When will my hair start growing in?

Abbycat2
Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Hi, Ladies,

I had my last Taxol/Carboplatin chemo cycle on 3/20/14 and I know many of you have also had this combination of chemotherapy.  How long does it usually take for the hair to start growing on my scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes?  Yes, I've lost most of my eyebrows and some of my eyelashes.  I sincerely hope that the hair on my legs and underarms never grow back but that's wishful thinking!    Also, I seem to have developed some neuropathy in my toes and the balls of my feet after my last chemo cycle.  Can I expect that to some day go away? I hate to think that this weird numbness will go on forever.....

Thanks, and I hope you all have a great day!

Cathy

 

Comments

  • denise05121953
    denise05121953 Member Posts: 13
    #2
    hi,
    My daughter finished her

    hi,

    My daughter finished her chemo at the end of February and by the end of March we noticed her hair grouwing back...so for her it was about a month.  She said the same thing about the hair on her legs and  underarms that she didn't want that to grow back.  hope you are doing well

    Denise

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member
    #3
    Hair loss, neuropathy

    My hair came in about a month later.  I had a trim about 4 months after chemo to give it some shape, although it was still pretty short then.  It often does come in curly, and I knew someone who had it come in curly and in a much darker color. The curls and the color went away for her after maybe 9 mos.  I grew mine long since I missed having it so much.  My hair was perfectly straight before but the ends were slightly curly when it came back in.  I recently (after more than 3 years) had about an inch and a half taken off, and I still have a little curl.

    I've been told that the neuropathy goes away in some people and stays in others.  I still have mine almost 4 years later. It was bad at first, so bad that I fell on the edge of the blacktop driveway at a friend's house, because I couldn't feel my feet.  It got better eventually and was just numbness when I went to bed at night.  But lately, a couple of toes have had stabbing pains that come at night, so it's much worse. I don't know why.

    I was told by my oncologist that accupuncture works for some people, so I tried it early on.  I went through 6 sessions and it didn't help one bit.  The accupuncturist told me that one of the spots between my big toe and second toe was the most sensitive spot of all the places to place needles during accupuncture, and it did seem that way. It was a waste of money for me.

    I found out an interesting fact at one point.  If you have hypothyroidism, you might normally only have part of an eyebrow.  When mine came back in, I noticed that it didn't go all the way across.  I'd never noticed whether it was like that before or not.  I might have a few hairs on the outer parts but there is a definite difference between the two sides.

    Good luck with everything. 

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,488 Member
    #4
    Can't help you on the neuropathy

    but I think some of the other ladies can chime in on that as they have experienced this unfortunately

    Your hair starts growing back right away, it takes time, but it won't be long before you have hair again.  I was so thrilled to get my eyelashes back!!!  I really missed them and treat them gently because I never want to lose them again.

    I am glad you posted this, I would be interested to hear from all the other ladies if their hair EVER went back to the way it was before chemo or do they have new hair?

    I had straight hair before chemo, and I really liked it, but my chemo ended Dec 2013 and it is still curly!  I hate my hair so much, I know, I should be happy I have hair, but I hate it. 

    One more thing, how have you ladies controled this crazy curl?  I use Bed Head Control Freak but it is hard to find and would like to hear what others have used.

    So happy to hear you finished the treatment!  Did you ring the bell?

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member
    #5
    NoTimeForCancer said:

    Can't help you on the neuropathy

    but I think some of the other ladies can chime in on that as they have experienced this unfortunately

    Your hair starts growing back right away, it takes time, but it won't be long before you have hair again.  I was so thrilled to get my eyelashes back!!!  I really missed them and treat them gently because I never want to lose them again.

    I am glad you posted this, I would be interested to hear from all the other ladies if their hair EVER went back to the way it was before chemo or do they have new hair?

    I had straight hair before chemo, and I really liked it, but my chemo ended Dec 2013 and it is still curly!  I hate my hair so much, I know, I should be happy I have hair, but I hate it. 

