A woman's hair is her crowning glory~~

Grandmax4
Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I know this is petty, compared to all the other side effects, but, my hair has gotten so thin and fragile since my surgery. It has to be the medication they used during surgery because all I'm on now is blood pressure meds which I've take for years.
I'm using a three step program now that my beautician recommended,Nioxin...it has helped with the falling out, but I'm impatient..anyone have this issue and what have you done to correct it.

I had no chemo or radiation, tho some of the tests I went thru was outside the hospital in a semi truck, with caution "radioactive" signs all over the place>>>thanks

Comments

  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #2
    Thyroid o.k. ?
    Hello Grandmax4 !
    I have had issues with thyroid related hair thinning for years. I had graves disease back oh...32 yrs ago. Took a form of radiation back then to destroy my gland, and have been on a replacement med since. I keep my hair short and try to be careful not to use products that would increase the thinning. Oh I so miss my thick curly hair ! No I don't think it's a petty issue. I do work with my hair dresser to get the best cut that is the most flattering. I also get alot of weird comments because I've let my grey go...no more dyes with my lung issues. All I say is "darn it I earned every single one of them !" Good luck, and I hope you find what will work the best for you ! Warmest reagards, Katie
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Stress Related...
    Stress could be a factor too... as some vitamin/mineral deficiency.

    I wouldn't think thyroid so much if you hadn't had radiation..that's usually what kills the thyroid I believe.

    Best,
    John
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #4
    Skiffin16 said:

    Stress Related...
    Stress could be a factor too... as some vitamin/mineral deficiency.

    I wouldn't think thyroid so much if you hadn't had radiation..that's usually what kills the thyroid I believe.

    Best,
    John

    Hair loss
    Mine really thinned out my 3rd week after tx but I had surgery,rads and chemo. I'm about 11 weeks out now and starting to see, or hopefully imagining some regrowth starting. I've always worn a pony tail. Thought long and hard about a short cut but haven't done it yet. It gets so humid in STL and my hair is naturally curly. If you find a solution, let me know.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    hwt said:

    Hair loss
    Mine really thinned out my 3rd week after tx but I had surgery,rads and chemo. I'm about 11 weeks out now and starting to see, or hopefully imagining some regrowth starting. I've always worn a pony tail. Thought long and hard about a short cut but haven't done it yet. It gets so humid in STL and my hair is naturally curly. If you find a solution, let me know.

    Alum and Persimmon Juice....
    They told me to use alum and persimmon juice....

    It wouldn't help me grow more hair, but it would shrink my head to fit what hair I have....

    OK, sorry.....

    More than likely other than a small area on the nape of you neck (if you had rads), you'll get your hair back.

    Or at least that is somewhat the standard for most of us here...

    Best,
    John
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #6
    Skiffin16 said:

    Alum and Persimmon Juice....
    They told me to use alum and persimmon juice....

    It wouldn't help me grow more hair, but it would shrink my head to fit what hair I have....

    OK, sorry.....

    More than likely other than a small area on the nape of you neck (if you had rads), you'll get your hair back.

    Or at least that is somewhat the standard for most of us here...

    Best,
    John

    Thanks will try
    Nap of neck is most obvious loss for me.
  • blackswampboy
    blackswampboy Member Posts: 341
    #7
    commiseration
    as somebody who lost his beard of 30+ years to rads...I commiserate! my previously dense hair is thinning too.
    sorry I don't have a solution, just empathy.

    fortunately, women have far greater attractive powers than their hair. ;-)
  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #8
    Skiffin16 said:

    Alum and Persimmon Juice....
    They told me to use alum and persimmon juice....

    It wouldn't help me grow more hair, but it would shrink my head to fit what hair I have....

    OK, sorry.....

    More than likely other than a small area on the nape of you neck (if you had rads), you'll get your hair back.

    Or at least that is somewhat the standard for most of us here...

