hair loss

[sisterD]

i am wondering about losing hair....................is this a problem for those of you on treatment? should i just shave my head when i start?

[can-do-man]

Hair thinning is common, total hair loss is not. Its mostly noticable to the person treating........ No need to shave your head, wishing you the best.

[Advocate1955]

My husband didn't lose any hair with his first two treatments or with this one so far.  Others on this forum have reported that their hair has thinned or that they've lost some hair, but I think whatever they lost they reported grew back when they stopped treatment.
Advocate1955

[flcyclist]

Have you done trt before and started yet?  If so, did you lose much hair during the prior trt?  I believe most going through trt experience a change in their hair, some losing much more than others.  I've noticed mine has gone poker straight and thinned some, nothing terribly obvious to others.  I'd suggest you don't shave your head, but wait to see how much hair loss you see.  Many gals have cut their hair shorter to manage during trt and some are proudly wearing wigs.  As you probably know, this is short term and will grow back after trt.  

[sisterD]

lol, im not opposed to shaving my head..its probably the 1 thing i have never done to it lol.....................ty all for your help, im just trying to prepare myself

[sisterD]

ty, i appreciate it and i appreciate the response....trying to get ready for whatever is ahead

[pooh55811]

Personaly, if I was you, I would not shave my head at the start of treatmen. You may not lose any hair.

I did not shave my head when I started. I did, however, have it cut short, not a crew cut, lol, but about at the hair line or slightly longer or just above the ear line (so the lobes show); a pixie cut would work too. The reason I cut it was because I read that people on chemo do this to try and keep their hair. The reasoning behind it is that longer hair weighs more and so it is pulling a bit more on the hair. Plus when you comb long hair you are pulling on it. I have no idea if this is based on fact or just a hope.

The good news is I am at the 24 week mark (of 48) and I have not lost any hair (or maybe just a few more than usual a day). My head and hair look the same as always. I use a biodegradable environmentally friendly shampoo with no chemicals in it. I just wash it and that is it. No sprays or hair thickeners or anything. I also don't let the hair stylist spray anything on it when I get it cut. Avoid perms and colorings. Don't use a hot hair dryer if you use one. Use the low setting which blows but is varely even warm. Use a larger and wider toothed comb. The fine combs might pull the hair out.

The thing is, not everyone loses their hair and most don't lose all of it, just some of it. I really don't know if I am one of the lucky ones who just never got that side effect or if my little strategies helped me keep my hair or maybe both. I also have 24 more weeks to go. A lot can happen in 24 weeks and I know some on the forum did not start losing their hair until a few months after starting treatment.

Hopefully you will keep your hair. Best of luck.

[ceanothus]

Hair loss varies quite a lot in different individuals. A few seem to lose most of their hair, a few seem to lose none of it, and the rest of us lose varying amounts. I lost about 40% during my previous tx, and it looks like I will lose about that much this time too. It doesn't happen right away though, typically it only starts a little bit at about 3-4 months in, and doesn't really get noticeable until the 5th month. You may not even get enough loss to be noticeable at all, so shaving your head at the outset would be an extreme measure to take. I started tx on Oct 23, and it's only been in the last week that the hair loss is starting to really bother me. My husband isn't sure if he can even see it however, and I expect no one but my hair stylist would really notice so far - although they might all notice that my hair doesn't look as good as usual, without being sure why. I do recommend cutting it shorter eary in tx - it keeps the loss a little less noticeable and it also means shorter hairs in the drain when they do start dropping. I started tx by cutting my very long hair to about chin-length, and now that it is getting extremely thin I will soon be getting a sort of Pixie cut. I hope that will suffice to keep it looking acceptable (it did suffice during my previous tx), but if not then I may look into a wig, or a collection of cool hats. I hope you are a lucky one!

