Hair Loss From Radiation?

Hi All,

As I posted earlier today, I am new to posting here, my mom was diagnosed last month, but I read this forum everyday and tell her everything I read........

Her doctor said she would lose her hair from the radiation treatments and that it probably would not ever grow back. What are your experiences with this? I know in the whole scheme of things, hair loss is really not an issue, but we were just wondering.

My husband finished his radiation 6/24/07 and the side where they radiated - no hair growth - at least not yet.  In fact, the only place where the hair is trying to grow back is a little bit at the bottom on the opposite side.  I just keep shaving his head.  Not so bad for a man but I'm sure heartbreaking for a woman.

Best wishes,

Barb

Husband dx 4/07/07 with inoperable GBM IV.  Left parietal / left temporal lobes.  Radiation and Temodar did not work.  On Avastin / CPT-11 since July 25, 2007 with one good MRI after another.

My brother's been shaving his head since he started to go grey, so the hair loss from the radiation is moot. And I have a young cousin who has had allopecia since she was eight or so -- she has one long, silky lock of hair, but she always wears a wig. I have hair, but it's ugly, so I keep it cropped and covered.

How old is your mom? Will she lose her eyebrows too? Because if she doesn't, she could just throw on some big gold earrings and deep red lipstick and rock the diva look.

Maybe it's ethnic, too: not that many Black women have hair that good that we miss it when it goes. Back in the day, people were always asking me if I was on chemo, because I was always wearing a wig or a big wrap, plus back then we plucked our eyebrows really thin!

Maybe if your mom starts experimenting with wigs and scarves and things, she'll be comfortable with her new look when the time comes.

--jayne

I do not know why the doctor is so sure of that?

My fathers hair grew back after radiation. We never had a doubt that it wouldn't.

Joe

On 5/2/2008 LittleGreys wrote:

Hi All,

As I posted earlier today, I am new to posting here, my mom was diagnosed last month, but I read this forum everyday and tell her everything I read........

Her doctor said she would lose her hair from the radiation treatments and that it probably would not ever grow back. What are your experiences with this? I know in the whole scheme of things, hair loss is really not an issue, but we were just wondering.

 

 

Hi,

I am a woman who is receiving radiation for base of tongue cancer.  My hair is also gone in the radiation area.  And is thinning on my whole head.

These are the things that I have been able to gather from doing  reading on the web.  My oncology nurse said that some people do and some don't get regrowth, so I went to this site and the internet.

Tell mom to use only baby shampoo or a super gentle PH balanced shampoo, do not color your hair during treatments, let it dry naturally do not use any blow dryers, curling irons, etc.  and try not to over brush or comb.  I know how hard it is to see the hair in the drain and all over your pillow case but these things have helped at least a little. 

Now this she needs to check out with her doctor, but I also read that after treatment, NOT DURING, prenatal vitamins will help if it is to grow back.  I plan to try them.

Another tip I picked up is to tell her to experiment with a new shorter hair style which will show less of the hair loss.  This one I am not planning on trying because I don't look good in short hair, but if she does, she might want to try this.

Hope this helps. D.

I was also told by an intern that my hair probably wouldn't grow back. My sister was with me and told him he shouldn't say that. The radiation-onc, that I had at the time, said it is different with each individual.I only lost hair in the area that was radiated; a large egged shape area in front at hairline, down to temple, and back to end of ear. My hair is growing back and is coming in dark. I was pretty grey before. The spot where the radiation was primarily focused is taking a longer time to fill in, but I do see little hairs there. I'm 53 and my hair was thinning b/surgery. The regrowth area is not full and thick. I know that when it gets longer, it will be enough to cover any spaces. When I had surgery, the shaved area grew back quickly and I cut my hair short to match. I got so many compliments on my short hair that I think I'll keep it short. Way easier, and quicker. I bought a wig for going back to teaching, but often wear a bandana. Either way you/your mother has to find what she is comfortable doing. If it were up to me I would have gone w/o anything. It didn't bother me, but I had to consider the school children and my family. It is important to try to get things back to a normal flow if possible. I was lucky not to have any deficits. By the grace of God, things are getting back to "normal" except for a few set backs with chemo and wbc's.

Good luck and God bless,

Denise

PS. - I like specifics, that is why I went into so much detail. Hope I didn't bore anyone!

dx: 7/29/07 surg: 8/2/07, rad/chemo: 9/18/07- 11/2/07, start of hair growth:3/08