Aaaiiieeee! Late Hair Loss?

D Lewis
D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Has anyone else here experienced "late" hair loss? I am roughly five weeks out from end of radiation, and six weeks out from my last cisplatin chemo. During treatment my hair thinned to roughly half of what I normally have, but as my hair is pretty thick, I still had scalp coverage. Hair got all dry and brittle, like it was dead, and I got the obligatory radiation stripes at the nape of my neck.

In recent days, I've shed all the hair off the back of my head up above the level of my eartops to the point of my skull. I could conceal most of that by combing my tophair down flat. However, in the last day or so, I've lost hair in front, to the extent that I look like those old paintings of the English Queens Elizabeth and Victoria, with the giant foreheads. I had a level hairline, and I've now lost so much at both temples that I have a distinct widow's peak. The effect is kind of punk.

I'm thinking it is all going to have to fall out before healthy regrowth can happen. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it time for me to go in and get a G.I Jane buzz cut? May I expect regrowth to occur, and if so, when? Ideas, anyone?

Hair-free Deb (with hair all over my keyboard... sink... pillow...)

Comments

  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #2
    Hair Free!
    Hi Deb!
    I noticed that my hair thinned quite a bit for over six to eight week's post treatment. My medical oncologist mentioned that thining of the hair was a side effect of cisplatin. I had
    ton's left in my hair brush especially after brushing it & styling. Also radiation stripes a the nape of my neck. I have quite a bit of hair so no one really noticed it. My hair was dry & brittle but there are some great hair products that really helped. I had shoulder length hair but had it trimmed & now it is growing back & feel's silky soft.I have a great hair stylist & she brought in a super product called Onesta it is a hydrating shampoo & conditioner & has really helped quie a bit. There is a web site onesta.com.it is all natural
    & I am quit impressed with the result's. I can hardly wait to get rid of the grey root's however. Have to wait another three month's to be able to apply any chemical's to it, or hair loss can be worse or alopecia can happen.I had three treatment's of cisplatin & hair loss is easier for me to take then the loss of my hearing in my left ear. It is difficult to find a hairdresser that understand's or has the proper information on side effect's of cancer treatment & hair loss. A good trim really help's quite a bit plus a hat or cap can work wonder's.
    Best of luck Deb
    Roz
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    #3
    rozaroo said:

    Hair Free!
    Hi Deb!
    I noticed that my hair thinned quite a bit for over six to eight week's post treatment. My medical oncologist mentioned that thining of the hair was a side effect of cisplatin. I had
    ton's left in my hair brush especially after brushing it & styling. Also radiation stripes a the nape of my neck. I have quite a bit of hair so no one really noticed it. My hair was dry & brittle but there are some great hair products that really helped. I had shoulder length hair but had it trimmed & now it is growing back & feel's silky soft.I have a great hair stylist & she brought in a super product called Onesta it is a hydrating shampoo & conditioner & has really helped quie a bit. There is a web site onesta.com.it is all natural
    & I am quit impressed with the result's. I can hardly wait to get rid of the grey root's however. Have to wait another three month's to be able to apply any chemical's to it, or hair loss can be worse or alopecia can happen.I had three treatment's of cisplatin & hair loss is easier for me to take then the loss of my hearing in my left ear. It is difficult to find a hairdresser that understand's or has the proper information on side effect's of cancer treatment & hair loss. A good trim really help's quite a bit plus a hat or cap can work wonder's.
    Best of luck Deb
    Roz

    Help
    Hey Deb,

    My hair still isn't growing much at all. But while I know for a woman it isn't funny, I am glad that you have learned the dreaded time tried Man's technique known as the combover.

    Best from your friend,
    Barber Steve
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #4
    rozaroo said:

    Hair Free!
    Hi Deb!
    I noticed that my hair thinned quite a bit for over six to eight week's post treatment. My medical oncologist mentioned that thining of the hair was a side effect of cisplatin. I had
    ton's left in my hair brush especially after brushing it & styling. Also radiation stripes a the nape of my neck. I have quite a bit of hair so no one really noticed it. My hair was dry & brittle but there are some great hair products that really helped. I had shoulder length hair but had it trimmed & now it is growing back & feel's silky soft.I have a great hair stylist & she brought in a super product called Onesta it is a hydrating shampoo & conditioner & has really helped quie a bit. There is a web site onesta.com.it is all natural
    & I am quit impressed with the result's. I can hardly wait to get rid of the grey root's however. Have to wait another three month's to be able to apply any chemical's to it, or hair loss can be worse or alopecia can happen.I had three treatment's of cisplatin & hair loss is easier for me to take then the loss of my hearing in my left ear. It is difficult to find a hairdresser that understand's or has the proper information on side effect's of cancer treatment & hair loss. A good trim really help's quite a bit plus a hat or cap can work wonder's.
    Best of luck Deb
    Roz

    Uh-Oh
    I can hardly wait to get rid of the grey root's however. Have to wait another three month's to be able to apply any chemical's to it, or hair loss can be worse or alopecia can happen.

    Yikes! If I only had radiation..does the above still apply? No one mentioned anything to me and I had color done all the way through...............................eek.
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #5
    staceya said:

    Uh-Oh
    I can hardly wait to get rid of the grey root's however. Have to wait another three month's to be able to apply any chemical's to it, or hair loss can be worse or alopecia can happen.

    Yikes! If I only had radiation..does the above still apply? No one mentioned anything to me and I had color done all the way through...............................eek.

