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Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
I have seen Cytoxan mentioned. Does hair loss occur with CyBorD? My doctor said it may thin a tiny bit, but I wouldn't lose it. Is that because the dose of Cytoxan is lower?
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gardengirl - Name: gardengirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov. 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 47
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
My hair became thin and brittle during the CyBorD portion of my treatment, and I obsessed over it. It was the Cytoxan they gave me to get my cells ready to harvest that made it fall out.
It's back, though ... thicker than ever and CURLY. That was a surprise.
I've always had thick and wavy hair, but this? Downright Celtic; right out of Disney's "Brave."
So ... have faith. Whatever happens now, it will be back.
It's back, though ... thicker than ever and CURLY. That was a surprise.
I've always had thick and wavy hair, but this? Downright Celtic; right out of Disney's "Brave." So ... have faith. Whatever happens now, it will be back.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
I have a friend who is a make up artist. Since I was told I would lose my hair when I go for the stem cell transplant in January, she is painting (with marker) a face on the back of my head and adding eyelashes. Not permanent, just long enough to get a laugh out of it!
You have to laugh and make fun of life! Or it will get the best of you!
You have to laugh and make fun of life! Or it will get the best of you!
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Brenda Meadows
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
Last January thru the end of April 2014 I had Cytoxan, Velcade, and dex. My hair thinned quite a bit. It was half way down my back at the time. In June I had a stem cell transplant and the melphalan caused my hair to fall out about 10 days later. It is now starting to come back dark and curly. (I think -- it is less than 1/2 inch long right now.) This week I start on Velcade, Revlimid, and dex. I hope my hair continues to come in.
Since I work in a school, I wear wigs. It does confuse some of the 6th grade students when I wear different ones. But you have to find some fun going thru all this.
Since I work in a school, I wear wigs. It does confuse some of the 6th grade students when I wear different ones. But you have to find some fun going thru all this.
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Patricia
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
Hi Patricia,
I want to share my experience with you because, like you, my hair was long down my back when I lost it to melphalan.
When my hair first came back, it was curly and thicker than it had been. The color didn't change -- where I had been brunette, it came back brunette; where it had been gray, it came back gray.
I wore a wig just for a few months, then just wore my hair short. Over several years, as it grew, it changed back to the consistency it had before.
I'm four years into growing it back, and it is now down below my shoulders -- long enough to start braiding again or clip up. Hang in there and enjoy the changes over the next couple of years.
Dana A
I want to share my experience with you because, like you, my hair was long down my back when I lost it to melphalan.
When my hair first came back, it was curly and thicker than it had been. The color didn't change -- where I had been brunette, it came back brunette; where it had been gray, it came back gray.
I wore a wig just for a few months, then just wore my hair short. Over several years, as it grew, it changed back to the consistency it had before.
I'm four years into growing it back, and it is now down below my shoulders -- long enough to start braiding again or clip up. Hang in there and enjoy the changes over the next couple of years.
Dana A
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
Did you lose all of your body hair when you had the SCT? Eyelashes, eye brows, etc? What about finger nails and toe nails? I'm having my SCT in Chicago in November and am just trying to know what all to expect. I like details ... what can I say?
I did order a wig the other day and was actually surprised. They didn't really look as bad as I thought they would and were very reasonable in price. I mean, there are all types of price ranges, but I actually liked one that was fairly cheap. Hope it doesn't look too cheap once I put it on my bald head and examine it more closely. Going for a fitting on Monday to see if I really like it in the color I ordered. If not, they have free returns.
I actually think I will probably be wearing more caps and scarves than anything else, but, hey, ya never know. I finally won't have to dry and curl or straighten my hair. That ought to knock a lot of time off getting ready to go places. I might actually like to change up and order myself a couple of wigs, who knows
Going from a person who doesn't like to wear hats and has always had hair on the longer side, this is going to be quite the ride. I see everyone else seems to have survived just fine -- I am sure I will to....;-/
Have any beauty tips for this new look, or websites with good tips and tricks? I mean, when you put foundation makeup on, do I put it all over my whole head or what?
I know these things are not that important when you look at the bigger picture but grrrrrrr ...
multiple myeloma sucks.
Stay strong everyone
I did order a wig the other day and was actually surprised. They didn't really look as bad as I thought they would and were very reasonable in price. I mean, there are all types of price ranges, but I actually liked one that was fairly cheap. Hope it doesn't look too cheap once I put it on my bald head and examine it more closely. Going for a fitting on Monday to see if I really like it in the color I ordered. If not, they have free returns.
I actually think I will probably be wearing more caps and scarves than anything else, but, hey, ya never know. I finally won't have to dry and curl or straighten my hair. That ought to knock a lot of time off getting ready to go places. I might actually like to change up and order myself a couple of wigs, who knows
Going from a person who doesn't like to wear hats and has always had hair on the longer side, this is going to be quite the ride. I see everyone else seems to have survived just fine -- I am sure I will to....;-/
Have any beauty tips for this new look, or websites with good tips and tricks? I mean, when you put foundation makeup on, do I put it all over my whole head or what?