    Best,
    John

    You make
    me giggle John, good luck with your tests , please keep us informed
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #9
    I can't help but think it's something missing in your
    diet, or something your body is lacking....but not do to treatment, since the "hair losers" like chemo and rads weren't part of your treatment. Certainly have your thyroid checked...but also maybe add things like Omegas (Fish Oil, or Flax Seed Oil)....and or Bioten.

    p
  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    #10
    phrannie51 said:

    I can't help but think it's something missing in your
    diet, or something your body is lacking....but not do to treatment, since the "hair losers" like chemo and rads weren't part of your treatment. Certainly have your thyroid checked...but also maybe add things like Omegas (Fish Oil, or Flax Seed Oil)....and or Bioten.

    p

    No Petty!
    I've been wondering the same about my hair too. I've done chemo(erbitux) and rads and am 6 plus weeks done with both. I still remember the day in the shower that I lost the big clumps of hair at the nape of my neck, thought something was crawling down my back! Freaked me out to say the least. Since I've finished treatment, I see my hair tbinning a lot! Wondering it it will come back or at the very least stop falling out???
    Good luck to you!
    Billie
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #11
    Billie67 said:

    No Petty!
    I've been wondering the same about my hair too. I've done chemo(erbitux) and rads and am 6 plus weeks done with both. I still remember the day in the shower that I lost the big clumps of hair at the nape of my neck, thought something was crawling down my back! Freaked me out to say the least. Since I've finished treatment, I see my hair tbinning a lot! Wondering it it will come back or at the very least stop falling out???
    Good luck to you!
    Billie

    I had a thin hair to begin
    I had a thin hair to begin with and with radiation, it is now overall very thin and i also lost almost 3 inches at back of neck. I am also deseperately looking for solutions. I am also looking into hair extensions.

    Hair lost at the back of neck will come in a year or two or they are gone for ever?

    Sam
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #12
    Sam999 said:

    I had a thin hair to begin
    I had a thin hair to begin with and with radiation, it is now overall very thin and i also lost almost 3 inches at back of neck. I am also deseperately looking for solutions. I am also looking into hair extensions.

    Hair lost at the back of neck will come in a year or two or they are gone for ever?

    Sam

    Again - Different for Everyone
    I've heard some folks say their "rads bald patch" regrew hair. My doc said I would not re-grow hair in that area - 2.5 years later, it's still bald. I used to be sure to hide it, but I sometimes put the hair I do have in a ponytail.
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #13
    Sam999 said:

    I had a thin hair to begin
    I had a thin hair to begin with and with radiation, it is now overall very thin and i also lost almost 3 inches at back of neck. I am also deseperately looking for solutions. I am also looking into hair extensions.

    Hair lost at the back of neck will come in a year or two or they are gone for ever?

    Sam

    mine came back...takes time
    Sam, don't give up on your hair to regrow......

    I have a fellow warrior buddy in Canada that did the hair extensions until her own hair grew back and it worked out great for her. Once her hair came back, she is wearing it long now and it looks great. Also, she said the extensions helped her mentally a great deal, cause it made her feel more "normal". I say GO FOR IT.

    My hair came back (thinner than before) .....started coming in as fuzz around 8 months post treatment....so give it a little more time. I had the same 3 inch bald spot in the back from ear to ear....so I just let the rest of it grow longer to cover it and now it's no longer bald, but it is generally much thinner all over.

    I admit that I checked your profile when I saw your post....Kept thinking you were a "he", and I thought why would you be so worried about your hair....I get it now !
  • Sam999
    Sam999 Member Posts: 319 Member
    #14
    Ingrid K said:

    mine came back...takes time
    Sam, don't give up on your hair to regrow......

    I have a fellow warrior buddy in Canada that did the hair extensions until her own hair grew back and it worked out great for her. Once her hair came back, she is wearing it long now and it looks great. Also, she said the extensions helped her mentally a great deal, cause it made her feel more "normal". I say GO FOR IT.

    My hair came back (thinner than before) .....started coming in as fuzz around 8 months post treatment....so give it a little more time. I had the same 3 inch bald spot in the back from ear to ear....so I just let the rest of it grow longer to cover it and now it's no longer bald, but it is generally much thinner all over.

    I admit that I checked your profile when I saw your post....Kept thinking you were a "he", and I thought why would you be so worried about your hair....I get it now !

    Thanks Ingrid, your post
    Thanks Ingrid, your post gave me hope. Hope my hair grows back in bald spot. I will also try hair extensions for sure.

    Sam

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