    One more thing, how have you ladies controled this crazy curl?  I use Bed Head Control Freak but it is hard to find and would like to hear what others have used.

    So happy to hear you finished the treatment!  Did you ring the bell?

    Curly hair

    My hair was only a little curly on the ends.  I had a friend whose hair came in curly and in a darker color after chemo.  Her curls went away about 9 mos. later. I still have a slight curl although I  cut most of the curl off a couple of weeks ago.

    I've recently (almost 4 years out from surgery) bought a tool called the Perfector.  I saw a demo of it on TV, and there are also some demos online.  Look at the one done by the company itself, not the other user(s).  It's shaped similar to a curling iron, minus the clip, but with a round brush over the heating element.  It's ionic and instead of drying out the hair like a curling iron, it makes it more moist and shiny.  I like what it does for me.  You can comb through your hair to just straighten it, or you can pouff it up if it's short, or curl it by twisting your hair around it if it's longer. I know you won't be doing that.  You're supposed to comb through each section of hair twice slowly before you do whatever else you decide to do with it to improve the quality of your hair.  I use it every day now, as it seems to make my hair more silky.  The only drawback is the price.  It was $99.99 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Fortunately, I got 20% off with one of their coupons.  Although it's pricier to start, it may save you some money over buying various products in the long run if the curls don't go away on their own. 

  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    #6
    Mine started growing back in

    Mine started growing back in within a month but when it got about 3 inches long it had curl to it which I now hate.  It is not much of one but it makes my hair stick out and nothing will keep it down.  Sop I keep it short.  It was long and straight before chemo now I keep it short.  I had slight neuropathy in toes and fingers that for the most part of gone away.  I am 2 1/2 years from last chemo in Aug 2012.  Hope yours goes away.  good luck.  trish

  • Dee5678
    Dee5678 Member Posts: 37
    #7
    txtrisha55 said:

    Mine started growing back in

    Mine started growing back in within a month but when it got about 3 inches long it had curl to it which I now hate.  It is not much of one but it makes my hair stick out and nothing will keep it down.  Sop I keep it short.  It was long and straight before chemo now I keep it short.  I had slight neuropathy in toes and fingers that for the most part of gone away.  I am 2 1/2 years from last chemo in Aug 2012.  Hope yours goes away.  good luck.  trish

    Congrats on getting through chemo

    Yay, I know you are so glad to be done!  I can't answer your questions. I am just on chemo #1, but I am glad you asked this but I have been wondering as well. Looks like we're in for curly hair!

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,688 Member
    #8
    Dee5678 said:

    Congrats on getting through chemo

    Yay, I know you are so glad to be done!  I can't answer your questions. I am just on chemo #1, but I am glad you asked this but I have been wondering as well. Looks like we're in for curly hair!

    Hair

    Mine, too, started coming in after a month.  It was fuzzy at first but my beautician says that  is what it does.  She trimmed that off at 4 months and by 6 months it was the short cropped length that I decided to keep.  My texture and color didn't change.  My eyebrows came back quickly, then one mostly fell out again ( ???) then regrew.

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member
    #9
    ConnieSW said:

    Hair

    Mine, too, started coming in after a month.  It was fuzzy at first but my beautician says that  is what it does.  She trimmed that off at 4 months and by 6 months it was the short cropped length that I decided to keep.  My texture and color didn't change.  My eyebrows came back quickly, then one mostly fell out again ( ???) then regrew.

    Fuzzy hair

    You're right.  I'd forgotten about that fuzzy hair.  It was quite a novelty as it started to grow back in.  When I rubbed my scalp, it was almost like petting a soft stuffed animal. I couldn't stop marvelling that it was coming back.  I didn't care if it was fuzzy or not.  I was just glad to have it again. 

