Post chemo and surgery facial hair

[desdemona]

Hi ladies,

Yes - I noticed lots of downy hair all over my cheeks and the back of my neck a few weeks after finishing FEC-T (caught it in the mirror one sunny morning).  I went on this forum and people mentioned that it was a side effect of the chemo and probably not permanent, so I stopped worrying and took it off with my epilator.  It has not grown back.  

I am 54, and the chemo triggered menopause. Eight months on from the last chemo (and on Tamoxifen) my eyebrows are reasonably full, but the hairs are curly, so they stick out and you cannot see them when viewed from the front! So I am still filling them in with pencil to give my face some definition.  Although my head hair is fairly well-established now, weirdly, my body hair (legs, armpits etc) is much less luxuriant than before - there have to be some upsides to the horrible treatment!

[Happyboobs2]

Hi, the wax strips have been very effective for me although best used in the evening and stay home after as once I went out with a bit of a blotchy face! Someone thought it was a bit too long in the sun. It settles by the next day. After a few times of using them I hardly ever need to now. They can be bought for a pound in the relevant stores!You just hold one in your hand to warm it up then apply and pull off, I have never had anything waxed before so am the biggest wuss, it is no problem...really.

[Shar47]

Hi, I also have this soft white downy facial hair, after FEC, 

my children very kindly pointed it out on holiday! I've tried an epilator on a small area but apart from being blooming painful I came out in spots! Was thinking of trying a facial hair removal cream, has anyone tried that? Maybe I'm being a wuss but not sure I trust myself with wax and can't seem to find a salon that does it.

[Happyboobs2]

Hi, I waxed the facial hair myself with strips available at Supermarkets. I have done it a few times and now hardly any have grown back. I put it down to the steroids that we take during chemo.I am two years post diagnosis.

Best wishes to all.

xx 

[Trishglynn]

Morning Ladies. I finished my last session of FEC-T on the 17th February. Going back to work tomorrow but look like a peach!!! Loads of facial hair that I don't think I had before.
Has anyone any recommendations on how to deal with this thought about threading but the lady who does it thinks it may make it worse.

[riversidedawn]

Yes I had loads of facial hair growth in first few months after chemo. I think part of it is that we are so much more aware of our bodies now and after 6 hairless months it is very noticeable as it grows back.

I had my chin waxed and the regrow that looks normal. I have got a few rogue longish dark hairs on chin and upper lip which I pluck out with tweezers. Such an attractive look when we are so conscious of the changes bc has made to our bodies.

[Treeze]

Ditto Amero..I have half an eyebrow..maybe we could make a whole one! 🙂 I noticed fine downy hair after my rads but I shaved it off and it hasn't grown back.

[SSM46]

Hi.. Yes I have noticed alot of facial hair after my fec-t and radiotheraphy.. After seeing my oncologist he advised me to see my G.P about it and they would refer me for some treatment. So I've booked in to see my G.P to see what treatments are available on the NHS..

[Amero]

Hello All,

I had the same, but it was dark and quite noticeable. It even grew in weird places like under my eyes, all over my neck and the middle of my nose and forehead! Not a good look. I bought an epilator and removed the lot. It hasn't grown back. Unfortunately only half of one of my eyebrows came back and as I have thick dark brows this looks rather odd! I have to keep remembering to fill the other half in with makeup.

Love Amero x

[Happyboobs2]

Hi Maureen

After my chemo and radiotherapy I realised I had rather a lot of facial hair which I hadn't had before.

I used facial wax strips to remove it and now approximately 5 months later it hasn't really grown back.

I am a bit older than your daughter so these things are expected as we age I think, I am 63.

I put it down to ( rightly or wrongly) the steroids I had to take.

I hope your daughter is well and coping with this awful diagnosis.

