CAMaura

Well, I think Caesar should wake up and give you a bow. I do not know about the chemo/hair reactions too much - and have only heard that hormonoe-based cancers have treatments which cause more hair loss. Mine thinned with Folfox6, but that is all...and came back just fine. You are one brave cookie, and I am sure your will to survive and beat cancer just kicked your hair cells into action! All the best to you - Maura

KathiM

KFalvey said:

Hi Terri,
I just had my first treatment of the same chemo. Just hoping you could tell me how fast you lost your hair. Last Thursday I bought a wig since my Oncologist told me I would most likely lose my hair but was just thinking of going ahead and having mine cut off (it is pretty long) to donate to before I lose it. Any other info on side effects I'd appreciate also. This is my 2nd regimen; did FOLFOX4 last year, recurrance in Feb. Thanks and sorry I can't answer your question. Kandy

WOW, Kandy, what a gal! Locks of Love will be much appreciative..and now that it's summer a short cut would be great...I did the 2-step process...and after mine really comes back, I will stick with the 'new-found', shorter cut (people told me it made me look 10 years younger...sigh...if only..hehehehe).
Hugs, Kathi

KathiM

terril said:

Hello again!!!
Thanks to all of you for the info. I guess anything goes when you are on chemo.
To Kerry...it is amazing how chemo affects us. You lost very little. For me, it was a wipe out!!! When I was on 5-Fu 2 years ago, my hair thinned very little, but the big change was all the natural curl was gone. Chemo is weird.
To Kathi...how strange you hair came back so fast. I also have the eyebrow wipe out. I tried to use a eyebrow pencil to put some on, and I looked like Joan Crawford!!!!!! Scared the hell out of me. I started over. Regarding my hair on my head, it might come back as a fro!!
To Kandy...my hair loss was very gradual over 6 months. It became so thin so I began to wear hats. But it took 6 months. I chose to not wear a wig. I have lots of hats and scarves. I am a teacher, and the faculty and the students are always giving me hats. As far as side effects, I have had very little. I get the "chemo funk" which is extreme fatigue about 48 hours after I get hooked up. I sleep a lot. Also, during these 48 hours, I have low level nausea. The 5-FU gives me sensitive hands and feet. I control mouth sores by avoiding acidic foods. Good luck with the cocktail!!! E-mail me on this website if you have any other questions.
Lisa, you child is a blessing. I get choked up when I hear of kids reaching out to cancer patients. Kudos to you as a mom!!!
To Ying, you are too funny. How about this...Friends and semi colons lend me your wigs! Or lend me you preps. Lend me your ports. I am in a goofy mood. If my hair continues to grow, I will go from Julius Caesar to Foxy Cleopatra!! Terri

Terri:
What a GREAT attitude!!!!! (A little secret...shhhhh...the beast HATES humor and laughter....) Keep up the good work...and, on the brows...I have 50-year-old eyesight, so you should have seen what I did to try to draw brows...howdy doody was MY result...hehehehe
Hugs, Kathi

scouty

Hi Terri,

My hair was falling out like crazy before I started chemo and the only meds I was doing was a multivitamin and prevocet (I think that is how you spell the acid reflex drug). I stopped talking it when I began chemo and my hair stopped falling out almost immediately, but the damage was done. While on chemo, it started growing back but was not very healthy and that was the chemo. I finally cut it all off to about an inch and after I stopped chemo and completely changed my diet, it grew back better then ever, with less grey hair too!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa P.