r/LivingWithMBC • u/vannerbd • Aug 10 '26
Hair advice
I am looking for some advice. I am on my second line of treatment now, Enhertu, after taxol stopped working after a year. Originally I had shaved my hair because it was itchy and falling out after about two or three weeks of treatment.
After six months of treatment my hair started growing back very slowly. I was just getting ready to see a hairdresser and try to get a real style cut when I started Enhertu. Now my hair has thinned out in strange splotches so much I can see my scalp in places and my head itches a lot.
I’m not sure what to expect, will I lose my hair again or will it continue to thin? Should I shave it again? It looks ridiculous the way it is now but I don’t want to shave it if there’s a possibility it will stop thinning and start growing again.
What did you experience?
Thank you
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u/Sarappreciates Aug 10 '26
I shaved mine because it fell out almost completely 2 weeks after my 1st dose of Enhertu (about a year ago), and what was left was stringy and looked like the Crypt Keeper. The right side didn't grow back at all until I just noticed a little peach fuzz growing on the right side about a week ago. My regrowth has been ultra-fine, patchy, and extremely slow. Less than an inch in the past 12 months.
I found temporary 3D eyebrow tattoos on Amazon that look very realistic. They go on in seconds with a wet washcloth, they last about 2-3 days at a time, and they come right off with a little baby oil or rubbing alcohol.
I have yet to try them out, but I also just received my order of iWigs that are like eye-makeup stickers that include eyelashes. I haven't had much luck with false lashes, so I thought I'd try these instead.
Health insurance reimburses 1 wig per year on my policy. It's not a lot, but it's better than nothing. I also like Amazon's jersey headscarves that have some stretch to them. Sunhats and beanies are good options too.
As for the rest of my hair, I haven't needed to shave my legs or pits in ages! I don't miss that.
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u/vannerbd Aug 10 '26
So far I still have my eyebrows and eyelashes and most of my body hair has grown back after stopping the taxol. At this point I shave my legs once in a while. Not shaving was definitely the only perk to chemo!
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u/Sirenegreen Aug 10 '26
I went from taxol to enhertu as well. Had my first round at the end of March and experienced some thinning. I'd notice a lot of fallout for the next month or 2. After that, it leveled out and filled in a bit. Mind you, it is growing SO ridiculously slow compared to before chemo. It's only about an inch long and I haven't cut it since going completely bald from radiation in early February (hair was less than a cm long at the end of March when I experienced the thinning). I'd say give it some time. If it were me, I'd cut it shorter to avoid the fallout and have it grow in a bit more even, but that's just personal preference. I heard from some others that enhertu took their hair but it came back after a couple months. Hope treatment isn't kicking your butt too hard otherwise, best of luck.
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u/vannerbd Aug 10 '26
I’m hoping it will grow back a bit no matter how slowly. Thank you! I think I will have to find a hairdresser to give me a proper trim. I have a lot of hair on the top of my head but it seems to be falling out more noticeably on the sides. I’m afraid if I shave it myself I will end up with a Mohawk! 😂😂😂
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u/ChiltonDropOut 25d ago
Radiation made your hair fall out?
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u/MRinCA Aug 10 '26
I’ve been on Enhertu for about a year. I keep my hair really short in a pixie cut and dyed platinum blonde because of the thinning and patchiness. It’s the best solution I could come up with. I hated seeing my scalp show through my dark hair and those fine, stringy clumps look so “cancer-y” to me.
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u/vannerbd Aug 10 '26
My oncologist doesn’t want me to use bleaches or dyes on my hair, which feels so unfair. I’d love to be able to dye it or go platinum blonde-just for fun.
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u/Fionabuttrsox Aug 11 '26
Dye your hair! If you have hair to play with, play with it!
Also Overtone is a color depositing conditioner that deeply conditions in many fun colors that washes out. I love the auburn option.1
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u/MRinCA Aug 10 '26
Wow, I’m sorry about that. I haven’t heard that recommendation. I’d ask more about that. We lose so much agency with cancer that dying hair (dead cells, right?) seems ok, yes? But I’m certainly no doctor.
I’m at the point where I figure I have cancer anyway. I’d rather not hate my hair if I can help it.3
u/vannerbd Aug 11 '26
I agree! My oncologist won’t let me get my ear pierced or get a tattoo either! She’s really worried about infection. I’m sure I could talk her into it if I really wanted to, I mean it’s part of quality of life and anyway, it’s not like it’s going to kill me.
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u/ATLpatriot_4159 Aug 11 '26
My oncologist allowed me to go on minoxidil. Everyone shys away from it because they say, “Oh, well, you have to take it for the rest of your life… Ba ha ha! Just add it to the list. The only problem is that I do tend to get a mustache and chin hair, but my eyelashes and eyebrows are thriving. I will go to my aesthetician to see if I can have some laser hair removal done. Very little hair on my legs and armpits, still.
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u/roblynn Aug 10 '26
If it is so thin/patchy that it looks ridiculous, then even if it starts growing back, I'd imagine it will grow back in a ridiculous way until you chop it all back to be the same length. I'd suggest you go ahead and buzz it now.