hair loss from chemo

I was wondering how long it took for eyelashes and hair to grow back after chemo?   Are there any special products you would reccommend using to expediate the process?  I am finally done with chemo and starting to feel "normal" again.
Thank you so much for your imput!


This discussion is related to Tamoxifin (tamoxifen) side effects.

[BJSaws]

     I love your screen name!  How is Tubby doing? I hope you're old enough to know who Tubby is!
     I completed by chemo in April 2004.  By September of that year I could go without a wig.  My hair was very, very short and very, very curly, but it was at least presentable.  Since I was a high school teacher, I decided to go for a far-out look, so I had my very short, very curly hair bleached platinum blonde and my ears double-pierced.  My students thought I was "way cool" with my new look.
     The curls lasted for about a year, and then I was back to my old straight hair.  I kind of missed the curls.  My hair came in finer and thinner that it was before the chemo and has stayed that way.  It has taken some adjustment with styling,etc.
My eyelashes came back within a few months.  I didn't lose my eyebrows.  I did lose my pubic hair and it started coming back in almost immediately, but is much less than it was before the chemo (this is a good thing!).  My underarm hair never came back.  Unfortunately, my legs stayed hairy, even through the chemo, so I still have to do the shaving thing on my legs.
     Everyone is different, but maybe this will give you some idea.
Congratulations on completing your chemo.  It is all uphill from here.

[Irishgal2]

Everyone's hair grows back at different rates.  Mine started to grow back 6 weeks after my last dose of chemo.  The hair was quite fine initially but now is normal textured hair.  My hair started growing mid/end Sept and my Xmas I had a full head of hair albeit very short.  I went without my wig from Xmas day and the wig was put in the bin, because God willing I don''t ever intend to have BC again.  I got my first hair cut 3 months ago, a trim really.  I am having my next hair cut in 2 weeks and at the moment my hair is 3 inches long all over.  However my hair did not grow back the same as below.  Thankfully still no grey, but I now have a kink in my hair at the end and the colour is more brown with a hint of  gold rather than ginger like it was.  Still I am not complaining, at least it grew back.  If anyone met me in the street now, they would have no idea that I ever had chemo and that is a very good feeling.  I am me again.

Waiting for your hair to grow and watching it grow is like watching paint dry or waiting for a kettle to boil.  It seems to take ages, but once you hav a full covering on your head, it will grow faster after than.

[Joi400]

Hi, what I did when I ws bald was I put Vitamin E oil in my head to make it shine and would look healthy.  My hair grew back a little wavy.  Joyce

[Joi400]

Oh and by the way, I didn't want my pubic hair  and my armpit hair to grow back but it did too.  :) Joyce