do you

do you lose your hair when you do th enterferon treatments

[Bill1954]

Unfortunately, some of us do lose some hair volume; it doesn’t all fall out as it does in some cancer chemos; but it can thin out. Generally, it’s something that the patient notices more than say, the general public. It can affect *all* areas of skin to some degree; dryness, rashes and itching, but not all of us. It seems to depend on the person. If it bothers you, a scarf can help; or maybe a ‘hoodie’ in the winter. Better to have thin hair than liver damage, eh?

Bill

[skersj]

Welcome msmagic42.

I am sure you will find the friends, information and support you are looking for here. This site has been a great source of information for me.  I read this forum for a  few weeks before I participated. I wonder if the people who regularly answer the posts here realize how much they help others. I am sure there are people like me that read and absorb silently.
I think it is different for everyone and depends on your hair type. I have normal thickness mostly straight hair. I will take my 14th shot today and for the last 2 weeks or so I have hair loss when washing or combing my hair. (Finding enough on my shirts to do a hair check before entering kitchen to prepare food) I use a wide tooth comb and am very gentle when combing. I understand Nioxin shampoo will help but I haven't tried it yet. So far, my hair loss in not noticible to anyone other than myself.

[sunshine585]

I just finished treatment, and I would estimate that I lost just over 1/3 of my hair. No one else notices, as it is a gradual thinning all over.  My hair is also extremly dry from the meds. I admit, seeing the first few handfuls of hair was upsetting, initially, but it doesn't look bad. I asked my hairdresser about Nioxin, when I started tx. He said it does nothing for hairloss. Overall, it didn't bother me that much. I know it'll grow back.

[meakea]

I took shot No. 13 this past Friday and I have noticed just a bit of thinning at the hairline on the side peaks of the forehead (but no one else can tell).  When I started treatment, I decided to use organic hair products to give my skin a break from all the unnecessary chemicals and I also made a choice to not color my hair while on treatment.  My hair has not dried out at all yet and I'm hoping it's the organic shampoos/conditioner that is helping.

[Fl_Gator]

That was one of my first questions also...I thought about getting my hair cut when I started and maybe I should have as I usually donated it to locks of love but like sunshine I have lost only about 1/3 of my hair and no one can tell but me....well maybe my family as we have pulled a couple of cats out of the shower drain recenty.

I did have thick hair to start with though

good luck...

[sunshine585]

I'm familiar with the cats in the shower drain, lol.

[epiphiny]

My hair has really changed since being on tx.  It has definitely thinned significantly, as well as becoming dry and brittle.  It also itches my scalp like crazy.  I have had quite a bit of the length cut off to try and help with the wispy dry ends with limited success.  I trim and then three weeks later I need to trim again.  I'm currently still trying to find a solution but so far the best thing I've found is scarves and bandannas to keep it away from my face.

I am investigating scalp treatments at the moment as one of the more irritating and uncomfortable sides for me has been dry and itchy skin and I moisturise all the different parts of me, face, hands, body, soles of feet (very itchy!).  It occurred to me that I should really be thinking about doing the same for my scalp!  Up until I had been focusing any treatments on the hair itself, but of course hair already dead so anything I do to the strands will be cosmetic only.  Makes sense really, doesn't it?

Anyway, this weekend I trialled some Nioxin and it does appear to make the hair seem fuller.  I found a starter pack which has their basic 3 step system for about $40 instead of $90.  It includes a leave in scalp treatment but for some reason forgot to use it.  Fog!!  I will let you know how I get on, it's a process of trial and error and boy, oh boy, the hair product industry sure is a rip-off!

On another note regarding hair I have noticed a few other oddities; hair on the rest of my body has also changed.  I have absolutely NO underarm hair, my pubic hair is thinning and not growing back and I barely need to shave my legs!  BUT my eyebrows have grown wild and bushy!

Crazy times!

All the best

Epi :)

PS:  I would advise avoiding chemical processes on the hair during TX as it seems to hasten the shedding process.

[epiphiny]

Btw, I always quote in NZ dollars so when converted to US dollars the prices would be significantly lower by about 40% or so.

[kitkat14]

I noticed the same things: no underarm or leg hair.  I wasn't sure that it wasn't just me.  My hair is thinning at week 28, but I've also got the benefit of the "llama lashes" (longer eyelashes) side effect.  

