How long were you on Chemo before you noticed any hair loss?
I know that not everyone on Chemo has hair loss. I am just wondering if the length of time receiving Chemo increases a persons chances of suffering from hair loss. I’m sure that it does, but I’m curious as to how long it may normally take after starting Chemotherapy. I will be starting radiation in four days and starting Chemo in six days so I have alot of questions about others experiences. I know that hair loss can be a very sensitive subject for some people so I hate even asking. I just feel like I need to know all that I can and I would prefer to hear from others who have actually experienced Radiation and or Chemo. Thank you.
The Chemotherapy I will be given weekly is called, Cisplatin and hair loss is a possible side effect.
We noticed hair loss about the second week, just a little bit. The third week a little more, at that time I made an appointment to get a wig for my wife. By the end of the fourth week it was coming out pretty good. The place we got the wig specialized in cancer patients and said we should just shave off the rest of her hair.
We were on Adriamycin and Cytoxin.
The insurance covered 100% of the wig, and it was expensive. It was 100% Virgin Russian Human Hair. Cost was about $2,300.
Hair started to grow back after about a month at last chemotherapy treatment. At first it was just a shinny fuzz barely visible. After 3 months from last chemotherapy treatment her hair is about two inches in length, but has grown back in nice curls. Before she had straight hair. And it is a little gray.
Side note:
A combination of chemotherapy and radiation is very hard on your body both physically and emotionally. Prepare yourself and treat yourself kindly during this difficult time you will soon be going through.
Pamper yourself, and have others help you. Take my advice…If anyone asks if they could help, take them up on it. All chores will seem like a lot during this time.
If they offer to do housework let them. If they want to do yard work, show them where the garage is. If they want to grocery shop for you and cook meals…take them up on it.
Whatever help you can get, take advantage of it. You are now carrying the Cancer card….use it for all it’s worth!
Good luck and we will be wishing you the best! You have friends here!!
Dave
15 days after the first treatment.
You may lose the hair at the site of radiation too. That loss can be permanent, though what you lose from the Cisplatin should grow back.
I cut my hair to the length you see in my avatar before I started chemo. When it started falling out at 15 days, I buzzed it with clippers. A lot comes out when it starts, and a lot keeps coming out. It will get everywhere. It’s really better to deal with it now rather than then. You’ll be dealing with other side effects then, so get the hair thing over with now.
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The majority of patients lose their hair –not to lose it is rare. I have been on chemo twice, but never on the drug you mention. Maybe you could do Google or other search engines on it. The information you find may be helpful. Information from us may be interesting, but individuals vary. I was on a different chemo drug, and mine took 3 months before starting to fall out, In any case, good luck to you.
[oh, and also, there's an avatar all around the cancer forums that says "hi, i'm a doctor", but it isn't a real person. It's an electronic auto-bot , along with about 5 avatar names. Ignore any avatars that start "hi, i'm a doctor...]
References :
Not every type of cancer causes hair loss, therefore everyone does not lose their hair although most people do. I would strongly suggest looking up your cancer on Google, so that you will be prepared yourself. Mine fell out after a while, like a few months but that was after I was DXed with a secondary cancer, and the chemo got harsher and harsher. Radiation only really causes hair loss if it is done directly at the head (for brain radiation, partial or full) now depending on if it is partial or full brain radiation it will determine the amount of hair that falls out. If it is to a specific area, then that part will mostly fall out and it can be permanent.
I wish you luck, and be strong.
References :
We noticed hair loss about the second week, just a little bit. The third week a little more, at that time I made an appointment to get a wig for my wife. By the end of the fourth week it was coming out pretty good. The place we got the wig specialized in cancer patients and said we should just shave off the rest of her hair.
We were on Adriamycin and Cytoxin.
The insurance covered 100% of the wig, and it was expensive. It was 100% Virgin Russian Human Hair. Cost was about $2,300.
Hair started to grow back after about a month at last chemotherapy treatment. At first it was just a shinny fuzz barely visible. After 3 months from last chemotherapy treatment her hair is about two inches in length, but has grown back in nice curls. Before she had straight hair. And it is a little gray.
Side note:
A combination of chemotherapy and radiation is very hard on your body both physically and emotionally. Prepare yourself and treat yourself kindly during this difficult time you will soon be going through.
Pamper yourself, and have others help you. Take my advice…If anyone asks if they could help, take them up on it. All chores will seem like a lot during this time.
If they offer to do housework let them. If they want to do yard work, show them where the garage is. If they want to grocery shop for you and cook meals…take them up on it.
Whatever help you can get, take advantage of it. You are now carrying the Cancer card….use it for all it’s worth!
Good luck and we will be wishing you the best! You have friends here!!
Dave
References :
Radiation doesn’t cause hair loss…unless, you are receiving radiation to a part of your body that grows hair. (Ex. If you are receiving radiation to your chest wall, you will not loose hair on your head, but if you receive radiation to your head, you will probably have permanent hair loss to the area being radiated…I did.)
As far as chemotherapy, it really depends on the strength of the drug you will receive. Some drugs are not as aggressive and the hair may fall out little by little over time, where some drugs which are more aggressive (like the ones I received) will make the hair fall out very quickly. Every bit of my hair fell out after my first treatment, but again the drug was very strong.
I had a reoccurance and received chemo again. The second time, with different drugs, my hair fell out little by little over a few months time.
It sounds like this may be the case for you. Once you start to notice hair loss, sometimes it’s easier just to shave it all off. It’s completely up to you, whatever you feel most comfortable with.
God Bless!
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