Hair Hair Hair - Another question

MBJ

Margie:  Yes, I have the peach fuzz too, and I am hoping it goes with the rest of it!

margiebits

I'm wondering if it's from the tamoxifen that I'm taking, or a reaction to the chemo.  Are you on tamoxifen too?  I really hate this.

MBJ

I just had taxotere and cytoxen--no tamoxifen.  It's a pretty common thing from what I have read on these threads, though.

goldie0827

Waking up with ALL your hair on your pillow? Never heard of that happening before.

Margie, the peach fuzz will go away. I don't remember how long it took, as I just quit looking at it! Couldn't stand it, and one day I looked.......and it was gone. Other women have said they shaved it, and it didn't come back. I did not do that as I was affraid of it coming back courser and thicker. I think our hair cells get chemo brain, just like us!

Lori

Carrol2

Thanks to everyone sharing their hair experiences. I am going to starting chemo in two weeks and have no idea how to prepare my hair for it's departure. Guess not much to do about it now. I guess once the chemo is over there are things I can do to stimulate growth?

carol1949

Adnerb, first of all even without bc, it is normal to be constantly losing and replenishing hair.  When we have an illness, the hair is often the last thing to get much needed nourishment from our body.  Thyroid also can cause hair loss and often if you didn't have thyroid issues prior to bc, you do have them post bc.  So consider that.

As for preparing to lose hair... many people chose to shave their head, as it is one of the few things we can control and considered a "Power" thing if you will.  My radiologist suggested for me to read Susan' Love's breast book which does help prepare you for anything that may come up.  Knowledge is power!

I have better results with Phytologee hair loss products and you don't have to use them the rest of your life like Nioxin.  My hair is actually better than it was prior to bc now!

carol1949

Adnerb, first of all even without bc, it is normal to be constantly losing and replenishing hair.  When we have an illness, the hair is often the last thing to get much needed nourishment from our body.  Thyroid also can cause hair loss and often if you didn't have thyroid issues prior to bc, you do have them post bc.  So consider that.

As for preparing to lose hair... many people chose to shave their head, as it is one of the few things we can control and considered a "Power" thing if you will.  My radiologist suggested for me to read Susan' Love's breast book which does help prepare you for anything that may come up.  Knowledge is power!

I have better results with Phytologee hair loss products and you don't have to use them the rest of your life like Nioxin.  My hair is actually better than it was prior to bc now!

carol1949

Adnerb, first of all even without bc, it is normal to be constantly losing and replenishing hair.  When we have an illness, the hair is often the last thing to get much needed nourishment from our body.  Thyroid also can cause hair loss and often if you didn't have thyroid issues prior to bc, you do have them post bc.  So consider that.

As for preparing to lose hair... many people chose to shave their head, as it is one of the few things we can control and considered a "Power" thing if you will.  My radiologist suggested for me to read Susan' Love's breast book which does help prepare you for anything that may come up.  Knowledge is power!

I have better results with Phytologee hair loss products and you don't have to use them the rest of your life like Nioxin.  My hair is actually better than it was prior to bc now!

carol1949

Adnerb, first of all even without bc, it is normal to be constantly losing and replenishing hair.  When we have an illness, the hair is often the last thing to get much needed nourishment from our body.  Thyroid also can cause hair loss and often if you didn't have thyroid issues prior to bc, you do have them post bc.  So consider that.

As for preparing to lose hair... many people chose to shave their head, as it is one of the few things we can control and considered a "Power" thing if you will.  My radiologist suggested for me to read Susan' Love's breast book which does help prepare you for anything that may come up.  Knowledge is power!

I have better results with Phytologee hair loss products and you don't have to use them the rest of your life like Nioxin.  My hair is actually better than it was prior to bc now!

MBJ

Carol1949: What is Phytology?  Never heard of it.  I thought Nioxin could be used on and off and Minoxodyl needs continued use.

Carrol2:  I cut my hair short prior to chemo and when it started coming out in clumps,I purchased a shaver and had my husband shave me.  He did this 3 x before real regrowth came in.

Carrol2

Hey thanks for the feedback. I feel like I want to hang on to my hair as long as I can. I don't like short hair on me. I guess it's better than bald though. I am not sure I could shave my own head but might be a better to do it at home, more private. I don't know. I am not looking forward to this.

MelBell07

Carrol: I did it in stages. Before my hair started to really fall out, I got it professionally cut. I enjoyed the last time I would be at the salon with the nice-smelling shampoo and scalp massage. Once it started to really come out, I had my friends shave it at my apartment. It was less traumatizing than seeing long strands everywhere. It gave me a little control back too, which made me feel better. 

It was definitely an emotional experience. It wasn't a fun night. But eventually I started to like not having to spend a lot of time on myself in the morning or in the shower...and I saved a lot of money on hair products. It took me awhile to get to that point, though.

Good luck  

JanetinVirginia

Does anyone know if there is any chemo option that doesn't make your hair fall out?

Carrol2

MelBel107 thanks I hope to get past that like you did. I love you pic you look cute. Sounds like you have some very good friends. I guess when it starts to fall out I will be moved to take action. 

