I am off chemo treatment (taxotere) since August, 2001 and still do not have any eyebrows, eyelashes and my head is sparsely covered. I am 48 years old.
I noticed that my hair regrowth pattern has varied with the different chemotherapy drugs that I've used. I first had 4 cycles of AC. I then had 5 weeks of radiation fllowed by 4 cycles of taxanes with weekly Herceptin (2 cycles of Taxol, then 2 cycles of Taxotere). After the AC treatments my hair grew in primarly in dark (brunette), C-shaped strands. It seemed to grow in fairly fast and thick. About 3 weeks after my first Taxol and Herceptin, I lost all that hair which had started to grow in since the end of my previous chemo (last treatment on that had been 3 months before I lost my hair again from second type of chemo). Anyway, as spoon as I lost all the hair for a second time--which was about an inch in length, a coarse or harder feeling white hair started growing in. . Although these unusual white hairs were all over my head, my head was only sparsely covered. About 6 or 7 weeks after my last taxane treatment, dark, soft hair started growing in again (which was about 2 weeks ago). However, it is much thinner than it was after the AC treatments. My eyebrows also are growing in much slower as well than they did after the AC treatments.
I really don't mind the slower hair growth though, because I had had a problem with excessive facial haor before I started chemo and which became even more pronounced after the end of my first chemo. It would be worth it to me not to continue wearing a wig if that excessive facial hair did not return.
Does anyone know which hormones, if any, might be responsible for the excessive facial hair and what role they may have in breast cancer?
Dear Zuke: We believe you. The proof is on your head. However, I have searched the literature and cannot find documentation of this phenomenon. Most sources suggest that full hair regrowth will take 3-6 months following chemotherapy. My experience is that this can certainly vary as all things do in individuals. Nonetheless, since it has been a full year, a consult with a dermatologist may be helpful.