    Isn't it odd that everybody's hair falls out at almost exactly the same time and grows back in at exactly the same time? 

  • Abbycat2
    Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
    #10
    pinky104 said:

    Fuzzy hair

    You're right.  I'd forgotten about that fuzzy hair.  It was quite a novelty as it started to grow back in.  When I rubbed my scalp, it was almost like petting a soft stuffed animal. I couldn't stop marvelling that it was coming back.  I didn't care if it was fuzzy or not.  I was just glad to have it again. 

    Isn't it odd that everybody's hair falls out at almost exactly the same time and grows back in at exactly the same time? 

    Thank you all for your replies

    I have been busy at work and just now looked over the responses I received.  Thank you all for the information.   I am now going on 4 weeks post chemo and am hoping to see some fuzz sometime soon.  The neuropathy is a problem and I decided to follow a protocol offered to me by another gyne oncologist and perhaps it will help reduce the neuropathy in my feet.  Here is what the doctor recommended I do for the neuropathy:  Take 10 grams, three times per day, after meals until symptoms subside.  It comes as a 480 gm jar and is 100% oure powdered Glutamine (Do not purchase glutamine capsules or glutemine powder with antioxdidants).  Mix with your favorite drink or food.  May also improve symptoms of joint and muscle pain and diarrhea.  Use cautiously if you have constipation.  Contraindications: end-stage liver or kidney disease with protein restrictions.  Take daily one B-complex and on Zinc tablet.  I am planning to follow this regimen to see if it will help with the numbness in my feet.

    Best wishes to you all,

    Cathy   

  • Abbycat2
    Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
    #11
    Abbycat2 said:

    Thank you all for your replies

    I have been busy at work and just now looked over the responses I received.  Thank you all for the information.   I am now going on 4 weeks post chemo and am hoping to see some fuzz sometime soon.  The neuropathy is a problem and I decided to follow a protocol offered to me by another gyne oncologist and perhaps it will help reduce the neuropathy in my feet.  Here is what the doctor recommended I do for the neuropathy:  Take 10 grams, three times per day, after meals until symptoms subside.  It comes as a 480 gm jar and is 100% oure powdered Glutamine (Do not purchase glutamine capsules or glutemine powder with antioxdidants).  Mix with your favorite drink or food.  May also improve symptoms of joint and muscle pain and diarrhea.  Use cautiously if you have constipation.  Contraindications: end-stage liver or kidney disease with protein restrictions.  Take daily one B-complex and on Zinc tablet.  I am planning to follow this regimen to see if it will help with the numbness in my feet.

    Best wishes to you all,

    Cathy   

    Error in last message

    I meant to write take 10 grams of 100% pure powdered Glutamine three times per day, after meals until symptoms subside in the above note. 

  • Hybridspirits
    Hybridspirits Member Posts: 209
    #12
    Abbycat2 said:

    Thank you all for your replies

    I have been busy at work and just now looked over the responses I received.  Thank you all for the information.   I am now going on 4 weeks post chemo and am hoping to see some fuzz sometime soon.  The neuropathy is a problem and I decided to follow a protocol offered to me by another gyne oncologist and perhaps it will help reduce the neuropathy in my feet.  Here is what the doctor recommended I do for the neuropathy:  Take 10 grams, three times per day, after meals until symptoms subside.  It comes as a 480 gm jar and is 100% oure powdered Glutamine (Do not purchase glutamine capsules or glutemine powder with antioxdidants).  Mix with your favorite drink or food.  May also improve symptoms of joint and muscle pain and diarrhea.  Use cautiously if you have constipation.  Contraindications: end-stage liver or kidney disease with protein restrictions.  Take daily one B-complex and on Zinc tablet.  I am planning to follow this regimen to see if it will help with the numbness in my feet.

