Hair loss after chemo

I finished my last round just over 4 weeks ago. I had 3 EC and 3 docetaxyl. I cold capped and my hair thinned but is still falling out, any ideas when it will stop shedding?

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Everyone is different, just give yourself time and look after it. I cold capped and managed to keep half of mine after 10 rounds of Taxyl/carbo. It kept coming out for about 6 weeks after, then returned to normalish shedding. Unfortunately, 1 round of EC 3 weeks ago has already caused what I had left to fall out completely. So, just be gentle with it, persevere, and look forward to the fluffy halo of regrowing hair inbetween your saved hair!!! :blush: xx

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I had the same chemo cycles as you and cold capped all but the last one (I was just too battered!) so lost most- not all. It did shed for a while but by 3 months after completion (at the very latest) had a good amount so felt fine going uncovered. At first came back a dull grey (although in my 69s my hair hasn’t gone grey yet) but changed back to my usual colour within a few weeks. Best of luck.

I think it depends on the persons hair type and maybe condition before. I cold capped onlynonce as it was falling out just after 1 EC…I didnt want parches so just cut it short…it mostly fell out…now on 7 tomorrow or 8. So once complete hoping it starts to grown again.
.

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Hi

I cold capped and kept most of my hair, shed a bit and two small patches above my ears after 12 weeks of Paclitaxel.

I found this charity very helpful, you can email or call for advise. Jasmine works with look good feel better charity and worked with Trevor Sorbie. www.cancerhaircare.co.uk

Also Paxman www.coldcap.com

I hope it helps🥰

Wow Tabby-Lou you’ve done well to keep hair that long if you’ve not cold capped.

Mine started coming out 13 days after I had my first EC - as I was told it would. I think I was as bald as a coot all over within another 2 weeks. It started growing back in the middle of my 9 weekly Paclitaxel course - but, of course, the first back was nose hair obvs! :woman_facepalming: I think this was just shy of 3 months after it started falling out.

By 5 months I was happy to go out without a wig. People thought I had braved the shave for charity. I didn’t put them right if they didn’t know :wink:

3 years later, I am finally going back platinum blonde next week after embracing my natural grey - have had highlights to stop me looking like a badger :badger:

Everyone is different so you can’t tell. Just like you can’t tell when it will grow back or what it will be like.

Best wishes

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I had 3 EC and 3 Docetaxel and cold capped throughout. I lost most of my hair during the EC treatments, but my eyelashes and eyebrows hung on til the Docetaxel. My fall out had finished by the third EC, and regrow started about a month after my last Docetaxel. Give yourself some more time, then chat to your nurses if theres still no improvement.

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate your replies x

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Hi ladies,
I finished 4 docetaxel and 3 EC 5 Weeks ago and I cold caped all the way . I kept most of my hair till round 6 ,then I lost about 30 % and after last round 7 I lost the most and whats really upsetting is still coming out now 5 weeks after chemotherapy.
I have enough on the sides but only little left at my crown , when is this shedding gonna stop ? I really though I saved my hair but if this shedding keep happening soon I will be bold . Should I just shaved it off or keep praying that it will stop soon ?


I always had a lots of hair and now they so thin , is so upsetting :pensive:
Appreciated any advise :heart:

Hi @maca41 welcome to the forum.

You have done amazing completing that much chemotherapy. I cold capped and kept most of my hair with two small patches above my ears.

I would like to sign post you to the Paxman website ( see my post above) where you can find lots of information about coldcapping. I know that they recommend continuing if you can as it can help with re growth.
Or Cancer Hair Care charity ( see link above)

I hope you find the answers you need.
:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Thank you naughty __boob,
I finished the treatment and did cold cap all the way , but my concern was heavy shedding after finishings all chemo. I booked myseld to a haidresser in a couple of weeks in my near cancer well-being centre to give me some advise and appropriate haircut so it can cover most of the patches, obviously thats if I still keep my hair , I just want this shedding to stop :weary: xx

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Hi maca41, you have done really well. I cold capped lost 50% of my hair. It started to grow back before last docataxel but it was also still shedding for about 5 weeks after last chemo. The rest of my body hair is sparse so I think my head hair would have not recovered as well if I hadn’t cold capped. They say cold capping protects the hair follicles and in my case I think that was true.

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Thank you for replying Shade :heart:
I didnt loose any on docetaxel- that was first , followed by 3 EC ,last one just killed me physically and emotionally, lost my eylashes and about 70 % of my hair , still enough to cover my head if I spread it but pony tail is so very thin :cry:
I hoping this shedding will stop soon.
How long ago did you have you chemo ? Are you recovered now ?
I just had my surgery yesterday, is so tough to go through it all , very long journey xx

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Hi macca41,
I had 3xEC followed by 3xdocataxel. That’s probably why I had some new growth on docataxel. I continue to have treatments. After chemo and radiotherapy I started Abemaciclib for 2 years so I still have 7 months to go. I felt rubbish by the end of chemo. Short walks killed me but 2 months after chemo I felt so much better. I did walk daily to build up my stamina but it did help. Initially my heart rate was 140 at the end of a walk and my husband was 70 but it did improve with time.

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Reading that you’ve just had your surgery makes me think that you are feeling very emotional and may need seek some support. Everything about this cancer journey can trigger emotional responses and I found it important to share these.

The BCN helpline nurses are fantastic to chat to on the * Helpline: 0808 800 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; Sat 9am-1pm). Speak to our trained helpline team. No questions are too big or too small.

When you are ready there is more support for you.

I found the Moving Forward course a good way to meet up with ladies affected locally and we still keep in touch via WhatsApp.

  • Moving Forward: Finishing treatment can be hard, and it can be difficult to move forward with your life. You can access our support online or face-to-face. Our online information hub and Moving Forward journal provide extra ideas and information. Courses run over 2 weeks, with 2 3.5hr sessions. Or trained facilitators and volunteers are there to help. Find a course near you.

You can also access help via Maggie’s , if there is one near you. MacMillan also offer support online and by phone. They have a HOPE course once your treatment is finished.

:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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I am glad it did improve , I know is a long journey and it will get better with time ,but it take a while to accepted it :heart:

You are right naughty_boob, I am very emotional, but it was much worse week before surgery , after chemo …it was very dark place :weary:
I have so many friends who are trying to help and be there for me , but I did shut them out a lot through this hard time , even had a lots of dark thoughts :pensive:
But now after surgery I feel relived , even though is gonna be a long journey I have so much to live for :heart:
Thank you for all the advise, I will look it up X

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