Question about chemotherapy and hair loss?
My 4 year old brother is currently undergoing treatment for neuroblastoma. He has no hair at the moment and treatment is still ongoing so it’ll be a wee while, but I just have a few questions about when it grows back. How long generally after chemo will it start to come back? I realise it’s probably different for everyone but on a general level? Will it come back very slowly and thin? I guess like a baby’s hair? And will it come back as his original colour? (He had a kinda strawberry blond hair colour if that makes any difference)
Sorry it’s so many questions and thanks for your help in advance
When my hair started to grow back from chemo, it began just like babys hair, thin on the top of my head and developed a layer of fuzz. Within a few months, it was getting thicker and generally back to the way it was before. It may grow back a different colour, but most people keep their original colour.
When it’s growing back, it feels like it’s taking forever and making no progress. However it does come back eventually.
Wish him all the best
When my hair started to grow back from chemo, it began just like babys hair, thin on the top of my head and developed a layer of fuzz. Within a few months, it was getting thicker and generally back to the way it was before. It may grow back a different colour, but most people keep their original colour.
When it’s growing back, it feels like it’s taking forever and making no progress. However it does come back eventually.
Wish him all the best
References :
Was diagnosed with leukaemia age 7
As you said, hair growth after chemo is different for everyone. It also depends on the chemo drugs one is receiving because remember not all chemo drugs cause hair loss and also the dosage of these drugs, because in my case, for the first 6 months of chemo I used to have 3 drugs and the dosage was high but after the first 6 months, the dosage was reduced and my hair started growing back, though it feels like it is taking forever but it grew back almost immediately. As you said, everyone is different. I wish your little brother the best and he is in my prayers
References :
Personal experience
My friends hair started growing back very quickly after her last dose of chemo, and it grew back baby fine, it seemed to take forever to grow back, but guess it wasnt really.
ALso hers came back her usual colour, although she was warned it could come back curly and a different colour.
Good Luck to your little brother. xx
References :
Hiya, im sorry to hear about your brother, though he’s clearly very lucky to have you in his life asking questions and looking after him, well done you.
To answer your question. Hair will grow back more or less as soon as the chemotherapy stops. In terms of Neuroblastoma, this will usually be about 2 and a half to 3 months after the first lot of chemo. He will probably just get some fuzzy hair growing back in time for high dose chemo and of course loose it all again! it will then grow back around 6-8 weeks later and by the time he’s finished all his main treatments (like radiotherapy) he will have a really good head of hair.
it will be like baby hair, but as he is only 4, it will be pretty much the same, though as you mentioned, it could be a different colour!
you dont mention how old you are, or if you have any younger brothers and sisters also. i ask because if you are wondering about this, then perhaps they are too. there are stories you can tell them to help them understand, here is a link to a book http://www.hairfairy.org/index.html but if you want i can just tell you the story to tell them.
You can find a good support group on facebook called Families Against Neuroblastoma. there is a sibling section on there where you can contact eachother for support, and if you are in the UK you can join FANclub.
i hope this answers your question. i have tried to be as honest as i can. if you want any other help with any questions about your brothers Neuroblastoma, then please get in touch with the group (but ask a parent first).