Hair regrowth

[Jayniiee]

Hello ladies. Could i have your input about hair regrowth following chemo. Ive had five chemos, debulking and then a further 3 chemos, the last one on the 22nd April. I seem to remember my hair regrowth being much thicker during the break i had in chemo for surgery but since the last chemo i don't seem to have any hair come back at all. I just have what I didn't lose in the first place. Sorry if this seems a petty question but I'm just wondering if having 8 chemos in total will mean the hair won't regrow. I have a lot to be thankful for as I am ned and grateful to be now having maintenance treatment. Could i ask what are other ladies' experiences with their hair?

[Brondy]

Hi. My last chemo was at the end of December (Carbo/Taxo). I had 6 series. My hair started growing in February and is now about an inch long.

I'm on Doxil now - haven't lost it again.

[Jayniiee in reply to Brondy]

Ok thank you. I'm just wondering if for some people it doesn't regrow. Although it is nice to have no body hair. It's swings and roundabouts 😁

[Itha]

Hi, I had 3 ronds of chemo, then a break before the debulking. My hair started to grow back and was about 2-3cm long. It all fell out again with the next 3 rounds of chemo.My last chemo was in May 2021.

Underarm and leg hair - almost non-existent and very slow growth

Lashes took some time to recover

Eyebrows are good now but I can clearly see it is not as thick as they used to be and also not growing so fast. I only need to pull out a few hairs every now and again to keep it in shape whereas before I had to do it almost every day...and there was a lot more to pull out

Pubs - grew back quickly - again not quite as thick (bushy) as before

Head: super curly, almost woolly. Used to be straight. My first haircut made me feel so much better as my hairdresser thinned it out and cut ut into a very sexy short style and showed me what to do to make it look a bit better. She also changed my shampoo and conditioner which made a big difference to what to looks like and feels like

I've had a second haircut, doing the same - super short. It is still incredibly curly but not so wooly any more. I am now due for a 3rd haircut. I think this 3rd one will be the one that will get rid of the last of the incredibly curly bits and then I will let it grow a bit longer.

My hair color did not change and I still only have dotted grey all over.

I do have an amazing hairdresser and she did an incredible job! Even though I have never been a make-up, air and nails girl, I can not tell you how much better that first hair cut made me feel.

xx

[Jayniiee in reply to Itha]

Thanks Itha. That's good to hear that it is just slow. I'd started to think it might not come back so thank you for your reassurance x I can't wait to have hair long enough to cut in a funky style. It was just above shoulders pre diagnosis and then just before my first chemo my hairdresser cut it really short and I actually liked it that way too. I miss chats with my hairdresser too 😊 xx

[Bananasmoothie]

It took over 8 weeks for my hair to start regrowing. Last of 6 carbo / pac chemo March 11th 2022. Still much less than 1cm long & growing very slowly but you can no longer see my scalp. I was also worried it wasn't going to regrow - especially when everything I read seemed to suggest regrowth was usually much quicker. Turns out I needed to be more patient (not my strong point). Well done for getting through your treatment and fantastic news that you're NED.

[Jayniiee in reply to Bananasmoothie]

Thank you bananasmoothie, am very grateful to be ned especially after being inoperable and it being widespread at diagnosis 😊I can't wait for my scalp to not show. So with you being a month in front of me with finishing chemo, i shouldn't have too long to wait. That's good to hear xx

[SUE7777]

This is by no means a petty question, I finished taxol in Feb and mine is now growing back with eyelashes and eyebrows back. We're all different and it takes time, they say roughly 6 months but you can always mention it to your team. Having multiple chemos should matter I've had 3 different lots now. All the best Sue xx

[Jayniiee in reply to SUE7777]

Thank you sue, it's good to hear xx I've only got one eyebrow which is a bit annoying, especially not being a make up kinda girl😂

[SUE7777 in reply to Jayniiee]

Just give it time and hopefully it will grow again xx

[Nus38]

Hello

My hair took a while to regrow. My last chemo was in March and my hair started to grow about 3 months later. At first it was wispy sparse, over a few months it got thicker. A year later I have a head full of curly hair, my hair was so straight before. Don't worry your hair will grow back. My eyelashes and eyebrows took longer to grow back.

