anxious/hair regrowth

ohilly

I had four rounds of Cytoxan and Taxotere every 3 weeks which I finished on June 20. This Friday will make 4 weeks since the last infusion. I am very anxious about my hair regrowth: I can't really tell if it is growing back or not because I never shaved my head (I just let it fall out naturally) and also all of my hair did not fall out. However, even though it didn't all fall out, it does me no good because there are huge bald spots covered by strands of hair if you know what I mean. It's hard to tell if the hair is growing back since I still had hair which didn't fall out. What worries me a lot, too, is that the top of my head has no hair and is completely bald, I'm afraid the rest will grow back but not this area! How long did it take for your hair to grow back (especially if you had this type of chemo) and did it grow back all over the head at once, or in sections on the head and other sections took longer to catch up? I know this sounds crazy, but I am really anxious about it. I went thru the whole chemo without looking at my hair, and then when it was over I decided that if I didn't look at it how would I be able to tell if it was growing back or not. Now I wish I had never looked at it. Any advice would be appreciated. Ohilly

base61ball

I'm not at the regrow stage yet, but what I have been told is that the hair regrows at 1/4 inch per month so it will be a while. Have faith that it will return. I don't really understand quite how the hair follicle (sp) knows to grow again, but I just know that it will. Hugs to you - try to stay positive.

mgm42

Hi kiddo. You already know that mine started growing after 9 weeks from last infusion but I can tell you that the back of my head is growing faster than certain places on top. I have two patches, one directly on top (about 1"x2") and one smaller circular patch slightly lower toward the back that are much slower at filling in. But, I do feel some down-like fuzz in those spots. So, I'm just keeping the faith. My family keeps telling me that a "watched pot never boils" so I don't look too often. Take care. Hugs, Marilynn

Unknown

This is the explanation I was given about hair loss when I was on chemo....
Hair does not 'fall out', but is rather burned off at the scalp by the chemicals in our system when on chemo. The hair follicles are not damaged. Full re-growth should be expected unless some other factor other than chemo itself has arrested the growth of hair. But it takes awhile for the chemicals to exit the system and allow regrowth to begin and become noticeable.
I did not loose all my hair either and it eventually came back as thick and lush as before chemo, just curly, which it was not before.
It's an added stress we could do without for sure, but it is what it is.

seof

ohilly,
Each person's body heals itself in its own way. I did what you did...let it come out naturally. It was all patchy like yours too. I did not pay a lot of attention, but I think I noticed that the bald places were getting more fuzzy after about 10 weeks, then the parts that had not become completely bald were longer, so I got an electric hair trimmer and buzzed it all off to about 1/4 inch all over so that it will grow back evenly. That was about a month ago, and now it is the same color and thickness as before chemo, about 1/2 inch all over.

I think, if you can relax and try to enjoy life, one day you will find that the bald places are becoming more fuzzy, then one day you will see more color and will notice that there aren't any bald patches left. Then you will see that you are starting to get "hat hair" under your hats and wigs, etc. Just be patient and trust your body to heal itself.

Take care of yourself, seof.

babebussie

I shaved my head before i even started chemo because i didnt want the trauma of seeing my hair falling out in clumps and having bald spots. Yukk, how ugly that would have been. I started wearing wigs from day one and i still do. My hair is growing back in but it's growing in grey. I was like oh my goodness what the hell is going on. Now i just dont even care because i'm alive and on my last round of taxotere. I enjoy the wigs and it keeps me in a new look everyday. I have about 15 of them. Hair is hair. Life is better.

It'll grow back in eventually, dont stress over that.

Unknown

Hi Ohilly, I also had some areas grow in a lot slower than others. I used Nioxin products but am not sure that it speeded things up any though. I was told that the follicles are damaged by the chemo and that is why most often it regrows curley. Hang in there, it does grow back slowly, but all it takes is for a couple inches and you will feel more like your old self again! Once I had one inch I stopped wearing my wig. It was long enough for me to feel comfortable even if others seemed a bit shocked. Do what makes you feel comfortable. Take care, Eileen

liz11808

Hello Ohilly,
We have exactly the same diagnosis. I'm stage 1 lobular and I had mastectomy on the left breast but no recon. I also completed 4 rounds to cytoxan & taxotere, my last infusion is June 6. My hair started to fall out 13 days after the first infusion, then my husband shaved my head. I noticed that my hair start growing slowly even I'm not done yet if the chemo. I asked my Oncologist about this and she said some patient do experience this and it is normal. Rightnow, I'm about 6 weeks after the last infusion and I can see tiny tiny hair in my head. I have to look really realy closely though. Don't you worry, your hair will come back. Please enjoy your new normal life now that we're done with the most difficult part of it.

God bless, Liz

sylva

Hi Ohilly:
I had the same treatments as you, but finished with it on June 25. The hair was already growing before the last treatment. I shaved mine when it started falling after the 2nd treatment. A lot of hair fell, but the ones that stayed are longer now, and I can see the new hair coming back. In the top and back is faster than in the front where there is almost none.
My nails are also kind of darker yellow, and some of them are separating from the skin. I will consult w/oncologist next week, when I have the appt. Did you have any problem with yours?
I think the hair will all come back. It will take a while, but in between I continue using the wigs when I go outside the house, and the bandana inside the house. Never never my bold head, except when I turn off the lights at night.
Try to be patient, compared with the chemo, the hair is the easy part!!
You are a beautiful person with hair or without, I'm sure. Take care!!

MrsCM3

sylva said:

Hi Ohilly:
I had the same treatments as you, but finished with it on June 25. The hair was already growing before the last treatment. I shaved mine when it started falling after the 2nd treatment. A lot of hair fell, but the ones that stayed are longer now, and I can see the new hair coming back. In the top and back is faster than in the front where there is almost none.
My nails are also kind of darker yellow, and some of them are separating from the skin. I will consult w/oncologist next week, when I have the appt. Did you have any problem with yours?
I think the hair will all come back. It will take a while, but in between I continue using the wigs when I go outside the house, and the bandana inside the house. Never never my bold head, except when I turn off the lights at night.
Try to be patient, compared with the chemo, the hair is the easy part!!
You are a beautiful person with hair or without, I'm sure. Take care!!

My taxotere/carboplatin chemo ended May 27, just over 7 weeks ago and I have seen no hair regrowth yet. I do have the problem with fingernails separating from the nail bed and have clipped them short to avoid accidentally pulling them off altogether.