Inflammation and sore lumps on scalp with newly growing hair…anyone else experienced?

No experience, and obviously good to listen to your medical team's advice, but when I first read your header, the first thing that came to mind was whether you were using shampoo and conditioner, and if so, if there are any harsh chemicals in them. Chemo is pretty harsh on everything and your skin will be far more sensitive than normal for a long time. I only used water to wash my hair for many months, and then started using a no-nasties conditioning wash and have kept that up. I had already switched to more natural shampoos and conditioners prior to chemo (no SLS, parabens etc) but now I only wash with a gentle shampoo once a week and use conditioning wash the rest of the time, so everything is very gentle on my hair and scalp.

Of course, your inflammation could be completely unrelated, and it sounds like you need to stay vigilant with it for a while.

Hi Beatthebreast, thank you for replying. Good point! I had forgotten I had transitioned to a natural rosemary shampooo and conditioner after I attended a cancer hair care workshop and then last week was away and used something different which could have been too harsh. Today it looks a lot better less red and bumpy although it has tracked onto forehead..hoping Day 2 of antibiotics will have effects kick in. It’s true…you expect to bounce back and I am impatient too but my skin has definitely changed and aged on face and only now my nails all splitting at sides and breaking…4 months after I finished chemo! 

Try not to panic about the A&E comment - it’s a standard warning I get every time I get an infection and antibiotics and terrified me but so far oral ones have worked for me no problem.  It’s right they warn us and we are diligent in seeking help for any infection but it does sound extra scary when we’re already stressed - hope you feel better soon.  

Thank you so much for replying…I am a catastrophic thinker..I obviously like to torment myself! It’s true I suppose they need to give you all possibilities but just absolute trigger for me to reach for Dr Google! Am getting better with it

Hi, just in your last comment. My nails also went weak, splitting and breaking and coming away from the nail bed around 3-4 months after chemo had finished.  It's the gift that keeps giving!  I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in that.  And hope you get the scalp issue sorted soon.  PS don't Google 

Thank you Irishgirl16,  yes no more Google, get triggered so easily! Chemo definitely is the gift that keeps giving and was surprised at the lateness of the reaction with regards to nails. X

I just wanted to give an update but my rash was not improving, not worse in severity but continued to spread down my forehead towards my eye and after Day 3 expected antibiotics kicked in but they hadn’t plus It was so painful. It turns out it is shingles  and the chicken pox virus can be reactivated by the Radiotherapy I received two weeks ago so I am now on antivirals and hopefully that will alleviate symptoms. Just thankful I know what it is but has scuppered my weekend plans!