Hello and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear about your situation and I can understand what a huge effect hair loss can be after chemotherapy.

It does usually take from 3-6 months for your hair to grow back properly after treatment but sometimes this can take a bit longer.

I am not sure whether you have had a chance to read the information on our website which has tips on hair loss. Using a gentle shampoo and perhaps if it is dry using a baby oil to help moisturise the scalp. You can look at the information here

Breast Cancer Now have some more information about hair loss which you can see here

I am not sure where you are living in the UK but if you are near a Maggie Centre they do offer workshops on hair loss. Have a look at their details here

They may also offer online courses so do get in touch with them.

As the weather is getting cooler you may find you are more prepared to wear a woolly hat and it is probably a good idea to do so as we lose so much heat from our head.

You have posted in 'ask the nurses' but if you post in another thread you may find that you get some more tips from women who have had hair loss like yourself.

Breast Cancer Now have a service called 'Someone Like Me' where they can try and put you in touch with women in a similar situation. Have a look at their details here

There is a list of organisations that provide support for hair loss including places where you can get hats and scarves.  I know that you are not keen to wear anything on your head but you may find some of the links helpful. Have a look here

I do hope that some of these links may help but you are of course very welcome to ring and speak to one of the helpline nurses. We are here Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040.

All the very best,

Catherine

I finished chemo 4 July, but my hair only stopped falling out at the start of September. I lost a strip from ear to ear, but for some bizarre reason my widow's peak survived. It started growing back properly in late August/early September.  I found wide headbands have really helped disguise some of the hairloss and hide the fact that my hair is different lengths - I got mine from Etsy. It grows back fast - I have 2 inches already and a very impressive mullet, as the best preserved and thickest hair I saved was all at the back! Still can't bear to cut the widow's peak to complete the mullet though.

I tend to wear a wig or headband still as I haven't decided what to do with my hair yet. I use a good conditioner every time I wash my hair and still use a satin pillowcase, which has helped soften the hair that survived. I also massage my head with a conditioning or thickening serum every night to promote a healthy scalp for the new hairgrowth. 

I was very self conscious too at first, but then I thought who cares?? Most people don't seem to notice anyway or are too polite to say anything. I miss my long dark blonde hair sometimes, but it is coming back and if anyone asks about my uneven hair I shall fix them with a hard stare and tell them Paddington Bear cut it for me. 

Hi

Oh you've cheered me up this morning, the comment about Paddington Bear made me laugh. I wish I had your confidence. I've been out once since I had my surgery on 14th Nov and that was only to the hospital for a check up. I do have to go on Thurs to see my Oncologist which I'm dreading as I don't want to go out.

I'll get over it eventually. I think with having kept most of my hair after chemo then it falling out weeks later really upset me. I still have a full head of hair, no patches but it's so thin, very wispy and grey. If I run my fingers through it it just stays, it doesn't fall back into place. I will try the hair bands again through. I need to just get on with it, I guess I've been through worse.

Hope you're doing OK.

x

My hairdresser said to treat it like a silk shirt, gently wash it and condition it and not to towel dry or use any heat - just let it air dry. Hair loss is by far the hardest bit, it changes who we see in the mirror and we fear in the darkest moments that it may not return as it was. There is nothing wrong with missing our hair as it was; it is only natural when we have been through so much. But every day as your hair grows you will see the old you coming back. Every day I look a little more like the old me.

I wrote myself notes for future me during treatment, calendar notifications asking how my hair was doing and if I had eyelashes. Maybe try writing to the future you - pick a date! I found it comforting. I chose 4 months after my final chemo for my first note (future me laughed and said I did have eyelashes, or is that the past me now? How odd!). Then imagine future you reading it and smiling to know how far you have come. You have come so far already. 

Every time they do something awful to me or I have to see the oncologist we do something nice afterwards. I eat my favourite foods or I have a hot chocolate, or I play the big grand piano at the hospital (that was 2 weeks post surgery so I had to keep an eye out for nurses that might tell me off). Is there something nice you can do after the oncologist appointment? I am going on Thursday too funnily enough. 

I am glad I made you smile today, that makes me smile too!