    Best wishes to you all,

    Cathy   

    neuropathy

    i had bad Neuropathy and was advised to use L Glutamine the same way as well as take vitamin B-1, B-6 and B-12.   The L Glutimine did help.  While I thought it would never go away it did eventually subside to something more sporatic now.  I am hoping you have the same results and good for the other gyne oncologist for suggesting this.  I finished chemo 4/18/2013 and it did take quite a few months to slowly subside

  • Caradavin
    Caradavin Member Posts: 49 Member
    #13
    I never had any chemo or radiation, I had hormone therapy

    However, I did suffer hair loss and my hair grew back fairly quickly. One thing I noticed, though, was that my hair has not been the same since. It used to be thick and silky and easier to manage. It came back curlier and frizzier and less manageable! I'm glad to see I'm not alone in this phenomenon, but I thought I would put it out there that you, dear abbycat2, may find that your hair has changed for the better or the worse. Let us know!

  • Abbycat2
    Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
    #14
    Hybridspirits said:

    neuropathy

    i had bad Neuropathy and was advised to use L Glutamine the same way as well as take vitamin B-1, B-6 and B-12.   The L Glutimine did help.  While I thought it would never go away it did eventually subside to something more sporatic now.  I am hoping you have the same results and good for the other gyne oncologist for suggesting this.  I finished chemo 4/18/2013 and it did take quite a few months to slowly subside

    I am glad to hear that your neuropathy, Hybridspirits, has subsided and that the L Glutamine and vitamin B complex helped.  I hope that I have the same good fortune with these products.  We will see.  Best wishes to you, Cathy

  • Abbycat2
    Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
    #15
    Caradavin said:

    I never had any chemo or radiation, I had hormone therapy

    However, I did suffer hair loss and my hair grew back fairly quickly. One thing I noticed, though, was that my hair has not been the same since. It used to be thick and silky and easier to manage. It came back curlier and frizzier and less manageable! I'm glad to see I'm not alone in this phenomenon, but I thought I would put it out there that you, dear abbycat2, may find that your hair has changed for the better or the worse. Let us know!

    Hair changes

    Sorry to hear that your hair has not returned to the thick and silky hair you once had, Caradavin.   My hair was thick, slightly wavy and reasonably easy to manage.  I read somewhere that eventually after hair loss, the hair will return to its pre-treatment state.  Let's hope that is true for you.  After going through this experience with chemo, I've decided to keep my hair shorter than it was before.  I had shoulder length hair.  It has been 4 weeks today that I had my last chemo and I think I can feel some fuzz, but that may be my imagination working overtime. 

    Take good care of yourself, Caradavin,

    Cathy 

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,688 Member
    #16
    Abbycat2 said:

    Hair changes

    Sorry to hear that your hair has not returned to the thick and silky hair you once had, Caradavin.   My hair was thick, slightly wavy and reasonably easy to manage.  I read somewhere that eventually after hair loss, the hair will return to its pre-treatment state.  Let's hope that is true for you.  After going through this experience with chemo, I've decided to keep my hair shorter than it was before.  I had shoulder length hair.  It has been 4 weeks today that I had my last chemo and I think I can feel some fuzz, but that may be my imagination working overtime. 

    Take good care of yourself, Caradavin,

    Cathy 

    Fuzz

    I'm sure you are feeling it, Cathy.  I couldn't see it at first so thought it was my imagination too.  I felt like a baby chick.

  • Abbycat2
    Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
    #17
    ConnieSW said:

    Fuzz

    I'm sure you are feeling it, Cathy.  I couldn't see it at first so thought it was my imagination too.  I felt like a baby chick.

    I think I'm growing hair!

    I have been checking my scalp closely everyday and I think the 'fuzz" really is hair.  Connie, I do feel like a baby chick, too!

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,688 Member
    #18
    Abbycat2 said:

    I think I'm growing hair!

    I have been checking my scalp closely everyday and I think the 'fuzz" really is hair.  Connie, I do feel like a baby chick, too!

    Baby chick

    You are already for Easter!

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