[Rockerforlife]

It seems like females are losing their hair more than males while on tx drugs....an i correct in saying this?

[skersj]

LOL I just noticed today my "llama lashes"!

[Fl_Gator]

I think that females worry about it more than males...maybe we cry about it more...

[sunshine585]

I should speak to Roche, I didn't get llama lashes and I still had to shave my legs

[R Glass]

Rocker, I think it is because most men wear their hair cut shorter than most women. My hair was about 10-11 inches long. Somewhere around week 14 it started falling out in patches. Actually clogging the drain when I showered. I had to cut it short.

[Rockerforlife]

I keep my hair 3/64 of an inche long....i like the five oclock shadow look...my clippers can be set at different cutting lengths....speaking of hair....i just got me one of those electic rotary shavers by philips....these machines are addictive.....now i love to shave....no rash or razor burn what so ever....shame it took my 50 years of my life to find this out.....LOL

[Marcia2202]

Good for you Rocker, my hubby gets razor burn from them... He gave his brand new shaver away.

As to hair, mine started falling out a few weeks ago. It falls out about twice as much as it usually does, when I wash it. Not nice, but not too alarming, yet. I'm in week 15.

[Rockerforlife]

Hair loss for women is a big issue i know...for us men...we dont care as much...BUT...it it will grom back to its natural healthy state....it could be worse....losing a thyroid or even your teeth....hair thinning or hair loss is really a minor factor in the scheme of things

[Isobella]

I just did shot #18 and I have done all the wrong things to my hair since starting tx.  

I have colored it twice, highlighted it once and permed it. I do go in for a deep conditioning every 2 weeks, tho. And my stylist uses the most gentle products she can.

Perming it has allowed me to go longer between washing and styling and that seems to have helped with some minor itching i had prior to perming.  

I had a little drain kitty last week, but otherwise my hair is fine. Now that I have posted that...it will probably all fall out.  If it does, I'll letcha know ;)

At least I will be able to do a comb over with my eyebrows.  They are crazy and wild. Second only to my  llama lashes!

Good luck to you =)

Isobella

[Rockerforlife]

Maybe YOU evolved from the female apes....if i did to my hair waht you just described....my scalp would peel off

[Rockerforlife]

Donald Trump can help you with the comb over style

[Isobella]

I figure if I still have hair in 2 weeks, I'll be lucky.  But at least it will have looked good to the end!

Besides with all the "don't do it" info we hear, I wanted to see what would happen.  Since I am already a lab rat, I figured I'd be a hair guinea pig (ape) too. ; )

Feel free to remind me of all this brave talk when I am bald, tho. LOL!  

[Rockerforlife]

Hair does not make the person....i love women with short hair styles....even the biker  bandana hat is cool ...


a little tough  but thats me


http://www.carolinaleatherworks.com/leatandskulf.html

[Rockerforlife]

This is different....i like it



http://www.e4hats.com/_e/Velvet_Turban_Hat/product/vt001hw-black/Velvet_Turban_Hat_Black.htm

[epiphiny]

Biker bandana is my new hair hairdo!

[Rockerforlife]

buy a bike too and kick some a.ss while your at it...if some makes fun of your hair...just do a wheely on their sorry a.ss

[Rockerforlife]

They come pre tied too...i got a cool leather one...all black

[Rockerforlife]

http://www.allamericanhats.com/Skull-Caps-and-Do-Rags/c24/index.html?osCsid=08143a838751f9769a102b8d6ad63433

[Isobella]

Look, I have already given up being blonde.  I even leave the house sometimes without make up now, too-mostly because the eyebrows are so distracting, but that's another story, lol!!   But I didn't even wear a do-rag when we rode.  Not that there's anything wrong with them, but........

Here's something more like I had in mind

http://www.wigs.com/product_info.php?products_id=3291&bestsellers=4

Either one would blow off doing 60mph down the highway, tho....

[epiphiny]

I'm still holding on to my blonde not-as-long-as-it-used-to-be-and-soon-to-be-shorter locks, I really don't think I could change colour.  I was born strawberry blonde, and blonde is the way I wish to stay!!

