Hair regrowth and loss

[uglyme]

Please see my profile in the "Tell us about yourself" section. That's where my question is

[deerom]

I missed the sad part of the story. So, I used the minoxidil for 2 years and never missed a day and ended up with long ropes of wavy hair like I have never had. My hair was always a little curly but kind of thin and have never been about to grow it past my shoulders. Now it's long and shiny and wavy and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I really like my hair.

Last month I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I have to go through chemotherapy so I am going to lose it all. Everyone is saying it will grow back. But I may continue to use the minoxidil through it.

[deerom]

I had some hair loss two years ago in the fall. I always shed some hair in the fall, I think that is just the end of the resting phase for my hair every year. But anyway, two years ago, A LOT of it fell out. I really panicked. So I went to a dermatologist who specializes in hair and she put me on OTC Rogaine and Nizoral shampoo. Both of them are DHT blockers and have been used for years in the re-growth of hair. I didn't believe it was going to work at all and was really crabby about the whole thing but I stuck with it 2 times a day for a year and a half and...
IT TOTALLY WORKED FOR ME. It took a long time but 2 years later, I have the thickest hair I have ever had since I was a kid. It also grew in darker and I had few gray hairs before and they are pretty much gone now. It doesn't apparently work well for everyone but it does work better for women than men. All dermatologists will tell you not to bother with the women's 2% formula. They will tell you to use the men's 5% formula. My dermatologist told me to use the Rogaine brand, but I bought the generic at Walmart for half the cost. I still can't believe how well this stuff worked for me. It mainly grew in my hairline, the crown of my head and lots in the back. It didn't grow much additional hair on the sides of my head. I don't think it works so well there. But my hairline filled in so much. The two drawbacks are that it doesn't work for everyone and if you stop taking it your hair will go back to the way it was before you started treatment. But I kind of suspect that some people give up before they get a chance to see it work. I didn't miss a day for 2 years. I was very uncharacteristically patient. :) Probably because I hated the way my hair looked and I figured I had nothing to lose. Also when you are on it be sure to eat well and get lots of protein in your diet. That also helps

[uglyme]

Hey guys.

Thanks for your responses........appreciate it.

Don't think I have any nutritional deficiencies, 'cause I definitely take care of that, and my mother is 86 and still has all her hair, so no heredity traits with hair loss. Hers is much thinner of course (she IS 86 after all!!) but still all there........still down on her shoulders.

I will go to my GP and my oncologist and ask them about possible thyroid problems, although I'm thinking if this was it, I would have other symptoms.....no?

I did have a very stressful time over the last year.......started studying again, AND! I've got a 16 y-o son with ADD. We had some really trying times last year. As if him just being a teenager wasn't enough!

But thanks for your input.

uglyme

[Cheerpul]

I had low thyroid function years before I got breast cancer and the first sign of my thyroid disese was my woefully thin hair.  Treatment helped.  I agree with bluebutterfly that you need a good checkup to determine the cause.  But, I found, after all these experiences, that there are things that you can do to make you feel better about your appearance no matter what state your hair is in.  You might contact someone from the American Cancer Society who works with the Look Good, Feel Better program.  They know lots of attractive ways to wear hats, scarves, wigs, and hair styles for people with thin hair.  You could find some great styles for you right now and more ideas for later.  Feel free to post back and let us know how things go.  I am thinking of you.

[bluebutterfly2222]

First of all, congratualtions on being 5 years out with NED (no evidnce of disease)!

There are many reasons for hair loss, including illness, stress, medications, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disorders, inherited pattern hair loss, hormones (many women experience hair thinning following menopause), damage from chemicals and devices used on the hair, and so forth.

If you have not already done so, the first step would be to have your PCP check your overall heath status for anything that might be causing this problem, and if nothing obvious shows up, a consult with a dermatologist might be in order.

Best wishes...

[uglyme]

Was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 months after I became menopausal. Had 3mths chemo, 6 weeks radiation. I am now in my 5th year since and so far so good. My question concerns hair growth. I'm black
After chemo & radiation the hair was back within 9 months, softer and straighter than before. By end of year three after it was twice as long, and twice as healthy than it was before cancer, maybe 18 ins long, past my shoulders.bouncy, thick, luxurious..didn't even need to relax it......just heat straightened it with a curling iron.
In year 4 it thinned and all fell off. like a shaggy dog shedding. I'm now in my 5th year after and it continues to fall. It's now about 6ins long and woefully thin. Total about-face.
Any suggestions as to reason why? I've thought and thought. Medications I'm on for hypertension and cholesterol are the same ones i've been taking for 10years. So nothing's changed. I'm desperate for my hair to grow back again.