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Stem cell harvest and hair loss
Getting ready to schedule a date to harvest my stem cells. Haven't sat down with the doctor yet regarding the stem cell collection process. Will I definitely lose all my hair - head / eyebrows / body?
Re: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
If they mobilize with Cytoxan, that often results in hair loss (though not in all cases). If Cytoxan is not used in the mobilization (only Neupogen and Mozobil), then no. Good luck to you.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
My husband lost all hair from his head and body, but did not lose his eyebrows or eyelashes. He had Cytoxan and melphalan.
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rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
Thanks for the replies. It's amazing how differently we all respond to treatments and the side effects associated with them. It's such an individual diagnosis under the umbrella of multiple myeloma. Maybe all cancers are like this and I am just not aware of it.
When I walk around town, nobody can tell I have cancer and I am good with that. I'm not too happy to find out I will be losing my hair when I harvest my stem cells because now everyone will know. Believe it or not, I think losing my eyebrows is a bigger personal issue as it is a tell tale sign. I wear a suit to work, so a baseball cap just won't cut it. Does that sound strange or just really really vain?
When I walk around town, nobody can tell I have cancer and I am good with that. I'm not too happy to find out I will be losing my hair when I harvest my stem cells because now everyone will know. Believe it or not, I think losing my eyebrows is a bigger personal issue as it is a tell tale sign. I wear a suit to work, so a baseball cap just won't cut it. Does that sound strange or just really really vain?
Re: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
Hi,
Cytoxan caused head hair loss and thinning everywhere else. The funny thing was when it came back it was thicker, darker, and curly. Everybody likes it better now and it looks like I color it!
Another twist in the road.
Best! BN
Cytoxan caused head hair loss and thinning everywhere else. The funny thing was when it came back it was thicker, darker, and curly. Everybody likes it better now and it looks like I color it!
Another twist in the road.
Best! BN
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Bar-none - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/14
Re: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
I did not lose my hair during the stem cell collection process. It seems like a long time ago now as they harvested my cells soon after I was diagnosed (early 2011), but then froze them and I didn't have the stem cell transplant until June 2014. As others have said, it depends what they use during the harvest process.
I did lose my hair during the stem cell transplant, but only from my head, not from anywhere else on my body. In my case, I wound up having them shave off what was left on my head while I was still in the hospital, since the constant shedding was starting to be depressing.
Once you've had your stem cell transplant scheduled, I'd suggest making an appointment to get a wig. It's better to have it ready ahead of time because you definitely won't feel like going out to try on wigs afterwards. I'm lucky in that I work part-time from home so didn't have to worry about dressing for the office, but I still wore the wig sometimes when I was out and about and just didn't feel like being stared at.
I totally understand what you mean about not wanting every stranger to know. It's possible to find quite good wigs, although they are pricey. I decided against getting a human hair one as it would have been over $1,000. As it was, the one I got was around $300, I think. You might ask at the doctor's office or hospital if they have any recommendations or advice.
Good luck with the whole process and I hope all goes well.
Karen
I did lose my hair during the stem cell transplant, but only from my head, not from anywhere else on my body. In my case, I wound up having them shave off what was left on my head while I was still in the hospital, since the constant shedding was starting to be depressing.
Once you've had your stem cell transplant scheduled, I'd suggest making an appointment to get a wig. It's better to have it ready ahead of time because you definitely won't feel like going out to try on wigs afterwards. I'm lucky in that I work part-time from home so didn't have to worry about dressing for the office, but I still wore the wig sometimes when I was out and about and just didn't feel like being stared at.
I totally understand what you mean about not wanting every stranger to know. It's possible to find quite good wigs, although they are pricey. I decided against getting a human hair one as it would have been over $1,000. As it was, the one I got was around $300, I think. You might ask at the doctor's office or hospital if they have any recommendations or advice.
Good luck with the whole process and I hope all goes well.
Karen
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Karen - Name: Karen
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 51
Re: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
I began losing my hair 10 days post Cytoxan infusion prior to harvesting my stem cells. I purchased and asked people to give me pretty scarves to wear when I went out. One of my neighbors taught me how to do head wraps. When I went back to work 10 weeks after my transplant, I was still wearing scarves for a couple of more months.
If you feel that you can tolerate wearing a wig, get one prior to your transplant. The American Cancer Society will provide one wig for free. They probably have approved places where to get your wig. They also have a program, "Look Good, Feel Better", which is really good and fun to do. They have the programs at a lot of the cancer centers. You receive instructions in how to do your eyebrows and other make-up. You receive a bag of products geared to your skin tone.
Good luck with moving on to the next step of your treatment,
Nancy in Phila
If you feel that you can tolerate wearing a wig, get one prior to your transplant. The American Cancer Society will provide one wig for free. They probably have approved places where to get your wig. They also have a program, "Look Good, Feel Better", which is really good and fun to do. They have the programs at a lot of the cancer centers. You receive instructions in how to do your eyebrows and other make-up. You receive a bag of products geared to your skin tone.
Good luck with moving on to the next step of your treatment,
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
This is how my Janet looked after her stem cell harvest and high-dose chemotherapy / stem cell transplant.
Her granddaughter helped her pick out the wig. Doesn't she look great? You will too!
Best of luck!
Her granddaughter helped her pick out the wig. Doesn't she look great? You will too!
Best of luck!
- IMG_0016v2.JPG (49.49 KiB) Viewed 1611 times
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JohnBoy5456 - Name: John
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Janet
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 6/15/15
- Age at diagnosis: 64
Re: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
I lost mine (hair, that is) and I had picked a wig. I had also knitted a bunch of cute hats and scarves, picking really soft and fancy yarn (cashmere feels pretty darned good next to the skin!)
And I didn't wear any of 'em. Hated the wig, made my head itch. Hated the scarves and hats too, for the same reason (and I ordinarily wear hats a lot!) Went bare headed. I looked GOOD bald. Wore great big earrings, bright colors and a gimlet eye.
Then my hair grew back thick, pure white, very soft and curly. LOVED it.
(sniff) Didn't get to keep it. Hair got darker, straightened out, and now I'm 'salt N pepper' (mostly 'pepper') and no curls. Waves ... no curls.
It's depressing. I USED to be a redhead! Really. Dark red. Now it's just ... heavy storm cloud grey, mostly, and I'm stuck with it until my next transplant.
And I didn't wear any of 'em. Hated the wig, made my head itch. Hated the scarves and hats too, for the same reason (and I ordinarily wear hats a lot!) Went bare headed. I looked GOOD bald. Wore great big earrings, bright colors and a gimlet eye.
Then my hair grew back thick, pure white, very soft and curly. LOVED it.
(sniff) Didn't get to keep it. Hair got darker, straightened out, and now I'm 'salt N pepper' (mostly 'pepper') and no curls. Waves ... no curls.
It's depressing. I USED to be a redhead! Really. Dark red. Now it's just ... heavy storm cloud grey, mostly, and I'm stuck with it until my next transplant.
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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: Stem cell harvest and hair loss
If you are only harvesting the stem cells and not having the transplant at this time, there should be no hair loss. They don't give you the high dose chemo until right before transplant,
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deeboz - Name: Deedra
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 52
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