Best wishes to everybody.

xx

[neve23]

my daughter had six months chemo - her head hair, eyelashes and eybrows are coming back.  Unfortunately, she has a lot of facial hair growing which she didn't have before.  She is 46 yrs old.  Is it normal to get facilt hair to this degree after chemo.  She will soon be undergoing 5 weeks of radiotherapy 5 days a week.  Will the facial hair disappear.  Can you help please.

Maureen

[June_BCC]

Hello Feltz1

Welcome to the forums, I’m so pleased that you are finding them helpful.

Just to let you know we also have a free helpline where the staff can offer practical information as well as emotional support.  The free phone number is 0808 800 6000 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 10.00 to 2.00.

Best wishes

June, moderator

[feltz1]

So relieved to know that I am not alone!  I have been 2 1/2 months since my last dose of Taxol (Paclitaxel) and where I am so relieved that the hair on my head is growing back I am also quite shocked to find I have very blond downy hair (quite alot) on my face, neck, and shoulders.  I am quite downy on my fingers and arms too but I put that down to my hair growing back and just standing on end more because it is shorter.

However, I don't know what to put the facial, neck and shoulder hair down to.  I look like a hairy little monkey at the moment!  I used to be as bald as a tyre on my Grandfather's bike!  I am 47 and full swing into menopause now, brought on by the chemo and wasn't sure whether this hair growth is due to yet another side effect from the chemo and will go away (hopefully) or because I am going through menopause and unfortunately in that case it will probably stay.  I am not going to touch it for fear of it getting thicker and darker.  I will keep all posted on this thread with any updates.

[danielafederic]

I have! Lots of fluffy hair though, not really visible... I too cannot believe my left breast is gone, but ld flap reconstruction helps get over the loss! 😉

[catseye]

Hi,

I too had pale, downy hair mainly on the sides of my face, post chemo. I also sprouted hair on my hands and knuckles and on my tummy. Thought I was turning into a man!! At the time I wondered if this hair growth was connected to Tamoxifen, but ladies on here reassured me that over enthusiastic growth was quite common post chemo, and that it would calm down.

I'm happy to report that it has. There is still a  bit  on my face, (which I'm sure didn't have before chemo),  but when I sneakily check the faces of non-cancer friends of a similar age, (mid 40's) they have it too!

[Guest user]

Hi

I noticed the same thing and spoke to oncologist and she just brushed it away as if I was imagining it, but I do feel I would like to do something about it but not sure what really

[Guest user]

Hi Teej

I did think that also, maybe the hair on my face was like that anyway but because of my longer hair I didn't notice it as much. I wish my body would channel the energy into growing the hair on my head faster and my eyebrows rather than this though! xx

[Guest user]

Thanks Tracy, I started rubbing my face after I read your reply! But then thought your hairdresser was probably right 🙂 Yes, just another side effect really, and not an awful one in the scheme of things. It is very soft and downy so it could be worse. Any hair growth right now is a bit of a novelty!

Take good care and keep smiling too.
xx

[Teej]

Yes! I noticed this after FEC-t but wonder if I just hadn't noticed how hairy I was before. Also I've always had long hair which may have made it less noticeable before?!

[tracyld]

Hello Jo Jo, 

Yes I had lots of soft downy hair at the sides of my face after I finished the FEC T Chemo. Also it seemed to be around my neck as well and if I rubbed it hard enough it would come off in little patches. However my hairdresser told me to try and leave it alone and maybe it would not be as noticeable. I think maybe I have got used to seeing the extra hair growth , so try not to worry it is perfectly normal , jst another side affect to contend with !!!

Keep smiling it is the only way. 

Love and positive vibes

Tracy xxx

[Guest user]

Hello everyone

Has anyone experienced excess facial hair growth after chemo and/or surgery? I finished FEC and docetaxel chemo about 10 weeks ago, and had right MX with implant reconstruction 3 weeks ago (an operation I still can't quite believe I've hadto be honest, as an aside), and have noticed a real increase of facial hair in the last couple of weeks. The hair on my head has really started to come in now, but I didn't expect anything on my face to happen! I'd be grateful to hear if anyone else has found this? Thanks alot x