Take care

Nus x

[Jayniiee in reply to Nus38]

Thank you Nus, i wonder if mine will grow back straight as it was wavy before x

[organicinna]

When my 6 chemo finished end of last August, hair started to grow end of November.....we all different/ Now on new chemo CAELYX hair not falling but not really growing longer )))

[Jayniiee in reply to organicinna]

Thank you organicinna. Hopefully I won't have too much longer to wait xx

[Tezzaa66]

I had 8 chemos and my hair came back though it did seem to take ages it didnt bother me that i lost it as i regarded it as part of my fight but the beast is back and shaved my head last week as there was more hair everywhere but my head after just 1 session of chemo good luck with re growth xx

[Jayniiee in reply to Tezzaa66]

Thank you Tezzaa. We will get there xx

[Tulips66]

Hi Jayniiee, I lost all my hair in 2019 while on frontline carbo/taxol & it took a good 6mths before there was any length in it. I had a head of curls & it was a pepper colour. I only got to have one haircut before covid arrived so my hair ended up growing longer than I ever had it, as I used to keep my hair in a short pixie before. Unfortunately for me I recurred in late 2020 & have been back on chemo since 2021.My oncologist said" you won't lose your hair this time "& I was relieved but while I didn't lose it completely it went right back up to the length it was after my first haircut & thinned out alot leaving me with bald patches. I am now on one type of chemo only which is allowing my hair to thicken back up again. I still have the curls but I am nearly used to those now 😂. Your hair will take a little time to come back but it will. A lady once told me coconut oil or argan oil is good for helping it along so you could try some. Delighted to hear you are now Ned, onwards & upwards now & time to get your life back. 🤞💐

[Jayniiee in reply to Tulips66]

Thank you for your lovely message tulips, x good luck with your treatment x sending you positive vibes xx

[Joanne59]

Hi after 6 chemos my hair began to grow very slowly, I tried lots of potions eg rice water, castor oil, a lotion called hair fix. I took biotin, selenium, lots of vitamins. Healthy foods. It has never come back as thick as it was but probably due also to hormone changes but it’s fine now after a couple of years,it was sparse at the front hairline so I bought clip in fringes and dyed them when I dyed my hair , no one knew and were amazed if I told them.Good luck, be patient xx

[Jayniiee in reply to Joanne59]

Thank you Joanne, for those tips ill look into that xx

[Jayniiee]

Thank you lovely ladies for your kind messages. Patience has never been my strong suit but I'm getting better x keep well everyone xx

[Wonnie]

HiBack in 2026/17, I had 8 cycles of chemo and had no hair anywhere after that. Finished Feb/March time. By Sept, I had a beautiful cropped style for my brother's wedding.

It does take patience but it does grow.

Best wishes

Siobhan x

[Jayniiee in reply to Wonnie]

Thank you Wonnie, I have a wedding to go to in September too, so that is good to know. xx

[Pianoplayer731021]

Hi, my hair grew back after my six chemos and debulking surgery. I can tell the difference with my eyebrows and eyelashes. They have really thinned out. I am 75, so my age is against me too. I should just be thankful that I am still living. It’s a tough journey for sure when us ladies remember how it used to be. Donna

[Jayniiee in reply to Pianoplayer731021]

Thank you pianoplayer...I will practice some patience 😊you are so right, the journey is a mission. I'm going to try practising gratitude too xx

[JOJOGLAM]

I had Stage1 Ovarian Cancer...complete hystertomy..October,2019...agressive cancer cells and had 3 rounds of chemo...7 hours each round every other week...till March, 2020...began at end of January,2020...lost my hair second week of first round of chemo....bald...eylashes sparse and eyebrows too....no hair at all on other parts of my body...wore pretty scarves to match my outfits...I was 70 then but I kept myself upbeat...ate better and exercised more...my hair started coming back about July...salt and pepper but im naturally blond...took Biotin which I still do! I had my hair colored my usual blond at about 6 months after chemo but it was very short and curly...I had it done every 2 months and every stage was a new hair do experience...I usually had my hair very long and platinium blond...Now we are in 2022...I started my 3rd year of remission...I see 2 onocolgists ...now every6 months...your hair will grow back as I was also told and it will! my eyelashes and eyebrows fully grown too... wishing you the best of health as you also take this journey!I am now going on 74 and my hair is past my chin and top of my shoulders...this photo was taken 7 months ago...

portrait

[Jayniiee in reply to JOJOGLAM]

Thank you Jojo, I'm trying to have a bit of patience but i must admit i can't wait to see my hairdresser again! I'm glad to hear you're doing well and may I say you're looking fabulous, for it 😊xx

[scooteacha]

Beautiful lady! Stay strong!