Hair Hair Hair - Another question

MBJ

Fighter:  I am so happy to hear you finally have hair!   woot!!!

3jaysmom

hey ladies.. Lago, thats great that you posted those links for everyone. you "techies" astound me. had i seen them when i had it, i wouldn't have been so freaked!

   although my hair is a VERY slow progress, it IS growing back. think and luxuriassp  in the back, quite thinning in the front. but, again, a little fuzz where most of the thinning is. 

   i went to an indoor flea market this weekend. ive ad really hard time finding affordable.. red wigs here.. 

   this weekend i foumn\nd 2 red wiglets, actually add on bang extensions, in different REDS!! im over the moon!

   now, i can stick to my guns this summer, and not cut my hair in any style whatsoever.. just let it grow!!grow, baby grow!!!

    i had already decided to wear a scarve to hide the front, and just let the back grow into a ponytail. that, i can add an extension to for style later. so, ewith the wiglets covering the frot, i'll be in goodshape! they were only 29.00 each!

   ken paves (hairdo) sells them in every coloer but red. they are so easy, and look like you have bangs, and side peices.. a look for under a scarf, and no worries.. they also are like 30.00.. so, if ya wanna new looks with the scarves while you're growing out.. looks like ya have hair, and they're not hot like wigs..    by the way.. my nails DID all grow back, and i don't pluck any eyebrows, except the ones that are too low, in the crease. if the other real eyebrows get long, i trim them. never gonna trust they won't come bsck again. eyelashes are back, but thin, like everyone else said. Dr. says the grapeseed extract is working SO WELL. its' slowing down the process. am gonna try the biotin again, and i foundJphn
Freida has a shampoo and conditioner that KEEPS the hair in groewth cycle. its' at Amazon. will let you know if that helps, too.    be well, everyone.do other things that add to your self esteem, and be patient, as im trying...    be well.       3jays

tracie23

Sunflower you have a beutiful head.

Huskerkkc

lago, I play the piano for church on my "off chemo" weeks. I've only had two chemo treatments, 4 to go, done by first week in June. Nails are potential side effect of one of my drugs (cytoxan or Taxol-probably the Taxol). Would playing the piano have been an issue for you when your nails were bad? Did they hurt too or "only" look bad? I was a piano/music major originally although now only play at church, weddings, funerals, etc. I play on the pads of my fingers and have short nails anyhow. Just thinking if that might be an issue.

lago

Huskerkkc I was on taxotere/carboplatin. It is a very rare SE. And even if you do get it it's rare to get it as bad as I got it. Yes at one point my fingernail beds killed. Believe it or not, 11 weeks since my last chemo they are still a little sore. BUT there was only a few days that they hurt so bad that typing was an issue. I think you will still be able to play. I highly doubt you will get it as bad as I did. They started to hurt after my 3rd treatment. They hurt first, then lifted and got all icky.

Also note that I didn't ice my fingers till it was too late. If you are that worried try bringing a couple of bags of frozen pees in an insulated bag to chemo and stick your fingers in them during taxol. BTW I'm not sure if this is a SE of taxol. Ask your onc.

Lilah

Hi ladies -- just checking in.  This horrible photo of me (I hate the chemo weight!) shows my hair length (after a few cuts to remove chemo hair along the way) as of 3 months post-Herceptin (which I had for a year) and about 13 months PFC (since my last Taxol).  My hair grew slowly.  I never got white fuzz at all... just started getting 5 o'clock shadow about 8 weeks after finishing ACT (with H continuing for several more months).  Some say Herceptin slows hair growth but I can't say for sure that my hair grew faster once H was done.  It is pretty much the same as it was prior to chemo in terms of density (it was fine hair) but straighter (or less frizzy anyway) than pre-chemo.  I love seeing all of your photos!

Iago (or is it Lago -- i or L ?) -- your typo is funny above (frozen "pees" -- LOL -- I'm sure you mean "peas")...

I had long hair (past my shoulders) all my life... I am getting used to having short hair and, in fact, am thinking of getting another cut now -- mainly to give it some shape/style.

lago

No frozen pee I mean frozen peas. Need to proof read better.

This:     NOT this:    

It's lago with an "L" Everyone gets so confused. Lots of Shakespeare lovers I guess.

Carrol2

I love seeing all your hair pictures. For most the chemo hair seems so strong and healthy when it grows back. I am 17 weeks now it's really starting to fill in but the top is sticking straight up. I hope when it gets longer it will lay down more i am really not into the whole spikey thing. I am only 6 days since my TE surgery now but i will post updated hair pics in a few weeks when i feel better. No lifting arms over my head for two weeks, and i am still in a bit of pain.

Carrol2

Lago too funny !!! I have been using frozen peas on my TEs too. But i had frozen pee in the hospital the first night i could not pee i had to get a catheter to empty me. They say that happens from the morphine sometimes and i just kept pushing the button. ok TMI i know but it was so appropriate i had to share.