[mykids247]

I have one week left of treatment and my hair started "shedding" about two months ago. It doesnt come out in clumps just like when you blow dry the vanity and sink has a ton of hair on it and if you run your hands through it you get a hand full. I did start using nixon (I think thats it) shampoo and it REALLY makes your hair look a lot fuller when you blow it dry. I did start off with a lot of really thick straight hair and always wear it in a shortish bob hoping it stops shedding when I finish. If this is the worst price to pay for being free from this I'll gladly pay up!!!!

[sisterD]

ty and i totally agree ...... small price to pay

[sisterD]

ty for the info, i really appreciate it...................i color my hair and shaving it may be the only answer to keep it from the 2 tone haha......... but im hoping 4 the best  :)

[orphanedhawk]

If you don't have any problem with shaving your head, then it sure would be easier than picking hairs out of everything, everywhere all the time. I can't brush my teeth, wash a dish, nada without finding hair. Hair is everywhere and still falling.
You might want to wait until you see if it really does fall out or not.

[marty59]

After losing about 2/3 of my hair, I'm totally bummed and embarrased.
I have had a thick long ponytail since about 1970.
I did worry about the hair loss thing at the beginning of treatment and even had my wife cut a large amount off figuring it would be less noticeable.
I should just cut the rest off ( ponytail) and go thin and short for a while, but just can't bring myself to do it.


Guys can be vain too. :)

[mykids247]

I think the worst part of the hair thing is when I blow dry (and I have to!) is the hair falling on my back and it freaks me out. So I always wear a long sleeve t-shirt to catch the falling debris. Close the drain on the sink and your good to go.

[orphanedhawk]

BTW:
It grows back. Stop the meds, and your hair returns.

[Hepcwife926]

My husband is thinning but I think only I notice- it's more on his stomach where he injects he's lost the hair there- but no one but me would see that anyway ;)

[Hepcwife926]

My husband is thinning but I think only I notice- it's more on his stomach where he injects he's lost the hair there- but no one but me would see that anyway ;)

[sisterD]

thank goodness lol............ i think i would rather have no hair then have it everywhere..........i sort of have a germ phobia and hair freaks me out , ty for the help and ill keep u posted

[sisterD]

no need to be embarrassed........think of it as finding a new side of yourself.........i too have had long hair forever and every color u can think of, but maybe no hair will give me insight into the unknown and who knows maybe ill like it

ps.....maybe u would too  :)

[sisterD]

:)  

[leebambee]

I cut my hair to a bob before hand, the less tangles you have to comb, the less hair I seem to lose. Maybe it is the weight off also that helps. Im glad I did as I dont have the energy to dry long, shoulder length hair now.
Btw, the shampoo is Nioxin and it helps keep your hair. The bigger problem for me is the itching! This shampoo and conditioner helps with that also. Good luck.

[sisterD]

ty

[kmatucson]

My hair started thinning about 1 month before I finished tx.. I'm 2 weeks post tx and it is still thinning, but that should stop soon.  I started with thick hair, which was a plus.  My hairdresser just came out to my house today and trimmed it up and it looks great..  With the right cut you can definately pull it off..  I still need color, but I'm going to wait a couple of more weeks for that, and until then I wear a hat if I leave the house..  He did suggest Nioxin and is going to pick some up for me..  

[researchmonkey326]

I should own stock in Raquel Welch wigs.  If you do need a wig, those are a good option - I get loads of compliments on my "hair" and the price is not bad.  I order online.  I had a severe scalp rash so lost most of my hair and my scalp has not fully recovered after six months post trt so it has not started growing back quite right yet (now undergoing treatments for this including steroid injections into my scalp).  I'm still shaving my head because it feels better and you are right, it has given me some insight into what we think is important but in reality, is not.

[screaming48]

i had a pixie cut to start with and i started loosing hair, kept getting into the food and then i came up with about 4 really good bald spots, i did like researchmonkey and bought a couple really nice wigs that i get compliments on all the time when i wear them, sometimes I don't wear them for days on end and just wear a bandana. Somehow I don't mind loosing my hair now that I am still undetected and I have found out that loosing hair is small stuff. you will be ok :)
researchmonkey shots in the scalp oh ouch bless your heart.... my head has been very dry hope i don't get to that point eek