I wondered whether anyone has tried a product called N****n, marketed as a volumiser and regrowth agent/follicle booster suitable for chemo baldies? [I won't print its full name as I'm aware the site rightly takes a dim view of gratuitous advertising, but it's so hideously expensive that I'm sure anybody who has forked out will have its name burned on the bank balance-conscious part of their brains...]
Nearly four months post-8 months of chemo, my hair is thin and patchy, and a brief comparative survey of my chemo suite mates makes it clear they are all beating me. Even my inscrutable oncologist made an "ooer" gulping noise when I showed her my pate today. I'm serially opposed to wigs, my hair is really too short and patchy to ditch the headrags and I can't wear my foxfur because of all this darned sun...
I apologise if anyone finds this post frivolous. My preoccupation may seem all the more odd as I have been told I shall be on and off chemo for the rest of my life, but I suspect some of you may understand. If anyone has any experience of this stuff, I'd be grateful to hear from you.
Catriona x
Have just seen the comment from Alive. I have had an underactive thyroid for many years and have been on 100mg of thyroxine. Since March this year I have not been feeling too good. A blood test 3 weeks ago showed a blip in the hormone level so I have been prescribed 150mg and I have started to feel much better.
May be an answer to your problem of your hair growing so slowly.
Thanks for all these helpful replies. Well, my money and I were parted (c.£70: erk! But you only use a tiny amount, so it lasts) and I owe you all some comments on my progress. Needless to say it is, as Liz pointed out, no miracle baldness "cure". However, within the first week the density of my hair definitely improved, and after 3 weeks the bald patches and unbecoming "badger stripe" had filled in, quite dramatically. Five weeks on it has become part of my daily routine (it's a bit of a palaver). I reckon one more month and I'll be ready to ditch the rags.
Of course, this is scarcely conclusive: it may have been that 4 months post-chemo is a point where the hair will start to grow noticeably again, and I did spend a week in the hot sun which has always stimulated my hair growth in the past. I suppose the main thing is that it has given me a big psychological boost: from seriously fearing I would never have a head of hair again to confidence that my hair is growing (until the next chemo, but that's another story...)
I wonder whether it might be most effective with a chemo that thins hair rather than completely withers it? The manufacturers are willing to discuss at length by phone what it can do for you and how to use it. If anyone wants further info please feel free to pm me and I'll send you the details.
Glad it is working for you. My hair is growing fast now albiet it thicker and thicker and not much longer yet. Finished my chemo in Sept 08 so it has taken longer than I thought.
Have still got my wig for bad hair days but it will be a bit hot to wear now that I have my own.
