I had my last round of chemo yesterday, 3 x ec, 3 X docetaxel. I have cold capped throughout and whilst I have lost a lot of hair, probably half to two thirds. I had such long thick hair before I still look to have a fairly good head of hair.
Any advice on when I might stop losing hair now chemo has finished? We are all looking forward to no longer finding hair all over the house, clothes, carpets, clogging up the washing machine etc. Thanks in advance.
hello Libwithlob
Well done on completing your chemotherapy. It's not easy I know. I hope that you are starting to recover from the treatment. I found it took a while to start feeling myself after mine had finished and a year later I still have some fatigue etc if I over do things.
I also used the cold cap and its hard to say but I reckon I must have lost about 50%- It sort of thinned all over but I avoided bald patches. Lost all body hair though. Body hair started to come back about 6 weeks PFC. I had some signs of hair regrowth during chemo. Shedding stopped for me at around 6 weeks PFC. At around 12 weeks PFC I had a good amount of regrowth and hair was thickening up and I then returned to normal hair care, shampoos, hair dyer etc. Used loads of conditioner. Used a box hair dye as my hair was looking grey and coarse. That really helped and I felt more me again. My last chemo was Aug2022 and my hair is now slightly wavy with the odd chemo curl popping up. My hair was straight before, maybe a very slight wave. Hair is all different lengths but growing in fast. It just looks like its been layered now. Will probably have a haircut next month for the first time. Could probably have had a trim before but just wanted the sides to grow down a bit more and for it to feel thicker.
I hope this helps. It is hard waiting for the shedding to stop but with me it sort of slowed and then I realised it had stopped. I think also the hair that was left after chemo was dry and more prone to breakage. I hope yours settles down soon.
Jane
I didn't have to shave my legs for around 6 months. I think there is differences between the chemo drugs and regimes. One I had is known for losing hair all over and the other is known for thinning. The cooling cap worked for me- I would have lost it all otherwise.
My hair loss varied as well between cycles. Main sheds I feel were 2 weeks after first and then post chemo. I was surprised how quick my eye brows and eye lashes came back though.
When you are waiting for the regrowth it seems to take ages but within the first 2 months there was a major difference- and once it started coming in it thickened up fairly quickly. One thing you could try for yourself is to take a photo once a week/month and then you will be able to see the difference. I did that and it helped me.
I have a good amount of regrowth now but still have some very dry chemo affected ends. After chemo the hair I had left - you can tell its affected by the chemo. I didn't really notice that it looked damaged- it was more after the chemo finished and things begun to settle. Although yours is thick still, just be prepared that you may lose a little more before it settles. First regrowth was soft but now it feels as normal hair. My hair was just past my shoulders when I started and it is now just above my shoulders. I think some of that is to do with the regrowth being wavier.
Jane
