I don't understand my hair

2Floridiansisters
2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
Help me please if you can... August 25th 2010 was my last day for chemo, that was about 5 and 1/2 months ago. My hair is weird, in the back on the lower half it is at least 2 inches long and very thick, on the sides above my ears it is about 1 and 1/2 inches long and thick but on the top it is barely an inch long and very sparce. I can see pleanty of my scalp if the sunlight hits it a certain way. I am ready to cry everyday. I did have some hair thinning in my late 40's before the cancer diagnosis but it wasn't severe. Now it looks so patchy, like a forrest that's been thinned out by loggers. I am eating 2 Flinstones vitamin a day, I take a biotin tablet daily, what else can I do to get my hair to fill in all over. Anybody else have this same problem and did it eventually all fill in?

Comments

  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #2
    can relate to the weird hair!
    I am in the middle of treatment and right now my hair looks FRIED!!! Patchy, thin, just odd in general...and turning reddish and gray....feels like the chemicals in my body are somehow expressing themselves through the hair.

    Sorry yours is lasting almost 6 months after chemo; most likely it will come back to some "new normal", which, I have been told, may or may not be like the hair you had before.

    I don;t know if this will help you feel better or not, but when I've commented on my hair to people they have said they can;t even tell it's different. And, I notice many woman who have not had chemo who have patchy hair BUT I never noticed them before mine was patchy.

    Hang in there, it will get better!
    Laura
  • new2me
    new2me Member Posts: 177 Member
    #3
    What I do
    I'm so sorry your hair is coming back all patchy. My last chemo was Oct 1st - my hair is about an inch long but a tad bit longer on top. The sides are shorter than the top and one side is even longer than the other. I'm just so happy to have something. Oh - it is also a dull salt and pepper color (ick) and not curly like some.
    I also take biotin and a prenatal vitamin with it.

    I hope this helps. :) good luck to you

    Kelly
  • 2Floridiansisters
    2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
    #4
    new2me said:

    What I do
    I'm so sorry your hair is coming back all patchy. My last chemo was Oct 1st - my hair is about an inch long but a tad bit longer on top. The sides are shorter than the top and one side is even longer than the other. I'm just so happy to have something. Oh - it is also a dull salt and pepper color (ick) and not curly like some.
    I also take biotin and a prenatal vitamin with it.

    I hope this helps. :) good luck to you

    Kelly

    Hi Kelly Hi Laura
    Yeah it's weird all right. grrr I was taking a prenatal vitamin but someone told me to go with the Flinstones insead so who knows anymore. I'm eating 2 of them a day. I am doing it to also help boost my Vit D level, which is currently at 49, I want it a lot higher. The higher the better. I am trying to lose extra weight too so my nutrients are probably suffering because of caloric intake. gggggggggg but I don't want to see cancer ever again so have to lose weight for my own good. It's always something.
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #5
    dbhadra said:

    can relate to the weird hair!
    I am in the middle of treatment and right now my hair looks FRIED!!! Patchy, thin, just odd in general...and turning reddish and gray....feels like the chemicals in my body are somehow expressing themselves through the hair.

    Sorry yours is lasting almost 6 months after chemo; most likely it will come back to some "new normal", which, I have been told, may or may not be like the hair you had before.

    I don;t know if this will help you feel better or not, but when I've commented on my hair to people they have said they can;t even tell it's different. And, I notice many woman who have not had chemo who have patchy hair BUT I never noticed them before mine was patchy.

    Hang in there, it will get better!
    Laura

    I saw this recipe at
    I saw this recipe at livecurlylivefree.com a few days ago, so went back and found it for you. I haven't tried it, so I have no idea if it works or not.

    Essential Oil Blend for Hair Growth
    Please note there is no guarantee this oil will stimulate hair growth in every individual. However, researchers from the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland published a study of 86 individuals who used this oil for seven months and reported 44% of people in the treatment group had new hair growth compared to only 15% in the control group.

    Combine:

    3 drops cedarwood essential oil
    3 drops lavender essential oil
    3 drops lemon essential oil
    3 drops rosemary essential oil
    3 drops thyme essential oil
    1/8 cup grapeseed oil
    1/8 cup jojoba oil

    Apply several drops of the mixture to areas of hair loss each night, massaging gently into the scalp for 3-5 minutes. Store oil tightly covered and keep away from heat and light.

    Contraindications: avoid rosemary essential oil when pregnant. Cautions: citrus oils are photosensitive and should not be applied prior to sun exposure.
  • 2Floridiansisters
    2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
    #6
    2Floridiansisters said:

    Hi Kelly Hi Laura
    Yeah it's weird all right. grrr I was taking a prenatal vitamin but someone told me to go with the Flinstones insead so who knows anymore. I'm eating 2 of them a day. I am doing it to also help boost my Vit D level, which is currently at 49, I want it a lot higher. The higher the better. I am trying to lose extra weight too so my nutrients are probably suffering because of caloric intake. gggggggggg but I don't want to see cancer ever again so have to lose weight for my own good. It's always something.

