How long should I expect hair loss?

FormerMember over 3 years ago

5 replies
113 subscribers
977 views

Hi guys,

Its been a little while since I last posted, and I'm doing well, just coming up to my six months from my op and nearly 3 months since my brief but eventful encounter with chemo, and been all clear for about two months. As some of you might remember, I reacted very badly to the CAPOX treatment after my bowel op and I ended up in hospital for nearly four weeks with grade 4 diarrhoea! I was told when I started my first cycle that I'd experience some hair loss but I wouldn't lose it all. As I only had one cycle in the end instead of four, I thought I'd get away with minimal hair loss. I'd cut my hair to just above shoulder length and used gentle shampoos etc but I've noticed in the last few weeks that my hair loss is continuing, and quite possibly getting worse. Is this normal? When should I expect the hair loss to slow down?

My one cycle started on 8th Feb this year and finished on 26th Feb (a couple of days early as I was so poorly) I noticed a little hair loss a couple of weeks in, but by the end of March it seemed to slow. In the last couple of weeks it's started to thin quite noticeably. Perhaps because I'd started to blow dry it/use my normal shampoo, do you think? Perhaps I'd been a little too keen to get back to my normal routine?

I'm seeing some regrowth which is good, but do you think I should just cut it short before it starts looking weird?!

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine! Get that vitamin D!!

Kareno62 over 3 years ago

Hi . Are you still on any medication? I was put on Lansoprazole after my reversal and noticed a lot of hair loss - my hairdresser threw a towel in the sink after washing it so I wouldn’t see it! I stopped the tablets and the hair loss stopped. Obviously don’t stop any tablets without checking with someone first but it was just a thought?

Glad to hear that you’re doing well - think I’m going to give the gardening a rest today before my aches start to ache!

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

FormerMember over 3 years ago in reply to Kareno62

I was on those whilst in hospital with my chemo problems and for a little while after I came out, but I stopped them a while back, when my stomach settled down. After trawling the forums, I found an interesting thread on thyroid issues after chemo treatment, so I'll ask my GP about that, as that can cause hair loss. I've been getting night sweats too but that could be down to "the change" being imminent! Enjoy the garden today instead of working in it! xx

court over 3 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Good to hear from you ! Time flies . I can’t believe it’s been three months since your chemo experience! So glad you are doing well .

I noticed a lot more shedding with peri menopause if that possibly applies to you ! Came in cycles too! Stopped for a few months and start up again . Like you lots of regrowth and I have a lot of hair so it does not show but I was startled at how much started coming out compared to normal times . Might not be relevant to you but I also noticed in my reading people can have a shedding period of hair loss following surgery ! Seems to resolve itself eventually but you might like to look into that aspect too , cover all angles .
Take care and I hope you are back to enjoying the everyday things on life ‘

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

FormerMember over 3 years ago in reply to court

Interesting! Perhaps it is the dreaded “change”!! I’ve always had quite fine hair so it’s quite noticeable (to me, anyway!) My GP has booked me for a blood test on the 18th to check iron levels and thyroid as a precaution. Good to rule it out at least xx I keep clogging up my hoover with all this hair! :-D Going to chat to a hairdresser and see what they suggest,

FormerMember over 3 years ago

Hi-just a thought but the hairloss may be more related to your diarrhoea reaction than to the chemo itself. I was reading about someone on a very low calorie diet who experienced dramatic hairloss 4 months later... it was due to malnutrition during the diet... the hair died and then began falling out 4 months later, while new hair was beginning to grow from the time she started to eat normally again. Her hair all grew back but it took a while. She didn’t lose all her hair but it thinned dramatically. I don’t know if that is what is happening to you, but it makes sense that a 4-week bout of severe diarrhoea could have the same impact as a very low calorie diet? So you might find tips on malnutrition hairloss rather than chemo hairloss to see what to expect and how to help.