Does Hair Loss Slow Down or Stop Once it Starts?

[booocooo]

Hi :)  Thanks to the many who have responded to my hair loss questions in the past.  Around week 12 I chopped my hair off to my chin, but it still is coming out in handfuls after a shower, and falls out all day long.  My question is, does this slow down or stop once it has started?  My hope is that it just thins - not balding - but I don't know how to tell?  If it does keep coming out at this rate, I know in 8 weeks I will have very little hair left. I'm im week 16/24 for Tx, and I wonder if anyone had their hair loss slow down or stop before the Tx ended. Please help!  This has by far been the most "traumatic" side effect.  

Thanks! :)

[charm27]

Im on week 37 and lost 80%. I lost most of it the past 4 months. Its hasnt stopped for me. My skin, the scabs in my head, hair loss, Riba rage, and fatigue have been my sx.
No weight loss, nausea...or rescue drugs needed yet.

Wish I could tell you a magic potient for the hair. Although some people only get thinning so maybe you will be lucky. Hope so.

[Xenigma]

I noticed that around week 4 it started coming out as normal hair loss
but it never stopped.  It continued to get worse, especially in the shower and pillow until about week 28 when my pillow didn't have as much hair but in the shower it was still bad until week 40 or so.  Not much fell out in the shower after week 40 and now it's just in my brush.
My hair is to almost my waist (I took a couple inches off pre-tx) and I lost 40% of the volume but it kept getting long even so.

NEVER CUT YOUR HAIR pre-tx. Especially if you cut it short with layers, bangs etc... It doesn't help, it only makes matters worse. You wont be able to cover any really thin spots or bald spots for that matter. Also, wash your scalp only (if your hair is long enough) as you rinse the shampoo it will go through your hair and cleanse it. Wash
it every other day or 3.  I used conditioner daily but was light on the shampoo.  Everyone is different, but I never heard of anyone going bald on this tx and what falls out will usually come back, sometimes with a different texture.

Raquel Welsh has some beautiful wigs...
http://www.ultimatelooks.com/raquelwelchwigshairpieces/raquelwelchwigshairpieces1.htm

Good luck and be gentle with your hair...
enigma

[Texas714]

I'm in week 22.  Once my hair started falling out it has not really stopped.  It May have slowed down a little bit...not sure...but I guess I've lost about 1/3 to 1/2 of it.  I have long hair and have not cut it.  It looks funny/bad to me but my girls tell me it looks fine and they don't notice.  So I opt to go with that attitude.  I fix it the way I did before tx and go right along with my business.  I think if I were to cut it or do anything different, it would just bring attention to it.  I have opted to pretend nothing is different and most polite people will follow suit.  :-)  Hang in there, you're pretty close to being done with this.  That's something to look forward to.

[booocooo]

Thanks everyone for the responses!  I bought a multi-vitiman (without iron of course :) and am down to washing it once a week.  I only have 8 weeks left, so maybe I'll be a lucky one who doesn't have much post-tx hair loss?  We'll see!  Thanks again :)

[nygirl7]

Lost about 75 - 80%.  I guess at some point it did stop falling out or I would have been bald....it started for me at about week 20 and then went on until week 72.

I went out and got some wigs off of ebay and just dealt with it the best I could (which meant a scarf at home and a wig for work).  It wasn't easy booocooo but it WILL grow back better than ever.  

We know it ***** - but I haven't heard of ANYONE going completely bald.........just thining and cracking off and that glorious fun!

[Xenigma]

but I don't NEVER would be correct advise to give someone.
Not sure what you were trying to say above but....

My doc suggested it and boy was I glad.  I always pull it back in  a pony tail or bun
and it cover any hairs that have broken or any spots that are very thin.  My long, one length hair is and always has been easier to manage than short.  Having been a hairdresser for many years I've seen a lot of problem hair with people who are on various meds.
Listening to my doc and not cutting it was excellent! (All I did was take a couple - three inches off the length)  No blow drying, no flat iron, just a pony or bun each day for work with some leave in conditioner.  Less stress on the follicles and less work for me.  No one even knows I've lost 40% of the volume, they just see the length when I let it dry by itself.  You are lucky that your hair is fuller cause you cut it, or appears fuller because that is not always the case.  Especially with the layers and how much hair loss experienced.  If you lose a lot in front then make a bang and angle your sides, If you lose a lot at the crown then pull it back in a half pony or high full pony,  I still say don't cut it all, especially in layers cause it could be a big mistake.  Fix what thins out one step at a time if possible.
enigma

[Xenigma]

Yes, I see what you are saying now.  I used the word NEVER pre-tx because you just don't know which direction the 'fallout" will come from and how much.  Katie's hair is adorable!  Don't go butch, wait and see----LOL  see here I go again.  A women's hair is her glory...
enigma

[Krusing]

Try Nioxin hair products......my stylist told me at the beginning of TX that it helps all her chemo clients.  It has helped although I've still THINNED out about 80%.  BTW, do not use the Nioxin in the shower, the shampoo and conditioner both made my RibaRash on my chest and back burn like I was on fire!

Shannon