Hair loss: I have appointment today to find out... - CLL Support

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Hair loss

sallyplest profile image
22 Replies

I have appointment today to find out which arm I will be on for FLAIR trial and I'm afraid a fit of vanity has gripped me. I wondered can anyone give me any details regarding hair loss with FCR or Ibrutinin/Rituxamab.

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sallyplest profile image
sallyplest
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22 Replies
Fowey2009 profile image
Fowey2009

FCR doesn't usually give hair loss as far as I know. In fact after it was over my husbands hair was thicker than before. All the very best today. Beryl

sallyplest profile image
sallyplest in reply toFowey2009

Thanks Beryl just what I wanted to hear.

MF79 profile image
MF79

I was on FCR. My hair thinned slightly but not noticeable to anyone but me. I felt much the same as you and was relieved that I didn't have to cope with hair loss trauma.

Hope all goes well for you

Mags

sallyplest profile image
sallyplest in reply toMF79

Thanks Mags I know it's vain but if there is just a little bit of good news it helps.

thebigdipper profile image
thebigdipper

I FCRd last summer. I wear my hair long. It thinned slightly, and brushing out tangles after washing it took out more hair out than normal, but otherwise fine. No patches, just slight thinning.

sallyplest profile image
sallyplest in reply tothebigdipper

Thank you I hope I'm the same.

Newdawn profile image
NewdawnAdministrator

It's an important day for you Sally and you're bound to have all kind of questions and anxieties. I certainly would!

Wishing you well for the outcome today.

Newdawn

sallyplest profile image
sallyplest in reply toNewdawn

Thanks Newdawn I have mixed feelings today but will post back later with outcome.

Best wishes

Sally

virdieblue profile image
virdieblue

Don't blame you a bit. Knowing you won't lose your hair is SUCH a relief! Hope you get the hairy treatment.

Yes, as stated hair will thin. Expect noticeable amounts when washing. I did not wash my hair so often. I have long hair and none except me and the hairdresser noticed the thinning. Also I colour my hair but throughout treatment only had foils because I didn't want chemicals on my scalp. I was glad when treatment stopped and two months later the brush had less hair in it. Be prepared new growth may not be the same colour!

Peggy4 profile image
Peggy4

Totally understandable concern Sally. We all know that in the great run of things it shouldn't matter, but it does.

Hoping today goes well.

Peggy

BellaBee10 profile image
BellaBee10

I had quite a lot of curly/wavy hair. It thinned out and went a lot straighter. Bethan49 and I were a bit obsessed about our hair thinning. I don't know if you dye your hair. We're told not to. Bethan took a natural route and smelt like cow poo she said, I went for the proper stuff and it was ok. Waiting to see if what fell out grows back curly or straight. I've not heard of anyone losing all their hair on FCR. Hope everything went well for you today. All the best.

Nic

holly2 profile image
holly2

I am interested to hear people's comments on this one too. Have had two cycles of FCR and si far notice no difference in my hair at all. I am not treating it any differently to how it was treated before. Read about not using a hair dryer on it but I do as I hate the feeling of wet hair. I did get it cut a bit shorter than my usual shoulder length to prevent too many tangles and make washing easier. I am just worried that any I lose will grow back white as people have said it might be a different colour!

SunnyCA profile image
SunnyCA

No hair loss in my experience on these drugs.

Oleboyredw-uk profile image
Oleboyredw-uk

I had FCR in 2012. No hair loss during period of taking FCR or since. In fact because I was concerned about being nicked by hairdressers's scissors I did not go to the hairdresser for three years. As a 59 year old male I achieved what I'd wanted as a 19 year old. Hair tied back.... just 40 years late.

Best, rob

MsLockYourPosts profile image
MsLockYourPostsPassed Volunteer in reply toOleboyredw-uk

I think we need pictures of your Hippie do!

Bethan49 profile image
Bethan49

I finished FCR nearly 4 months ago .. hair is intact... my head was sore at times and sometimes a little limp but otherwise ok!

Remember if you dye your hair do it before chemo starts .. As your not really meant to do it on chemo.

Wishing you all the best! It's good to loo good during treatment .. It gives you a boost xxxx

Jm954 profile image
Jm954Administrator

Hiya,

I was also worried about this but I'm on the IR arm of FLAIR and my hair has grown much thicker on this treatment. All the new hair is very noticeable (lots of new growth) and welcome. It's now nearly as long as my other hair and I love it.

I think either way, you'll be fine. x

Ausrine profile image
Ausrine

I had both FCR and Ibrutinib and none caused hair loss.

My hair was falling everywhere when I had stage 3 CLL and FCR treatment actually stopped my hair loss.

virdieblue profile image
virdieblue

I recently realised that I am having some hair loss with Ibrutinib. At first I thought it was breakage but I have a lot of new growth that is all about the same length. Something that no one but me would notice. Its acceptable - I was just surprised.

Virginia

thompsonellen profile image
thompsonellen

I experienced what I would call shedding, a slightly distressful loss of lots of hair, over a month or so. I have a lot of hair, so it wasn't noticeable. Now I have a bunch of 2 inch flyaways. The hair loss was way down on my list of problems, and my list of problems was not that dramatic.

greygirl profile image
greygirl

Because I was told I was healthy I wouldn't lose my hair and I didn't. But to be on safe side I faithfully had acupuncture before and after each treatment

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