QuoteReplyTopic: long hair after chemo Posted: July 10 2001 at 5:09am
Hi everyone,
I`m 27, and I`ve been obsessed with growing my hair VERY long since I was 15. The problem: about a month after I made the decision to grow my shoulder-length hair down to my knees, I was diagnosed with Ewing`s Sarcoma (bone cancer) and began a year and a half of chemotherapy which rendered me bald for close to 2 years. When my hair started coming out in clumps, I was devastated, to say the least. I still remember screaming what my mom called a "primal scream" when my hair came out. My mom and I cried as she cut the last few strands that held the grossly matted clumps of hair to my head. (Doctors had said to cut my hair short to avoid this, but I refused, thinking that maybe my hair wouldn`t fall out... wishful thinking.) From then on, I swore that one day I would have Rapunzel hair. For my 18th birthday, as my hair was just growing in (about 1-2 inches all around), the only gifts I wanted were hair thingees. And my friends were wonderful, b/c that`s what I received! Boxes of brushes, combs, barrettes, and scrunchies!
With the exception of TINY trims for dead ends, I have not cut my hair since it started growing back in during December 1990. As of now, it is about "bra-length", according to what I`ve read on long-hair websites. I used to have medium to thick dark brown hair w/ natural red highlights and it was naturally very wavy. After chemo, my hair has grown in on the fine/thin side, still the same color (thank god!) and is very straight.
Several years ago, I got sick of the straightness and caved in for a spiral perm. I liked the results for about a month, but a little hair at the hairline by my forehead got burned off by the chemicals, and I swore I`d never mess with my hair ever again. Now I use pin curls or fabric-wrapped rollers (similar to scrunchies) to make curls. I desperately want Keri Russell`s hair before she chopped it all off!
And so, after all I`ve been through, I`m learning about caring for my hair as I impatiently wait for it to grow to my desired length, like Rapunzel. I`m wondering if anyone else on this site has had an experience similar to mine w/ growing hair out after chemo. I`d like to know how the chemo affected hair growth/texture/ etc., since I know the chemicals messed w/ mine. My sister`s hair is the same length now as mine, even though she had cut it to her shoulders in 1998. I haven`t cut mine, and hers just seems to grow faster, and I`m wondering if it`s the lingering effects of chemo. I`d love any advice you can offer.
First, I love your name!! I think it is beaustiful. Second, I am glad you are done with your chemo and are in good health. My dad was recently diagnose with stomach cancer, and is undergoign chemo at this very minute.
Which brings me to my next point....I used to have hair to the bottom of my ribcage. About a year ago, when I was getting my hair colored, the shampoo girl said that there was a girl there with hair about as long as mine who was going to cut it and donate it to Locks For Love. A month ago, I decided to cut off 11 inches of my hair to donate it. It is now shoulder length. I know I am rambling, but pleaes bear with me. After I cut my hair, I realized that the euphoria of doing something nice for someone else wore off very quickly and I miss my hair. It was truly the only phsical thing I liked about myself.
So, I began to do some research on vitamins that help hair grow faster. I found a wonderful website, lonhairlovers.com. Here is the link to the section that talks about that... http://www.bbahneycomm.com/longhairlovers/vitaminsfaq.html
I am trying to grow my hair out as quickly as possible, too. I hope the info helps, and I wish you the best of luck!!
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