Any advice for faster hair growth after chemo?

Posted by sprpatterson @sprpatterson, 6 days ago

I finished six cycles of chemo for ovarian cancer at the end of May. My hair started growing before end of treatment but it is all white. I am 67. Is this normal? Also, I welcome any ideas on natural ways to help the hair grow faster.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.

Profile picture for cookercooker @cookercooker

@denisestlouie What treatment did you receive and are you still receiving it? I ask because my hair looks awful. I'm on Enhertu (forever, it looks like), and while my hair is slowly growing in, it is fine and frizzy, and I have a receding hairline now.

Jump to this post

@cookercooker
I had six cycles of taxol and carboplatin. This is the third time I have had this chemo treatment now: 2008, 2022, and 2026.

REPLY
Profile picture for sprpatterson @sprpatterson

@cookercooker
I had six cycles of taxol and carboplatin. This is the third time I have had this chemo treatment now: 2008, 2022, and 2026.

Jump to this post

@sprpatterson Ah, this explains your hair growth. Four months after my 6 cycle treatment of the same treatment my hair grew back nicely. You've had enough time between treatments for full grow. Do you lose it during each subsequent block of cycles?

REPLY
Profile picture for cookercooker @cookercooker

@sprpatterson Ah, this explains your hair growth. Four months after my 6 cycle treatment of the same treatment my hair grew back nicely. You've had enough time between treatments for full grow. Do you lose it during each subsequent block of cycles?

Jump to this post

@cookercooker
I lost my hair the other two times. This time, however, I had some fine white hair while going through chemo. It’s only been six weeks since chemo ended. I am starting to see some dark hairs mixing with the white hairs. My eyebrows and lashes are starting to regrow although they are very fine and light.

REPLY
Profile picture for sprpatterson @sprpatterson

@cookercooker
I lost my hair the other two times. This time, however, I had some fine white hair while going through chemo. It’s only been six weeks since chemo ended. I am starting to see some dark hairs mixing with the white hairs. My eyebrows and lashes are starting to regrow although they are very fine and light.

Jump to this post

@sprpatterson That's good news. No bald patches or receding hairline at all? I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes. They never really grew back again. What do you do about that?

REPLY
Profile picture for cookercooker @cookercooker

@sprpatterson That's good news. No bald patches or receding hairline at all? I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes. They never really grew back again. What do you do about that?

Jump to this post

@cookercooker
It looks full but fine, which is like my regular hair before chemo. I don’t have a receding hairline. I use castor oil for eyelashes—apply every night before bed. I use rosemary oil and olive oil mixture for hair and eyebrows.

REPLY
Profile picture for sprpatterson @sprpatterson

@cookercooker
It looks full but fine, which is like my regular hair before chemo. I don’t have a receding hairline. I use castor oil for eyelashes—apply every night before bed. I use rosemary oil and olive oil mixture for hair and eyebrows.

Jump to this post

@sprpatterson
thank you for that. I'll see what I can do using your suggestions:)

REPLY
Profile picture for cookercooker @cookercooker

@denisestlouie What treatment did you receive and are you still receiving it? I ask because my hair looks awful. I'm on Enhertu (forever, it looks like), and while my hair is slowly growing in, it is fine and frizzy, and I have a receding hairline now.

Jump to this post

@cookercooker There is a FaceBook group wig "Wig Wearing for Beginners". It is a private group. You might learn from others' experience. Members have hair loss for a variety of conditions,, chemo among them. Wishing you recovery!

REPLY

Thanks for that. I'll check them out, although I've been wearing a wig for a few years now. I never got used to them. They itch my forehead. I just want my hair back.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.