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• bec81

  

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  March 7, 2012 3:00:26 PM WATime

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  Is there anything you can do to prevent hairloss with chemo? Clutching at straws I know but thought I'd ask!

  30yo Dx Feb 12, Left mastectomy and axillary clearance Feb. 5cm grade 3 tumour with 15/19 lymph nodes +ve. Hormone & Her2+ve. Chemo fortnightly 8 cycles (4 AC, 4 TH), then radiation & hormone therapy

• Jonica

  

  • 5 posts
  March 7, 2012 3:24:52 PM WATime

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  Sorry to say I don't know of anything but not all drugs will make your hair fall out, your oncologist will give you more info.......make sure you book into the look good feel better workshop, they give you some great tips for coping with it all :)

  43yo mum of 2 young boys. DX Aug 2010. 35mm stage 3 grade 2 IDC with 9/20 lymph nodes affected. LB mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation.

• sandy72

  

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  March 8, 2012 8:00:15 AM WATime

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  bec81 what chemo r u on. im taxol you can try but ask oncologist firts bec81. love sandy72

  sandy72 a mother of son nicolas 14years old with breast cancer stage 2 grade2. on chemo was on exloda. now on taxol

• Glenys

  

  • 162 posts
  April 29, 2012 12:27:35 AM WATime

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  Hair loss with chemotherapy is one of the more difficult aspects to have to deal with as it is so 'visual' and in-your-face! With modern chemo agents used to treat breast cancer, hair loss is 'standard' as a side-effect and very likely to happen. Being prepared for this as much as possible (and knowing your hair will grow back) is truly the key - as this is often the time of greatest shock and adjustment.
  
  Most states have wig libraries or services where you may borrow or purchase a wig for little to no cost. In WA, the Wig Service at Milroy Lodge in Shenton Park provides a range of wigs, turbans and scarves for loan at no cost (see link below).
  
  The 'Look Good, Feel Better' programs are excellent as support as well as ideas (as Jonica has already stated). Link also provided below. Cheers, Glenys xx
  
  Hair loss - Australia-wide sites:
  http://www.bcna.org.au/sites/default/files/bcna-fact-sheet-hair-loss-during-breastcancer-treatment.pdf
  
  WA site:
  http://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/2011-02-21-Hair-Loss.pdf
  
  Info on side-effects of chemotherapy (including hairloss)
  http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/CAN708-Understanding-Chemotherapy-reprint-Nov-11.pdf
  http://www.cancervic.org.au/about-cancer/types-treatments-trials/chemotherapy/side_effects_of_chemotherapy.html
  
  Wig Service, Shenton Park WA:
  http://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/2011-06-18-wig-service-brochure.pdf
  
  'Look Good - Feel Better' programs:
  http://lgfb.org.au/lgfb_wp/

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• bec81

  

  • 4294967295 posts
  May 4, 2012 1:09:22 PM WATime

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  Thanks for all the info and links! Guess just have to go with it - after all it's not forever! Actually is really interesting trying out different styles and colours! x

  30yo Dx Feb 12, Left mastectomy and axillary clearance Feb. 5cm grade 3 tumour with 15/19 lymph nodes +ve. Hormone & Her2+ve. Chemo fortnightly 8 cycles (4 AC, 4 TH), then radiation & hormone therapy

• Cokey

  

  • 4 posts
  September 21, 2012 2:06:16 PM WATime

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  Is this where i comment from a hairdressers point of view about when it is safe to colour your hair after it starts growing back?

   

   

   

  ... yes please Cokey! xxx ...

   

   

   

   

  This post was edited by Glenys at September 21, 2012 2:06:16 PM WATime"
• Cokey

  

  • 4 posts
  September 21, 2012 2:22:37 PM WATime

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  Ladies, please be very careful not to rush into using chemicals on your scalp too soon after chemotherapy. Your hair follicles will be fragile, after all they stopped functioning at all for a while. Your scalp may also be tender, and very easily burned. From a personal perspective my skin in general became itchy, red, developed hives and has not yet stopped being sensitive 3mths after last chemo. Anything we put into our bodies comes out through our hair and skin and can react with chemicals in a negative way. OK, yes I've coloured my hair! I combed it through the ends, not daring to touch the roots or scalp, just in case. I was also prepared to wear a scarf for another 2 months if i lost it all again. What i was not prepared to do was risk burning my scalp or my newly functioning hair follicles. So please see a professional before you colour, get advice, and insist on a patch test on your skin. Besides, having a "regrowth" makes it look longer, haha. Have fun with your hairdos, but do them safely :) xxx
• Cokey

  

  • 4 posts
  September 21, 2012 2:26:20 PM WATime

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  Oh and any drugs you take can leave a "residue"on your hairshaft and react with chemicals so do a strand test of a piece of hair prior to colour if you dont want it to snap straight off. Hope im not scaring you all, just trying to save some heartache for those that want to rush out and buy a packet from the supermarket and may regret it :) x
• Glenys

  

  • 162 posts
  September 24, 2012 10:29:30 AM WATime

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  Thanks so much Cokey for that. Fantastic to have a hairdresser's perspective! This was in response to a recent comment on our wall by a member:
  ".. Can anyone give me advice on my new hair it's grey which I knew it would be but how do I dye it will anything take on it. I'm sure some of you lovely ladies will have some ideas for me."
  
  Also to add the info I had posted there in response:
  " ... grey can look very elegant of course, but if that's not your thing then you can try hair dyes that do not contain harsh chemicals.as the hair and scalp are fragile and may be irritated and damaged. Vegetable-base dyes & henna dyes are recommended to try, though test first to check. Even these may not 'take' until the hair is stronger. A good hairdresser should be able to give advice on this. Link with info: http://cancerhelp.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-questions/using-hair-dye-after-chemo ..."
  
  Hope this, along with Cokey's advice, helps to answer queries about colouring hair. Would love to hear more accounts of how things have gone with hair re-growing / colouring (or not) after chemo ...
  xxx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• glenda

  

  • 2 posts
  September 11, 2013 11:40:32 AM WATime

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  Hi, will my hair be GREY when it grows back after chemo???
• Glenys

  

  • 162 posts
  September 11, 2013 12:35:35 PM WATime

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  Not everyone has grey hair when the new growth comes through after chemo Glenda, however many women do notice a change in their hair.
  
  Often the hair is a different colour - even if only slightly so. Grey in the hair is fairly common, and for some this is completely grey (possibly steel grey, salt/pepper or whitish grey). Of course quite a few of us have plenty of grey even before chemo!, and have been colouring for years (trying to recapture that 'natural' look!). This is when colouring regrowth after chemo has a real impact - especially if you'd successfully disguised the grey hair beforehand!!
  
  Other changes that may occur with regrowth are the hair may be more curly, thicker or finer, softer or more coarse.
  It's also possible there will be no difference to your hair at all.
  
  Are you starting chemo soon Glenda - or already underway? Any hairloss yet? How's it all going? (would love to hear - maybe another blog? ...)
  
  Sending loads of big hugs. xxx

  The Click Breast Care Nurse 

• glenda

  

  • 2 posts
  September 12, 2013 5:54:10 AM WATime

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  more surgery and then radiotherapy and chemo, grey does not worry me, as you said some of us already sport some grey.....just trying to establish some facts from fiction. love to all you beautiful ladies out there xxxx