Hair Regrowth FEC/TAX 1 year on!

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Recovering from treatment
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Hello bc thrivers!

It’s the end of November 2021 and I finished chemotherapy in the middle of January 2021 (technically my cycle ended Feb 2021) and I have been obsessing over my hair regrowth! I’ve read in lots of places that TAXOTERE has a 15-30% chance of permanent hair loss. I’ve seen people at 6 months post-treatment with a full head of hair who’ve had 2 visits to the hairdresser for a tidy-up! My hair is still short, thin and at a guess I’m missing 60% of the hair I had pre-treatment. I didn’t opt for the cold cap as I can’t handle hanging around hospitals more than I need but also I got the impression from my Macmillan nurse that there was some ambiguity about the effectiveness. I’m obsessing over my hair!

It’s seriously been such a distressing part of this whole thing. I’ve had a lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed, 6 rounds of chemo and 19 zaps of radiotherapy. My hair apparently is my crowning glory and the gateway to moving on. I’m not reading many threads about hair growing much beyond 6 months even. Someone please brighten my day and tell me I should wait longer and it’ll all be ok. 

And with respect please don’t tell me to speak to my bc team, I don’t have one I trust. My bc nurse gave me an incorrect diagnosis as did my consultant and after treatment I had bone pain and my referral for a bone scan was missed plus my annual review (unbelievable I know!).  I’m very well clued up in the healthcare system being a specialist nurse myself and I feel I have nowhere I trust to turn to apart from fellow bc thrivers. One thing I do know is that if you’re that patient that has one mistake happen, it sadly won’t be your last. I am that patient and I despair at this given how I went above and beyond in my own role as a specialist nurse.

I hope some can share their stories to give me hope. How id your hair regrowth going after 10 months?

Thank you xx 

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Hi rambomac What worked for me was extra dark Jamaican black castor oil ribbon scalp and leave for an hour then wash off with the lush red dot shampoo bar called new or nu (not sure if they still do it) but within 4 weeks made a real difference because mine hair took a while compared to everyone else’s but remember we are all different Make sure you moisturise hair lots as it goes back too I’ve found the Aussie miracle range good and as it got longer again, I use Philip Kingsley hair elasticizer and the vo5 hot oils. It does take a bit of time but be positive and patient, embrace all the new styles you will go through and you will get there it just takes time It’s taken 3 and half years for mine to get back to near my waist but it’s been worth the perseverance Keep focused and give the tips a try you’ve nothing to loose :two_hearts: :two_hearts: :sparkles: :sparkles: Shi xx

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Hi Rambomac

Thank you for posting this, I always look for posts about poor hair growth as mine is and continues to be.  I shall be following your thread with interest, and will try the Jamaican castor oil myself. 

I finished chemo in February 2019 and Herceptin February 2020, and had to keep my wig on until mid 2020, 18 months. I kept seeing ladies with gorgeous short cropped hairdos, all full and thick, mine was scraggly and patchy. Outwardly my hair covers my head, however I always had a fringe, now that is very sparse, every time I look in a mirror I see the light bouncing off my scalp. I have to wear a hat as my head gets so cold in Winter now.  I hate having my photo taken as if the wind blows you can see my hairline has receded quite dramatically and I look partially bald. I guess I have lost about 35 to 40% of hair. In little under three years I’ve only grown 8 inches or hair, I am trying to cut off the frizzy ends but they have not yet reached my shoulders from the top of my head, and am having to have a short bob now as my hair is too thin to take a longer haircut. 

Added to the extremely slow and thin hair growth I also have no eyebrows so have to draw them on every day, never had an issue before chemo, they were very obvious!

I hope the castor oil works for you, I am at my wits end with my hair, it’s soul destroying.

Take care x