I dunno should I get a short haircut first? Maybe just shorter than it is? Seems like a waste to go to the salon if it's gonna fall out in a few weeks. I don't do much to my hair now. I only wash and blow dry every 2 to 3 days. The rest of the time I just pin up the top for volume. Seems like short hair would be more trouble to style.

My hair now is already and has always been kind of thin. It was curly when I was younger and got straighter as I got older.

Who knows what it will look like after chemo. I do have some grey now but it's camoflauged by my highlights.

More of the unknown with all this. I feel like I need a plan. 

MBJ

Carrol:  I hate myself with short hair, but since I never got to act out in my youth and go punk or goth with weird hair and all, I decided this would be my rebirth of the teens I never got to live.  I did, however, go out and get a nice real hair wig and had y stylist cut it to look like my own.  They start at about $60 and go up fromm there.  It looked even better then my natural hair and it was no trouble at all.  Washed it once a week, let it dry over night and then flat ironed it into a style.  My stylist gave it lowlights too, so it looked like my own hair.  I would do this since fall is coming and no hair in cold weather is just brrrrr.

gingersfavorite1

I think my hair might be trying to come back  {shrug}

With the light shining right in the mirror this morning, I could see whispy random hairs which were longer than my stubble.     (Even though I shaved my head, I never razored it / always had stubble)

Even now, sitting and rubbing the top of my head, I can feel those longer, softer hairs.    Does it even have a chance to grow back during Taxol ? 

Erin23

stephanie u look beautiful with no hair... i hope to gain the confidence u have to go out bald!

az8n

I did 4 cycles of AC in 2008.  I shaved my head in March - just when my hair started falling off (within the 7 days I got the first dose).  My hair started growing back in July.

I have very straight hair and when it started growing back, the ends sort of bent (wavy).  After I had the edges trimmed, hair is all straight again.  I think it is true, the cells get confused which way to go and I did take Biotin back then.  Dr did not object but I think my hair grew faster.

gingersfavorite1

oh thank you Erin!    I don't feel as pretty as when I first went bald .... I think it's because my eyebrows and lashes are thinning.   Or just the blah's of chemo catching up with me.    I have been wearing more scarves and told someone it's a bit counteractive because it seems the more I cover my head, the more I want it covered  (when I go out).    So I actually challenged myself to run some errands with a bare head yesterday.     I went a few places, then tied a bandana on.     As it gets cooler out I'll cover it more.

But thanks !    I actually friended a lady from France on facebook  (before I lost my hair)   because she looked so cute & confident - I wanted to tell her so - and hope I can be of encouragement to someone else.

MBJ

You are beautiful, even without hair.  I do remember calling myself Lynus when a couple sprouts started coming up and nothing else.  Chemo really does test one's sense of humor but it's the only thing that got me through!

Firni

I did grow the peach fuzz on my face.  In fact it got rather long.  I used my DH trimmer to take it off and it never came back.

A lot of people have had hair start to grow while on Taxol.  Not great hair, but hair just the same.  Pretty much doesn't happen with Taxotere. 

margiebits

MBJ and Lori,

Thanks for jumping in here to let me know I'm not some freak!  It makes me feel so much better that other people have had this too.  I'm afraid to shave it, same reasons as Lori stated, but what do you think about having it waxed? I wish I knew how long this would last.  I think I'll call my oncologist this week and ask about it.   How come no one tells you about these side effects?  Thanks ladies, you help me keep my sanity.

margiebits

What is a DH trimmer? 

margiebits

I had TAC, and my hair is growing back.  It started out white, and is now coming in brownish.  It's like a short crew cut now- can't wait till it gets long.  I'm still wearing wigs and hats.  I finished chemo in may.  Good luck.

margiebits

How long did you have the fuzz?  When was your last chemo.  I  noticed hair growing down my jaw line, up to my sideburns. I feel like a werewolf.  Help, please tell me this will go away soon!

MBJ

Margie:  DH is shorthand for dear husband--I went and bought an inexpensive but nice $30 one at sears and it worked great.  Also, I shaved my fuzz, it hasn't come back yet.

Rocket

HI Margie,

I too had the peach fuzz on the face and even my forehead, but I shaved it and it never grew back either.  It does go away, so take heart.

My hair still looks like the fur on a scruffy stuffed teddy bear.  It curls in all directions.  MBJ has some great hair advice.  The Marc Anthony Hair Straightener certainly helps.  My hair is a bit over 1 1/2 inches now.  I'll be so glad when it's longer and I have real bangs again.  I'm now 22 weeks pfc.  I can't believe it's already been 8 months since my dx.

Nodapearl

Janet - as far as preventing hair loss, there is a thread on here reference "cold caps".  I think there are two main brands, one is Penguin.  I was reading the thread last week, and it seems like they have had some success with it.  Good luck.

As far as the peach fuzz, I am 16 months post chemo, and I still have way more facial hair than I ever did before.  I am hoping it goes away, and I am waxing in hopes of thinning it out.

Nodapearl

Erin - For me, the hair loss was by far, the worst part.  As bad as it was, it went relatively fast.  You are soooo beautiful, I agree that you will be able to rock the short hair and make-up.  Until then, a wig, hat or bandana is the best you can do.  You will come out of this better and stronger.  God bless you.

Carrol2

Is biotin a pill? is it over the counter?