    Staceya
    Apparently from what I know no harsh hair colouring if you had Chemo. I called my chemo nurse
    & that is what she said to me. Plus the hairdresser at the cancer centre was kind enough to inform me. I use heavy duty bleach that is very harsh so I had to lay off the chemical's for six month's. You are okay not to worry, I used to go every four week's as I hate regrowth. You should see me now. I look like the old grey mare lol. Unfortunatly not enough information
    given out with regards to maintaining the hair that is still on our heads.
    Regard's Roz
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #6
    rozaroo said:

    Hair Free!
    Hi Deb!
    I noticed that my hair thinned quite a bit for over six to eight week's post treatment. My medical oncologist mentioned that thining of the hair was a side effect of cisplatin. I had
    ton's left in my hair brush especially after brushing it & styling. Also radiation stripes a the nape of my neck. I have quite a bit of hair so no one really noticed it. My hair was dry & brittle but there are some great hair products that really helped. I had shoulder length hair but had it trimmed & now it is growing back & feel's silky soft.I have a great hair stylist & she brought in a super product called Onesta it is a hydrating shampoo & conditioner & has really helped quie a bit. There is a web site onesta.com.it is all natural
    & I am quit impressed with the result's. I can hardly wait to get rid of the grey root's however. Have to wait another three month's to be able to apply any chemical's to it, or hair loss can be worse or alopecia can happen.I had three treatment's of cisplatin & hair loss is easier for me to take then the loss of my hearing in my left ear. It is difficult to find a hairdresser that understand's or has the proper information on side effect's of cancer treatment & hair loss. A good trim really help's quite a bit plus a hat or cap can work wonder's.
    Best of luck Deb
    Roz

    Eight weeks?
    AAAIIIEEEE! Eight weeks? At least three more weeks of shedding to go? G.I. Jane buzz cut here I come.

    Deb
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #7
    stevenl said:

    Help
    Hey Deb,

    My hair still isn't growing much at all. But while I know for a woman it isn't funny, I am glad that you have learned the dreaded time tried Man's technique known as the combover.

    Best from your friend,
    Barber Steve

    Heh heh heh...
    "Combover." Hadn't quite thought of it in those terms. I feel so old-manly.

    Shedding Deb
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #8
    ideas
    Hi Deb, sorry to about your late post bad hair days. You're taking it with your usual unflagging sense of humor and your description gave me a good laugh.
    I know a young lady who has been through many years of permanent hair loss from childhood brain cancer treatments. She wears a wig when she goes out, and, I've never been ever to tell she's wearing one. I've complimented women on their hair who have then whispered to me that I was complimenting their wig. Bald looks fine, I shaved my head early on just so I wouldn't have to think about it, and it's long since grown back. Bald women are beautiful, but I've never seen a woman wearing a wig, I've only known women who told me they were wearing wigs. It's an alternative.

    Hal
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #9
    Hal61 said:

    ideas
    Hi Deb, sorry to about your late post bad hair days. You're taking it with your usual unflagging sense of humor and your description gave me a good laugh.
    I know a young lady who has been through many years of permanent hair loss from childhood brain cancer treatments. She wears a wig when she goes out, and, I've never been ever to tell she's wearing one. I've complimented women on their hair who have then whispered to me that I was complimenting their wig. Bald looks fine, I shaved my head early on just so I wouldn't have to think about it, and it's long since grown back. Bald women are beautiful, but I've never seen a woman wearing a wig, I've only known women who told me they were wearing wigs. It's an alternative.

    Hal

    Wig's
    There are some gorgeous wig's out there now! Plus some insurance company's cover the cost. Mine offered up to $600 but I just covered the bald spot's lol!
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #10
    rozaroo said:

    Wig's
    There are some gorgeous wig's out there now! Plus some insurance company's cover the cost. Mine offered up to $600 but I just covered the bald spot's lol!

    Hairloss
    I only had radiation and I lost about four or five inches in the back above my neck. From top of my ears down. I ended up getting it all cut off. Even tho I only had rads my whole head also thinned but my hair was always very coarse and THICK. so I did not have baled spots. I think I waited three months to color my hair. It is finally really thick and back to normal after a year. Only thing is that back strip grows in super curly. I even have to have her go in with the thinning shears or I look like mushroom head. I can't keep it looking nice long so I guess I will keep it short even tho it doesn't hide my gianormous scar. At least it feels big to me. Lol. I am getting coiffed again on Wednesday. It's pretty out of control and poofy right now. I should cut it every four weeks to keep it short. For a while there it was so thin and dry and awful I never thought it would be normal. It may take a while but you should get back to normal hair.
    I wasn't afraid to cut mine all off when it was looking bad cause I had short hair before. I am sure it could be pretty traumatic to lose hair. That is good to know that some insurance would pay for wigs. My aunt had one that when she went thru breast cancer I didn't even know it was a wig. Looked awesome on her.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #11
    rozaroo said:

    Wig's
    There are some gorgeous wig's out there now! Plus some insurance company's cover the cost. Mine offered up to $600 but I just covered the bald spot's lol!

    Stupid double posts
    I didn't even hit "post comment" twice... Well not that time anyway.
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    #12
    Ducks Bum !
    Hi Deb,

    My hair did thin out a bit post treatment. I also had the Radiation 'strip' around the neck/base of scalp.

    The funny thing is, my 'strip' has all come back now and a little curly....like a Ducks bum. As a kid I used to brush my hair up backwards hoping it would curl up a bit, but to no avail. No my dream has come true !!

    Note to self : Be careful what you wish for.

    Scam

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