I know these things are not that important when you look at the bigger picture but grrrrrrr ...
multiple myeloma sucks.
Stay strong everyone
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Terri Michigan - Name: Terri Michigan
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 45
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
I never lost any hair on the chemo drugs I was on the first year. It was mostly oral drugs and Velcade injections.
I knew I would lose my hair during the SCT, last month, but I got a lot of support here with this group.
I had long hair that I loved. Had been growing it out for over two years. But phase one was to cut it short before going in the hospital as a transition. When it started coming out in gobs, 14 days after chemo before the transplant, I had the nurse shave my head.
You do have to laugh. There is no sense in doing anything else!
I have only been home a few days and this is still new. Yet right away I stopped making sure I was wearing a hat with my kids around. They are used to it now. One of my runner friends shaves his head, so we posted a "twinsies" shot of the two of us on Facebook. I never dreamed I would be ready so soon to post my bald head, but I did it! My friends say I have a nicely shaped head. I would have never known!
And just an FYI, I was very happy to lose my leg and under arm hair as well. I still have eyebrows. So I pretty much got what I wanted. I mean, considering that I lost it on my head, this was only fair!
Sure I get a little sad about it sometimes, but most of time I just find something funny about it. The more I laugh about this stuff, the more at ease everyone else is around me. And then it becomes a "no thing".
I knew I would lose my hair during the SCT, last month, but I got a lot of support here with this group.
I had long hair that I loved. Had been growing it out for over two years. But phase one was to cut it short before going in the hospital as a transition. When it started coming out in gobs, 14 days after chemo before the transplant, I had the nurse shave my head.
You do have to laugh. There is no sense in doing anything else!
I have only been home a few days and this is still new. Yet right away I stopped making sure I was wearing a hat with my kids around. They are used to it now. One of my runner friends shaves his head, so we posted a "twinsies" shot of the two of us on Facebook. I never dreamed I would be ready so soon to post my bald head, but I did it! My friends say I have a nicely shaped head. I would have never known!
And just an FYI, I was very happy to lose my leg and under arm hair as well. I still have eyebrows. So I pretty much got what I wanted. I mean, considering that I lost it on my head, this was only fair!
Sure I get a little sad about it sometimes, but most of time I just find something funny about it. The more I laugh about this stuff, the more at ease everyone else is around me. And then it becomes a "no thing".
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KimT - Name: Kim Tank
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
RE: the loss of leg and underarm hair ...
Now, I didn't lose my eyebrows OR my eyelashes, but I had the smoothest legs and underarms anybody could wish for.
Trouble is, the leg hair started growing back before the head hair did.
Dang.
On the other hand, even though I have extremely curly hair now, AND it's very thick, I still don't have underarm hair.
The chemo taketh away, and the chemo giveth. Now, if I can just keep the curls, I'll be a happy camper (well, aside from the remission that I've been in for a full year now, I'd like to keep the curls, too).
I surprised the heck out of myself, though. I only tried one wig on, and I hated it. Hated the hats and scarves too, and I've always loved hats. I went boldly bald pretty much everywhere.
But then, I"ve always been a bit on the odd side.
Now, I didn't lose my eyebrows OR my eyelashes, but I had the smoothest legs and underarms anybody could wish for.
Trouble is, the leg hair started growing back before the head hair did.
Dang.
On the other hand, even though I have extremely curly hair now, AND it's very thick, I still don't have underarm hair.
The chemo taketh away, and the chemo giveth. Now, if I can just keep the curls, I'll be a happy camper (well, aside from the remission that I've been in for a full year now, I'd like to keep the curls, too).
I surprised the heck out of myself, though. I only tried one wig on, and I hated it. Hated the hats and scarves too, and I've always loved hats. I went boldly bald pretty much everywhere.
But then, I"ve always been a bit on the odd side.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
Isn't it wierd what falls out and what doesn't?
I probably lost about 70% of my head hair to the pre stem cell collection Cytoxan, so I eventually buzz cut what was left with the beard trimmer. But, as with others, I never lost eyebrows, eyelashes, or moustache and goatee. All other facial hair went, as did everything from the neck down. I am now patiently waiting for my second puberty (I just hope it goes a lot more smoothly than the first one did).
I probably lost about 70% of my head hair to the pre stem cell collection Cytoxan, so I eventually buzz cut what was left with the beard trimmer. But, as with others, I never lost eyebrows, eyelashes, or moustache and goatee. All other facial hair went, as did everything from the neck down. I am now patiently waiting for my second puberty (I just hope it goes a lot more smoothly than the first one did).
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MattSchtick - Name: Andy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb27 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Hair loss during multiple myeloma treatment?
Hi Terri. I already posted in this thread about losing the hair on my head. Now to the other hair: I did not lose my eyelashes or eyebrows, although my eyebrows thinned a bit. I lost the hair under my arms and on my legs but not on my forearms. The hair on my legs and underarms both came back really sparse. It amuses me to shave my underarms, where there are maybe 12 hairs -- just enough to be noticeable.
Dana A
Dana A
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darnold - Name: Dana Arnold
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 52
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