    Thanks gabandabby
    But knowing me I would probably have a hard time finding all that stuff. LOL I can try though.
  • sweetvickid
    sweetvickid Member Posts: 459 Member
    #7
    It grows wierd
    I have noticed the same growth pattern. You would think it would all grow at the same speed but it doesn't. My stylist gave me an explanation but I don't remember it now, sorry.
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #8
    sweetvickid said:

    It grows wierd
    I have noticed the same growth pattern. You would think it would all grow at the same speed but it doesn't. My stylist gave me an explanation but I don't remember it now, sorry.

    I think this is pretty normal
    Mine grows twice as fast in the back and on the sides as on the top...I was getting a good old mullet going...so I had the sides and back cut short and had them leave the top alone to try to even out the growth..I'm about a year out of chemo and rads and still only have about 3 inches on top ..but it is getting thicker and seems to be growing a little faster now.
    Dee
  • 2Floridiansisters
    2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
    #9
    dyaneb123 said:

    I think this is pretty normal
    Mine grows twice as fast in the back and on the sides as on the top...I was getting a good old mullet going...so I had the sides and back cut short and had them leave the top alone to try to even out the growth..I'm about a year out of chemo and rads and still only have about 3 inches on top ..but it is getting thicker and seems to be growing a little faster now.
    Dee

    Oh thank you ladies
    At least now I know it's just not my weird head, I guess in time it will look better.
  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #10
    Hair Growth
    Last chemo Nov 2010. Now Feb and mine is shorter on the top. Only gray hair came first, then my more natural brown color. About an inch long and now starting to thicken. Kind of guessing it takes longer than we thought for most of us and you may have to trim your longer areas. Good luck. Hope by summer we both look better.
  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    #11
    Mine is growing so slow!
    Remember,we were on the same schedule. I finished my chemo on Aug 25 too. I didn't loose all my hair, however. It did get thin and I had a few bald spots. I got it cut really short. It was different lengths. So the end of September I had my daughter-in-law buzz my head, just so it would be the same length. So now, it is probably only about 1-1/2 inches long and gray! Oh well, it's hair and i do get a lot of complments.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #12
    Jean 0609 said:

    Mine is growing so slow!
    Remember,we were on the same schedule. I finished my chemo on Aug 25 too. I didn't loose all my hair, however. It did get thin and I had a few bald spots. I got it cut really short. It was different lengths. So the end of September I had my daughter-in-law buzz my head, just so it would be the same length. So now, it is probably only about 1-1/2 inches long and gray! Oh well, it's hair and i do get a lot of complments.

    It is normal for the hair to
    It is normal for the hair to grow in this way. You are in the awkward stage. The hair on top grows slower. I had male pattern balness look. Over the temple did not grow in. this was a real source of embarrassment for me. It finally filled in. I did have trims and although I cried over the first one, it really helped my hair to grow out more evenly. I do not like the mullet look. a year later it doesnt look bad and I get compliments. My hair is curly and now it is long enough to get foiled so it is blond. do not despair !!! Hugs. glad to see you posting. Jean my hair grows slow too.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #13
    Brown Listerine
    The crown area of my hair wasn't growing back as fast as the rest so one day it hit me - use what I use on the horses manes and tails to encourage growth - brown Listerine (the nasty old/original stuff or the WalMart generic version). Something is working - might be just being further out in time from Chemo (over a year) and Rads (soon to be a year out) or the Listerine. SeaBreeze will probably also help but it's a bit more pricey.

    My hair did not come in thinner or different color (was really hoping that it'd come back grey instead of it's very dark brown but that didn't happen) - just the crown area slower.

    Susan
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #14
    Rague said:

    Brown Listerine
    The crown area of my hair wasn't growing back as fast as the rest so one day it hit me - use what I use on the horses manes and tails to encourage growth - brown Listerine (the nasty old/original stuff or the WalMart generic version). Something is working - might be just being further out in time from Chemo (over a year) and Rads (soon to be a year out) or the Listerine. SeaBreeze will probably also help but it's a bit more pricey.

    My hair did not come in thinner or different color (was really hoping that it'd come back grey instead of it's very dark brown but that didn't happen) - just the crown area slower.

    Susan

    Oh, Thank you!
    I've been so discouraged about my hair growth lately. It's good to know that I'm not alone and that it will get better. I just need reassurance that it will get better! Oh, it's definitely growing, but it's just so sparse and fine and I, too, have that male pattern baldness look, especially in the back. I really thought by now (last chemo Sept. 23) I'd be able to be without a head cover. Not.

