Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
 | 

Does age effect hair regrowth after chemotherapy?

by spat614, Dec 02, 2008 03:10AM
I am 66, but have enjoyed very thick hair all of my life, until losing it from chemo. My last treatment was Sept 30, but the regrowth is scattered very sparsely on my shiny scalp and only 1/4". It is now Dec 2 - that's 2 whole months! Am I being too impatient? Does hair grow more slowly for post-menopausal women? Does the shiny scalp mean the follicles will never produce hairs again? I've worn a wig daily since the hair loss - should I cut back on doing that?
Thanks for whatever info you can give me! I realize that everyone is different, so my some of my questions may be unanswerable.


This discussion is related to Hair still not grown back.
Member Comments (2)

by BJSaws, Dec 02, 2008 04:19PM
To: spat614
     Congratulations on completing your treatment.  I don't know if hair re-growth is related to being post-menopausal or not, but I do know that everyone has a different situation.  I will tell you my experience in hopes it will help you in some way.  
     I was 58 and post-menopausal.  I finished my chemo in April and it was September before I could even consider going without a wig. Even then, my hair was very short.
     I,too, had always had very thick hair.  When my hair came back it was thinner and finer than it had been before.  Five years later, it remains thinner and finer.  It was an adjustment learning to re-style this new hair.  Interestingly, when my hair first came back in it was very,very curly.  That lasted for about a year and then went back to being very straight as it had been before.  Another interesting side effect is that my underarm hair never has returned.  No more armpit shaving for me!

by JeanP, Dec 31, 2008 04:09PM
To: spat614
I finished my last chemo treatment for IBC Stage IV in March of 2005.  My hair came in curly. I had always had straight hair and the curl and thickness did not last long.  It seems to be thinning more all the time.  I am 67 and like you had always had thick hair.  I cannot find a style that looks good as it has not body, is very fine and breaks easily.  I read that B vitamins may help and I have been taking them for about 6 months.  No change.  I do get a perm now, but did not for a good year after.  It is just so listless I have to do something and I do hate the wigs. I really am thankful that I am in remission but so discouraged with the hair.  Thinking of going to a specialist for hormone regulation but I don't think there is anything to be done.
Related discussions
Post Comment
To
Comment
Post Comment
Recent Activity
opus88 commented on Tiger Woods and his m...
5 hrs ago
pedinurse commented on Lube and oil again
5 hrs ago
peekawho commented on Tiger Woods and his m...
6 hrs ago
jagrutbadani commented on Tiger Woods and his m...
7 hrs ago
AnnieBrooke commented on Tiger Woods and his m...
7 hrs ago
sophie305 is ...waiting & wondering
ginger899 commented on Tiger Woods and his m...
8 hrs ago
TrudieC commented on Tiger Woods and his m...
8 hrs ago
RSS Expert Activity
What You Don't Know About Breathing...
Nov 24 by Steven Y Park, MD
Thanksgiving
Nov 23 by Thomas Dock, Vet. Technician
Snoring As Your Internal Smoke Alar...
Nov 22 by Steven Y Park, MD
Community Members