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Brenda5's avatar
Brenda5
Member
10 years ago

6 weeks post chemo

6 weeks since final chemo and my hair (what’s left of it) is still falling out today. Here was me peering into the mirror last night looking for any prickles of hair growing back. Even downstairs isn’t immune and what’s left of those have disappeared as well! Need dark sunnies for the stark whiteness lol.

My nails are still hanging in there but one thumbnail is getting worse. Simple things like clicking the tab up on a ring pull can are out. Also cancel untying a knotted plastic bag or taking aquarium fittings off of airline tubing or peeling an orange by hand. It is amazing how many little tasks we take for granted until you cannot do them.

Good news is my physio for my lymph oedema arm doesn’t need to see me again for a whole 6 months. I knew it was just the steroids in chemo stirring everything up. It is a lot less swollen now as long as I don’t do too much physical activity with it. Still doing the arm exercises and the lymph massage but I don’t need to wear the compression sleeve or gauntlet as much now.

chemotherapy
hair-loss
side-effects

5 Replies

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    10 years ago

    Hey Brenda, I started taking a hair, skin and nail supplement and massaged my scalp with Moroccan oil each day. It helps to support healthy hair growth when it comes back. Hope that helps Honey, big cuddle, Trace ??????

  • Cook65's avatar
    Cook65
    Member
    10 years ago

    Hi Brenda,

    my hair didn't start growing back until 6 months after finishing chemo. My underarm hair still hasn't come back and I finished TCH chemo in October 2014.  When it first started to grow, it was dark and stood straight up. I looked like a chimpanzee baby! I hated it. Then one day I woke up and it was curly. I now have the most beautiful curly shoulder length hair. It is darker than it was, thicker and the curls are just divine. My nails are only just starting to come back to normal now. All the best. Karen xox

  • Lindyloo's avatar
    Lindyloo
    Member
    10 years ago

    I finished chemo last May. With the last chemo session, after having lost all my hair, my eyebrows and lashes were the last to go, BUT the first to come back! Now 5 months down the track my hair has returned, thick, very curly and grey. Before all this I had straight, dyed red, thick hair. It's probably about 2cm now. Every week after I had finished chemo, hubby took a photo of the growth and believe it or not it does come through quite  quickly and that was evident from the photos.

    good luck ladies, onwards and upwards as they say!

  • Autore's avatar
    Autore
    Member
    10 years ago

    I know how you feel! I am 4 weeks post chemo and still have no sign of hair growth. There's a little 'baby fluff' on my head but that's it.

    My eyebrows and eyelashes fell out after 6 months of treatment. They were still falling out 2 weeks ago. I think it takes a while for the drugs to leave your system . 

    I have saved money on waxing but personally can't wait to stop wearing this wig!!!

    Here's to getting our hair back ASAP! xox