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Discussion about multiple myeloma treatments, stem cell transplants, clinical trials, alternative medicines, supplements, and their benefits and side effects.

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by KarenaD on Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:31 am

Thanks for your responses, Nancy and Reece.

So the corkscrew curls may be temporary. Hmm. I'll try to make the most of it – maybe Little Orphan Annie for Halloween. :)

KarenaD
Name: Karen
Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
Age at diagnosis: 54

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by Rhonda on Mon Sep 19, 2016 3:31 pm

Hi

I had my transplant in August 2015 and the hair on my head started to grow back in November 2015. The rest of my hair i.e. legs, underarms took longer to begin growing back. I have thicker hair and a lot of curls but not ringlets. The curl I have just is an out of control curl. My hair is still pretty short. It also seems like different parts of my hair on my head are growing back slower as I have different lengths. I have had several hair cuts to attempt to manage the curl and the way it is growing, but it still has a mind of its own.

Any and all suggestions welcome

Have a great day!

Rhonda

Rhonda
Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2014
Age at diagnosis: 54

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by Tigerboy74 on Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:40 pm

Mine grew back curly after about 3 months! And it is thick, I kind of like it. I'm gonna see how long I can get it!

Tigerboy74
Name: Mike
Who do you know with myeloma?: Me and few others
When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007
Age at diagnosis: 32

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by KarenaD on Tue Sep 20, 2016 5:40 pm

Hi Mike,

I hope you're doing well! We had our transplants on the same day. Now it seems like our hair re-growth schedule and hair texture is the same! I've had short hair for the past 20+ years, but plan on growing mine out too. We'll have to compare notes in a few months! :)

Karen

KarenaD
Name: Karen
Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
Age at diagnosis: 54

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by Tigerboy74 on Wed Sep 21, 2016 3:41 pm

Karen,

You'll have to post some before and afters! I'll do the same!

Continued success with your recovery.

Mike

Tigerboy74
Name: Mike
Who do you know with myeloma?: Me and few others
When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007
Age at diagnosis: 32

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by KarenaD on Thu Sep 22, 2016 9:26 am

I originally started this thread because I was concerned about permanent hair loss after melphalan. Permanent hair loss is a real concern when using some other chemotherapies, like Taxotere (docetaxel).

From my personal research (google) and my own experience, it appears that permanent hair loss is probably not a major concern with melphalan, although hair regrowth after melphalan can often be quite different (i.e. thicker/curlier).

Mike,

Here are my photos five months after melphalan. The colour is the same, but the texture is now curly. These photos actually do not do justice to just how curly it really is.

Hair1v2.jpg
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Hair2v2.jpg
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KarenaD
Name: Karen
Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
Age at diagnosis: 54

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by moonscape on Thu Sep 22, 2016 8:16 pm

Oh KarenA, it's fabulous! I'm hearing you'll be glad for it to tame down, but from this side of the keyboard it looks fantastic.

Great photos.

moonscape
Who do you know with myeloma?: me
When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/2015

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by Tigerboy74 on Fri Sep 23, 2016 2:03 pm

I always had straight hair! I did have to add some gel as it would "fro" out otherwise ...

CurlyHair1v2.jpg
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CurlyHair2v2.jpg
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Tigerboy74
Name: Mike
Who do you know with myeloma?: Me and few others
When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007
Age at diagnosis: 32

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by dianaiad on Fri Sep 23, 2016 8:52 pm

Yeah, I miss my 'chemo-curls' too.

I didn't lose my eyebrows or my eyelashes ... or, darn it all, my mustache. DID lose all the hair on my head and every where else, arms and legs and everything in between included, except, darn it, the mustache. Tell me. Was that fair?

My curls came in snow white, soft, thick and curly. I loved it.

Then they grew out. Hair is still thick (it always was) with the wave I was always used to, but it got darker and darker so that now I'm dark gun-metal grey and white, mostly grey.

That, too, is annoying because I was born a redhead. I mean, sheesh. Every once in awhile I'm tempted to do something about that, but, nahh. too much work.

All the hair came back except the hair under my arms. I figure after three years, if it's not back, it probably ain't coming back, and if I were going to have permanent hair loss anywhere, that's a pretty good place. ;)

And KarenaD? Yep, that's about what my hair looked like, too. Enjoy it while you have it!

It's fun.

dianaiad
Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
Age at diagnosis: 63

Re: Hair regrowth after high-dose melphalan

by KarenaD on Sat Sep 24, 2016 9:12 am

Thanks for the comments, Moonscape and Diana.

Mike: Great pics!

It seems our hair takes on multiple personalities after melphalan - with curly / wavy being dominant. I think I need to rename this thread "Life is too short to have boring hair". :)

KarenaD
Name: Karen
Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
Age at diagnosis: 54

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