Lilah

Lago -- LOL on those pictures!

nicholewilliams

Great Pictures Lago . lol

TreadSoftly

Lago - funny pics!!

Im just over 15 months PFC, finally have a hair-style, and am almost able to tie it back, Yepiee!! I never had a fringe before but Im kinda enjoying the short 'funky' style!!

MBJ

Cute hairstyle!!!!!

joan888

TreadSoftly.... I love the look!  You may want to keep it.

3teacher

Love all your pics. Gives me inspiration that this tiny bit of hair will soon take off! I am 8 weeks PFC and have a little bit but still that bald look. Got brave today, though, and wore a baseball cap for my walk/jog. Usually I wear a bandana thing but it's so hot now. Kind of lifted my cap up now and then to get air underneath to cool down some. I don't think people stared anymore at me with the cap than the bandana/kerchief so I think it's baseball cap for daily walks. I also have it in my car and tear the blasted wig off and put on the cap as soon as I can.

Lago: Thanks for the nail info. and pics. My toenail is a goner for sure- it has lifted off and just waiting for it to fall off. Looks like there's a new one growing underneath, or so I think. At least it doesn't hurt anymore. Really appreciate all your info. Thanks!

My Onc never said a word about using frozen peas, etc. to preserve the nails while doing treatment. Nor a word about the Cold Cap thing for hair loss. I wish he had at least given me/others that info./option.

lago

3teacher my onc didn't tell me about the freezing of fingers/toes/hair either. I learned it here. Other countries even supply frozen gloves/footies but not in the US. But it all grows back to it's OK. She did have my suck on ice when I started to get mouth sores and it worked for me. I opted for no head freezing because it sounded expensive, PITA and uncomfortable. I hate being cold.

Carrol2

treadsoftly you look fantastic! I love it! Was your hair really differerent before chemo? I am at 4 months and it's growing in very straight and spikey still although there are a lot of waves in the back. My sister was here for my TE surgery and saw my hiar last week and thought my hiar looked pretty normal like just a super short haircut. Then again she lives in key west and lots of women have this cut there.

Lilah

Wow Treadsoftly you have SO much hair!  Mine is fine and not thick (which is pretty much how it was before chemo, though before chemo it was frizzier so it LOOKED thicker).  I'm almost the same as you as far as PFC if you count back to when I finished regular chemo (not Herceptin) -- which was October 2009.  I'm having hair envy

cc4npg

Well ladies, at just barely over 9 weeks pfc, I Henna'd my hair.  It will darken over the next 2-3 days as it oxidizes (cures), but it turned out really well.  Only time will tell if the color falls out, but typically Henna is extremely permanent... it doesn't usually fall out if it takes.  I will let you guys be the final judges.  Here's the link to the photos...

 http://s1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee444/cc4npg/

MBJ

Wow, that's going to be pretty!  I hope it takes!

Lilah

Really nice color!  I hope it sticks too.

sandymess

Ooh, I LOVE that color! Hope it stays!!

cc4npg

Thanks guys!  Here's a link in case anyone is interested in trying Henna.  You can achieve a bunch of colors with it.  I get mine from a health food store.  http://www.hennaforhair.com/mixes/

TreadSoftly

Thanks for the nice comments ladies! 

Yes, I always have had healthy wavy hair which I kept really long pre-BC.  Im quite lucky in that PFC hair is still really thick and looks healthy.  I had crazy chemo curls for the first few months but they have definitely grown out and Im back to the wavy style, which I can manage. 

Colour has slowly returned over the past 15 months too - but still not as auburn as it was pre-chemo, at least hair colour can solve that problem!

MBJ

Treadsoftly:  Your hairstyle is so hip and cool, I wouldn't change a thing!

mommafluff61

Hi to all you lovely ladies!

 I finished my chemo on March 3rd. I now have 1/4 to 1/2 inch clear/white hair. My question is, when can I put some color on it? what kind have you used?

For fun, I purchased a black visor with blonde "hair" from "flairhair.com".  I wore it yesterday to work and got a ton of compliments. I used to be blonde!

Have a great day!

MBJ

Suzanne:  I shaved off the uneven, white growth so I can't comment.  I believe Lago said her chemo portfolio said you can dye hair anytime, however, know that you might get some off color results due to the weirdness of chemo hair!  I opted to bleach mine after shaving it back down to a 1/4" because for awhile my hair was steel gray!  When I started getting more black hair then gray, I went back to my "natural" color.  Hope this helps!

mommafluff61

MBJ: Thanks!  When you colored your hair, what did you use? Will it color your scalp? 

MBJ

mommafluff:  I used NutriTint from my local health food store (also at Whole Foods).  Now I am using chemicals again.  The latest:  John Freida Foam Mouse Colorant.  Love it!  Easy to use for those of you not used to doing your own hair.  Impossible to mess up.  BTW:  I sent you a PM

MaryNY

MBJ: what did you use to bleach your hair? Did you post a photo of that stage? My hair is more white than gray so wondering if bleaching might be the way to go.

Treadsoftly: your hair style and colour is beautiful.