When will I gett ALL my hair back?

newfy2
newfy2 Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I completed chemotherapy for breast cancer in May 2003. Completed radiation treatments July 2003. Currently on Tamoxifen for 5-year regimen. Every doctor/nurse told me every hair would grow back. I am 42 and always had great hair prior to losing it all 14 days after first chemo. Has anyone else experienced slow regrowth? It has been over a year and the hair on my scalp is much thinner than before and there is a definite bald spot at the crown. I've had my thyroid and iron tested - both are fine. I get plenty of protein and take a multi-V Plus Vit. E and biotin. My brows and lashes are sparse as well.

I'm really getting discouraged - seems other survivors I meet get every hair back in much less time. Appreciate any thoughts out there...

-Newfy2

Comments

  • ksfc
    ksfc Member Posts: 251
    #2
    Newfy - I completed treatment about a year before you and had plenty of hair within a few months. I have heard though that some people have thinning hair with tamoxifen. It sounds like you've had the right things checked so you may just have to be patient. My hairdresser did have me use a shampoo that was supposed to help with regrowth.......can't remember the name....I know it was kind of tingly and was supposed to stimulate your scalp. - Diane
  • baylin45
    baylin45 Member Posts: 3
    #3
    Very soon I lost mine not to long age but i have it back now.
  • SusanAnne
    SusanAnne Member Posts: 245
    #4
    ksfc said:

    Newfy - I completed treatment about a year before you and had plenty of hair within a few months. I have heard though that some people have thinning hair with tamoxifen. It sounds like you've had the right things checked so you may just have to be patient. My hairdresser did have me use a shampoo that was supposed to help with regrowth.......can't remember the name....I know it was kind of tingly and was supposed to stimulate your scalp. - Diane

    Diane, was it Nioxin? That's what I'm using.
    Susan
  • newfy2
    newfy2 Member Posts: 3
    #5
    Thank you all. Diane - I've been using the Nioxin since before my hair fell out on the advice of my good friend/hairdresser. Also using the follicle booster to no avail.

    Guess I need to be more patient - that was never one of my better qualities.
  • ksfc
    ksfc Member Posts: 251
    #6
    SusanAnne said:

    Diane, was it Nioxin? That's what I'm using.
    Susan

    Yep- that's it! - Diane
  • ksfc
    ksfc Member Posts: 251
    #7
    newfy2 said:

    Thank you all. Diane - I've been using the Nioxin since before my hair fell out on the advice of my good friend/hairdresser. Also using the follicle booster to no avail.

    Guess I need to be more patient - that was never one of my better qualities.

    You know, I think it's just hard to deal with anything that reminds us of our cancer and hair loss is one of those things. Hang in there! - Diane
  • Sandis
    Sandis Member Posts: 85
    #8
    I completed chemotherapy August 2003 and my hair is much thinner than before chemotherapy. I have to wear a hat in the sun because of a bald spot. I'm 55. I'm just so glad to have hair it doesn't bother me much. It looks okay but it used to be thicker. I also have almost no hair on my arms and my hair on my legs and under arms is very thin. I hardly ever shave!
  • Lindagail
    Lindagail Member Posts: 1
    #9
    Like you I had a lot of hair prior to chemotherapy. I completed my chemo in May 2002 and am still waiting on all my hair to grow back. I went to a dermatologist yesterday to see if he could help me. I am on Femara rather than Tamoxifen. He explained that because we are on estrogen blocking medication, our system "thinks" we have more male harmone in our system than we actually do; therefore, out system is responding the same as a balding man. He suggested that I use Rogaine for Men once in the morning and once in the evening and to give it at least 4 months to see if there was any new hair growth. There is a medication he could prescribe but said it would react with the Femara and we definitely did not want to do that. Like you, my eyebrows and eye lashes are very sparse and I have no hair on my legs and underarms (which is fine with me - no shaving). I have worn a wig since I lost my hair and it has now become my security blanket. However, it is very hot during the summer months. I didn't ask the Dermatolgist if he thought my hair would start to regrow once I am through with my 5 yr regimen of Femara. Like you, I thought I was the only one experiencing this problem but my doctor told me he sees this just about everyday. He was very sympathetic - said he wished he could do more but to be thankful I am cancer-free which is much more important than having a full head of hair. I know this is not what you wanted to hear but at least you know you are not alone.
  • blossomtime
    blossomtime Member Posts: 98
    #10
    I am experiencing the same. I finished treatment in march 2003 and I am so frustrated with my hair. I have tried the nioxin and some other stuff. My hair is still thin on top and is still a different texture. Finally about 6 weeks ago I started using minoxidil for women and you know I believe it is actually beginning to help. This has been so upsetting to me, its like a constant reminder of the last 2 yrs. I feel like I have to make apologies for my hair. Oh well I guess there are worse things...like no hair!!
  • newfy2
    newfy2 Member Posts: 3
    #11
    Lindagail said:

    Like you I had a lot of hair prior to chemotherapy. I completed my chemo in May 2002 and am still waiting on all my hair to grow back. I went to a dermatologist yesterday to see if he could help me. I am on Femara rather than Tamoxifen. He explained that because we are on estrogen blocking medication, our system "thinks" we have more male harmone in our system than we actually do; therefore, out system is responding the same as a balding man. He suggested that I use Rogaine for Men once in the morning and once in the evening and to give it at least 4 months to see if there was any new hair growth. There is a medication he could prescribe but said it would react with the Femara and we definitely did not want to do that. Like you, my eyebrows and eye lashes are very sparse and I have no hair on my legs and underarms (which is fine with me - no shaving). I have worn a wig since I lost my hair and it has now become my security blanket. However, it is very hot during the summer months. I didn't ask the Dermatolgist if he thought my hair would start to regrow once I am through with my 5 yr regimen of Femara. Like you, I thought I was the only one experiencing this problem but my doctor told me he sees this just about everyday. He was very sympathetic - said he wished he could do more but to be thankful I am cancer-free which is much more important than having a full head of hair. I know this is not what you wanted to hear but at least you know you are not alone.

    Thanks Lindagail - it's good to know I'm not alone. I'm afraid to use Rogaine since the research I did stated that once you start, you can't stop w/o hair falling out.Blossomtime is trying Minoxidil for women - have you heard anything about that? Is it similar to Rogaine? Still exploring options. Thank you ALL! - Newfy
  • shemiya
    shemiya Member Posts: 17
    #12
    I finished 6 chemo treatments Dec. 2003. I lost all my hair . It came back as thick if not thicker and so very very curly. It has grown very fast. It is much longer now than when I started chemo. I shampooed my scalp and used conditioner every day even thou I had no hair. I never had curly hair and I'm really loving it. I am 66 years old

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