It's been about 8 weeks since Tom's last Cisplatin and he's just now losing hair from his head and body (most facial hair has been long gone from radiation). Does it always take so long?

We expected it much sooner and thought we were out of the woods when he didn't lose it within a couple of weeks of the last treatment. He's not upset...he wears it very short (#3 all over) and thinks he'll look "like a bad-a** with a shaved head and big scar on my neck." A pleasant surprise: his scar is barely noticeable now that his skin has healed and renewed after radiation.

Joyce

For some reason both times after Chemo/Rad I had scalp problems, showed up about a month or two after treatment ended. Used a anti-psoriasis shampoo (can't remember the name) for a few weeks and it went away. Only hair loss was from radiation field, and it eventually grew back. That was the start of my wearing my hair very short a la military buzz cut, but seems that's the style these days anyway.

And Gary, if you compare my DL photos from before and after treatment, folks think I look 10 years younger now. Go figure!

Hey Joyce it's been 4 months since my Dad finished his treatment and his hair is still thinning. It hasn't come out in clumps; it just thins, and not really all that much; but more so after treatment then during treatment.

JetAgeHobo, intersting about your scalp; my Dad has a large scab on his scalp (right where it's thinning).

LisaB, I had cisplatin and it did not affect my hair. I am wondering if your dad has had his thyroid checked, as thinning hair is one symptom of hypothyroidism. Others are being cold, being tired, and sometimes muddle minded. Persons who have had radiation are more likely to have this problem. A simple blood test is all that is necessary to see if this is what ails him.

Thanks Joanna, I'll let him know that.

This leads to a question I had on another thread that got overlooked. When I had my chemo/radiation four years ago at MDACC the usual protocol seemed to be concurrent small doses of chemo with the radiation. I had about 4 one half day chemo treatments and lost no hair and felt little or no side effects. I met a man recently with a similar diagnosis to mine who is also being treated at MDACC and he has started a long series of full day chemo sessions that will go on for several weeks before radiation starts.

For Gary and the scientifically informed here. What is up with that? Have the protocols changed? Are larger doses of chemo now being routinely used for H&N cancer?

Thanks,
Danny G.

Joanna; is it not normal for hair to fall out with cisplatin? and this far after treatment as well?

Thanks

Lisa,
A simple blood test can either rule out or confirm hypothyroidism. It is a relatively common side effect of radiation which is easily controlled with synthroid. My own thyroid failed sometime around 6 months after treatment, and I have been on the synthroid for two years. The blood work is part of my normal tests every six months now, and the prescription is one of the cheapest I have, at ~$11.00 for 90 days worth.

If this is the cause of his hair loss, then this will help clear it up along with several other annoying side effects that just generally make you feel like crap.

Good Health,

Chuck

Thanks to all who mentioned hypothyroidism. We are going to call and schedule a blood test tomorrow. None of our docs mentioned this to us.

LisaB, our MO told Tom that he would lose hair from the Cisplatin. What puzzled us is that he didn't, until now. Wishing you and your dad all the best--he's lucky to have you at bat for him!

Joyce

Thanks for the info. Ok he has a follow up in mid Nov with the RO and for bloodwork; so I'll make sure they check it.

Thanks Joyce! My Dad is great and does soooo much for us all. I'll do anything to help him.

Take care!