Anyway, just thought I would share that I am sitting with my hair and scalp all covered in Coconut Oil as an experiment.

Rocker, I know you suggested a week or so ago that I should put VCO on my scalp but I just couldn't figure out how I was going to do that for any length of time, given the length of my hair.

In my mission to find a solution to the itching scalp and hair loss I have been going to pharmacies and hair product shops.  On Friday I asked a chemist what he had for itching scalp and he offered me a product call "coco-palm" which has as it's main ingredient, yes, you guessed it, VCO!

Then today I decided to return some product I had bought from a hair shop that actually increased my itching and what do you know, the salesperson/hairdresser suggested that I use, yes, you guessed it, VCO, on the ends of my hair to combat the frizzy dry ends...

Well whaddya know?!  So here I sit, smelling good enough to eat, kind of like a coconut and chocolate candy bar, yummmmm....

If this works I'm thinking I could slather myself in the VCO, wear one of my numerous Biker Chick Bandannas and go to work in style and comfort!!

Btw, Rock, I believe the hair loss in women is more noticable because we develop a hormone imbalance due to the tx meds, in particular testosterone increases, which causes hair loss in ladies...  Just another piece of useless yet interesting info, which seems to be my specialty these days!

Mmmmmmm, I smell gooooood!!!

[skersj]

I lathered up with VCO for the 1st time this evening. I may never use lotions again! Although my dog did follow me around all night!

[epiphiny]

Lol, I'll bet that doggy did.  My husband kept following me and sniffing!  Lol, not too sure how to take that!

I must say my scalp feels quite soothed and my hair is definitely softer.  Next time I'll leave it on for longer, maybe on a non-work day so I can leave it on for hours.

[Rockerforlife]

I USE THE oil ALL OVER MY BODY..FROM HAD TO TOE....some more useless info


love it up my nose too

[Isobella]

I love it in my nose too...

~~in keeping with the useless info theme ;)

[Marcia2202]

I use it all over my body and in my hair, but I have mixed it with shea butter. I love it. Even my hair has become shinier during tx. I also swallow my riba with it. VCO inside out.

[sunshine585]

I cut my hair so it wouldn't look so thin. If I'd lost any more, I was going to wear a do-rag, (I think that's the same as a biker bandana), no wigs for me! Wish I would've known about the vco before, but it's not too late to help. I think I'll get some today. I prefer something natural like that, rather than an expensive salon product.

[msmagic42]

thanks for the info. now I can get the vco before it starts to go. I'm so glad to have ya'll to talk to.thank you

[bebe940]

What is VCO?

[epiphiny]

Virgin Coconut Oil

[Marcia2202]

omg.... I miss you guys! I miss the horsing around...

Love y'all

[Deb_c430]

some more tips:
Don't use alchohol based shampoos, or products.
Wash hair less frequently, use cooler water
condition often if you do not wash, I am Italian WC Calif, I like olive oil and almond oils
Try to let hair dry naturaly,
A lot of the working people have gone to wigs,  my sister who has alpecia says they can make your hair fall at faster.  If I worked I would use them I think, it grows back.
i lost more hair with the inteferons, than I have with infergen, goes in phases.  
I also use a shampoo called nioxin, developed  for people with fragile hair, it helps with itching also. Some don't like the smell, I do.  
But It is going to happen, in a smaller or greater form. Find what works for you, some great suggestions here.

Deb

[hepcD]

I am sorry you are about to start tx. In some cases there are absolutely no side effect to treatment. But honestly most people do get some . The hair issue was not bad for me . I didn't notice until after tx it had thinned a little. But i am a guy and short hair is my style. If losing your hair is a problem because you don't want people to know you are txing for hep c. Just tell them you are having some medical issues and on a type of chemo. That is making your hair fall out. Most people leave it at that. Some want to know more but you can say i am keeping my treatment private and it upset me to talk about it. Thanks for your concern but things are under control. For now i wouldn't worry to much about your hair. Just relax and prepare yourself for the Tx.  

[kellie960]

i had to do a year of meds for hep c after 4 months it wasnt working so stopped taking it . then my waiste lenth super thick hair started coming out by the hand fulls . its so thin and short now it breaks my heart. what can i do to make it stop and start growing again ? i have been off the meds since april.