    Suzanne
  • 2Floridiansisters
    2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
    #15
    Double Whammy said:

    Oh, Thank you!
    I've been so discouraged about my hair growth lately. It's good to know that I'm not alone and that it will get better. I just need reassurance that it will get better! Oh, it's definitely growing, but it's just so sparse and fine and I, too, have that male pattern baldness look, especially in the back. I really thought by now (last chemo Sept. 23) I'd be able to be without a head cover. Not.

    Suzanne

    Rague-Susan
    Thank you for the tip about the Listerine, I'm going to Walmart first thing in the morning. I'll do whatever it takes at this point.

    Yes Jean I remember we were on the same schedule, other than my hair I am doing very well. I hope you are too. My biggest focus right now is walking everyday 3 to 4 miles just to lose my extra weight. That's a cute little baby you have there!
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #16
    sweetvickid said:

    It grows wierd
    I have noticed the same growth pattern. You would think it would all grow at the same speed but it doesn't. My stylist gave me an explanation but I don't remember it now, sorry.

    No chemo, so, no hair loss
    No chemo, so, no hair loss for me. I am just hoping that yours will come back in and that you will feel better. Hoping it will grow in really fast for you!
  • Chickadee1955
    Chickadee1955 Member Posts: 356 Member
    #17
    2Floridiansisters said:

    Rague-Susan
    Thank you for the tip about the Listerine, I'm going to Walmart first thing in the morning. I'll do whatever it takes at this point.

    Yes Jean I remember we were on the same schedule, other than my hair I am doing very well. I hope you are too. My biggest focus right now is walking everyday 3 to 4 miles just to lose my extra weight. That's a cute little baby you have there!

    I am growing the curliest
    I am growing the curliest mop ever!! I've heard of chemo curls, but this is very, very tight and absolutely refuses to be straightened despite using plenty of product, a hair dryer and a curling iron. My daughter was convinced she could straighten it, but even she finally had to give up at REALLY WAVY. Within a couple of hours it was right back to Curly Top. Bettr than bald, and I do go out this way, but I am hoping as it lengthens it will straighten out a little bit. I told my kids I look like Chi-Chi-Chi-Chia Mom!
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #18
    Chickadee1955 said:

    I am growing the curliest
    I am growing the curliest mop ever!! I've heard of chemo curls, but this is very, very tight and absolutely refuses to be straightened despite using plenty of product, a hair dryer and a curling iron. My daughter was convinced she could straighten it, but even she finally had to give up at REALLY WAVY. Within a couple of hours it was right back to Curly Top. Bettr than bald, and I do go out this way, but I am hoping as it lengthens it will straighten out a little bit. I told my kids I look like Chi-Chi-Chi-Chia Mom!

    Hair
    When mine started to just barely come back in ... it was not even. A little here and a little there... so I buzzed it all (since I was still wearing my "chemo hat") ... and when that started growing back it was even ... and had a lot of body which my pre-bc hair did NOT have. I was just getting used to the "new" hair texture ... when ... after a couple of haircuts ... it was back to the original straight, fine hair I'd had before.

    good luck and be careful with that Listerine concoction ... we don't want you growing a tail on the top of your head.

    hugs.
    teena
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #19
    tgf said:

    Hair
    When mine started to just barely come back in ... it was not even. A little here and a little there... so I buzzed it all (since I was still wearing my "chemo hat") ... and when that started growing back it was even ... and had a lot of body which my pre-bc hair did NOT have. I was just getting used to the "new" hair texture ... when ... after a couple of haircuts ... it was back to the original straight, fine hair I'd had before.

    good luck and be careful with that Listerine concoction ... we don't want you growing a tail on the top of your head.

    hugs.
    teena

    I just lost mine again with
    I just lost mine again with the second go round. The first time I lost all but a few wisps, this time however, I lost it from the top front and above the ears, but didn't lose all of it around the bottom. Looked at my son and he said "mom, you have to buzz that, it is not a good look for you", and we both laughed. Now I am wondering when it comes back if it will only come back around the bottom back! I will have to start on the vitamins now...... The first time it grew back with really tight curls, thick in the back, and lighter on top, (the top took about a year to fill in), but enough that even thou it was noticeable to me, even my sisters said they couldn't tell the difference!

    Good luck to you and thanks everyone for the tip on the vitamins!
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #20
    2Floridiansisters said:

    Rague-Susan
    Thank you for the tip about the Listerine, I'm going to Walmart first thing in the morning. I'll do whatever it takes at this point.

    Yes Jean I remember we were on the same schedule, other than my hair I am doing very well. I hope you are too. My biggest focus right now is walking everyday 3 to 4 miles just to lose my extra weight. That's a cute little baby you have there!

    Glad you are doing well
    Glad you are doing well except for your hair. Hope you can get some help with it!


    Hugs, Debby
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #21
    ...
    Before chemo I had hair that grew very fast. After chemo my hair was grew back slowly and was sparse on top. It has since filled in. Hang in there - wishing you a tangle of topknots!!! =)

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