How long before hair starts to grow after chemo?

Hair
After chemo, I had 36 rad treatments finishing up the end of March 2010. By May 2010 I had enough hair to "carefully" style and feel OK to go out without a hat. Today, my hair is still coming in. In some places it's still uneven, but it's getting back to the way it used to be. Before all my treatments, I could'nt go anywhere if my hair didn't look right. Now, I'm like, "who cares, at least it's there." I'm sure your's will begin to come in soon and you'll be making an appointment with your stylist before you know it. Keep happy thoughts!!

We're all different!
All my hair has come back differently. The only hair I lost while on A/C was my head hair. Had 5 weeks between the end of it and the start of Taxol (had surgery 2 weeks after last A/C and then 3 weeks before starting Taxol). Had no signs of it 'thinking' about growing back during that time. When Taxol started - everything fell out. Last Taxol was Jan. 28 '10 followed by 25 rads. About 2 weeks into rads, brows and lashes came back, then hair 'down-under' started back about the time rads were over but only about 1/4 of it has come back and is grey (which wasn't before). In May, head hair started back but is growing incredably slow - it's only about 1 & 1/4 inches long now but is still as dark as ever. (I'm 64 so I should have some white/grey in it but I still don't - just genetics I inherited from Daddy's side of the family.) Leg and arm hair finally started back about a month ago and is only a very light short 'down' now.

There is a shampoo and conditioner that is supposed to be designed for those on 'heavy; medical treatments but as it's more than I'll pay for shampoo, I've never tried it. I don't remember the name but its Nax-something, Nox-something or Nex-something.

Rague said:

We're all different!
All my hair has come back differently. The only hair I lost while on A/C was my head hair. Had 5 weeks between the end of it and the start of Taxol (had surgery 2 weeks after last A/C and then 3 weeks before starting Taxol). Had no signs of it 'thinking' about growing back during that time. When Taxol started - everything fell out. Last Taxol was Jan. 28 '10 followed by 25 rads. About 2 weeks into rads, brows and lashes came back, then hair 'down-under' started back about the time rads were over but only about 1/4 of it has come back and is grey (which wasn't before). In May, head hair started back but is growing incredably slow - it's only about 1 & 1/4 inches long now but is still as dark as ever. (I'm 64 so I should have some white/grey in it but I still don't - just genetics I inherited from Daddy's side of the family.) Leg and arm hair finally started back about a month ago and is only a very light short 'down' now.

There is a shampoo and conditioner that is supposed to be designed for those on 'heavy; medical treatments but as it's more than I'll pay for shampoo, I've never tried it. I don't remember the name but its Nax-something, Nox-something or Nex-something.

Its hard to remember I
Its hard to remember I finished at the end of jan 2010. it seemed it took a while for it to grow perhaps 6 weeks, then I noticed it down there and was so mad, then all the sudden it started to grow really fast , like a light switch had been turned on. I grew back curly and dark. with some gray. I had it trimmed once to even it out, but it is now staring to reach my ear lobe, but very close to my head, I tuck it behind my ears and and right at my neck in the back. biotin is supposed to help. I think others have longer hair than me at this stage as I always had slow growing hair. One thing that I hate is at my temples I had like a male pattern baldness that is starting to grow in. made me very self concious.
so how does your hair usually grow? My eyebrows and eyelashes grew in quicker, then fell out in June now back hopefully to stay. so dont panic if this happens, they grow baCK REAL QUICK.

Everyone is different
I finished my chemo in December, my hair started showing some "fuzz" late Jan and I really didn't see any real hair come in until Feb. Once it does come in it will be strange. I'm coming on a year since my chemo and my hair texture is still really funky. Keeping it super short till it starts to hopefully return to it's normal texture. But I'm told it may be different. Don't fret, it will come back.

october7 said:

thanks that helps
I know I am panicked about this but I think it is because everyone gives these time lines and I look for hair every day expecting it to appear according to what the Dr. and others have said. Now that you say it took 9 weeks I am a little relieved. I have this fear after everything that has happened thus far that permanent hair loss is the next "thing". I can wait for it to come back as long as I know it will.

I am 11 weeks out of chemo.
I am 11 weeks out of chemo. I have started noticing fuzz in the last 2 weeks. I look in the mirror everyday too just checking to see what is going on. I can tell that is growing now so I feel better. We will all just have to wait and be surprised to see what color and texture we end up with! God Bless
(((Hugs))) Janice

I'm 5 months from last chemo..
My last treatment was April 15th - right at 5 months ago. It took a looooong time for my hair to grow back. It was growing fuzzy and uneven, so I reshaved the fuzzies off at 11 weeks out. By the first week of August, I finally looked like I had a longer buzz cut with some thinning up top. Now, I'm finally looking like I have an almost normal amount thickness-wise, aka the thinning hair look is going away. And it's about 1.5 inches long, and darker, and the top's wavy but the sides and back have curls.
Just takes a long time. You'll get there, though.

Emilyfimily said:

I'm 5 months from last chemo..
My last treatment was April 15th - right at 5 months ago. It took a looooong time for my hair to grow back. It was growing fuzzy and uneven, so I reshaved the fuzzies off at 11 weeks out. By the first week of August, I finally looked like I had a longer buzz cut with some thinning up top. Now, I'm finally looking like I have an almost normal amount thickness-wise, aka the thinning hair look is going away. And it's about 1.5 inches long, and darker, and the top's wavy but the sides and back have curls.
Just takes a long time. You'll get there, though.

I like sooooooo many others .. thought .. great chemo over
now my hair grows back .. WRONG.. About 8 weeks, and you see spikes, or angel wings -- our hair grows back in different areas of your scalp - not all at once. In fact when I had my first trim/that turned into a cut, and I cried like a baby .. the back of my scalp was about 1 to 1.5 longer than the top of my hair. Werid .. before my trim/cut combo .. I looked like bozo .. longer sides and back, shorter on top.

Thinner than my normal thickness .. I've continued to wait for my lashes and brows to fill in .. still waiting .. tick tock ...


Vicki Sam

VickiSam said:

Emily .. I adore your new photo !!
Good going - Girl!


Vicki Sam

Emily,
I agree with VickiSam, I love your new picture. You look wonderful!

Jean 0609 said:

Emily,
I agree with VickiSam, I love your new picture. You look wonderful!

Thankyou!
Thankyou VickiSam and Jean!! That picture was at a St Louis Cardinals game Labor Day Weekend. I'm a huge Cardinals fan, and I was so excited - I got to go down on the field and meet some of the players. What a GREAT fun day!!