Hair Hair Hair - Another question

christine47

pejkug3, I am sure it won't be long before those brows and lashes are making a comeback.  I always thought of myself as a baby rat without hair.  Did your dermatologist rec anything special for quick regrowth of the head hair???

Jen1832

Thanks Christine 47....I am hopeful. Hang in there girls! Progress is slow but we will get there!. Happy hair vibes....

Huskerkkc

bkj66...I just started Latisse. I am 5 weeks PFC. Onc would not prescribe during chemo. It is for lashes only...not brows. And only the upper lashes. Mine cost $127 for 1 month and my insurance doesn't cover. However, Latisse offers a $19 (or close to that) rebate to help defray the cost. I only started this week, so too soon to comment on effectiveness I guess. 

supersally

I woke up this morning hand there were three long lashes in the middle under my right eye! They had thinned before, but never patched out like that. Thought I might be home free as 7 weeks PFC. I'm using a Tarte eyelash growth stimulater. I think it's working. Under my left eye I have new lashes - they are curly! Really?

bak94

Silly question, what is pfc? Post final chemo?

pejkug3

Yes.

PFC = Post final chemo

lago

I did once read that you could brush on Minoxidil on your eyebrows. Just be sure it doesn't drip. I never tried it though. I don't want to end up looking like Andy Rooney.

Cyborg

Is there anything that ladies with BC should avoid in regard to hair growth products.

sunflowerE152

Just wanted to pop on and say thank you to those who post regularly and answer questions on this board.  I am home these days recovering from unilateral DIEP on June 27th.  I am so glad to have this really short hairdo during my recovery period.  I did get it colored right before surgery b/c the stark white hair around the face made me feel really old.

Any suggestions on products to make the curls and frizzies more manageable?

YamahaMama

I, too, want to thank all of you wonderful ladies for keeping this an active post and answering all our questions! 

I *knock wood* haven't lost but a few of my eyelashes, although the brows are mostly gone...  I remember when I was making regular appointments for my fills at the PS office there was some advertisement from Latisse in the waiting area.  If I remember correctly, Natrelle was offering free Latrisse treatments with Natrelle implants.  Might be something to ask your PS about!  My PS appointments were in February through May or June, so it was pretty recent... 

bdavis

I have been using a Latisse-similar product from Bryan Joseph... www.bryanjoseph.com. I have used it since day 3 after first chemo... costs $50 per tube and I am now at the end of my 3rd tube and started in mid January... I never lost my lashes and I am 8 weeks PFC... I did lose my brows though and used it on brows as well.... but the brow loss was basically right after vacation in March where I spent a lot of time in the water, so I suspect I washed it off.My brows are now starting to come back.

mammalou

Hi.  I started to read thru this thread but it is too long.  I am about 10 weeks post chemo.  My hair is coming in darker than normal with gray or blonde areas.  I was blonde before chemo.  I was wondering:  How do you dye it when it is so short?  What is Nioxin and does it really work?

slcst12

MamaLou:
I dyed my hair at 8.5 wks PFC  I couldn't stand to look at the gray. I just did it myself with Loreal Excellence creme. I used 1/2 of the creme and 1/2 the liquid to mix together (felt bad wasting the whole thing).

Then...I just "smushed" it on my head, b/c you know, my hair was like, 1/2 cm long. ha ha ha.

Anyway, it came out fine, and covered a lot of the white / gray / peach fuzz crap and *almost* made it look like I had some real hair. There's a pic of my hair at 8.5 wks and 10 wks on the page before this one...

mammalou

Thanks! The pics look good.  There is hope!

pejkug3

I'm a fan of Nioxin.  I used it all through chemo and it really helped with shedding and such.  In the end, I ended up losing like 70-80% of my hair.

I need to learn how to post pictures so I can show my head at 4 weeks PFC...

I'm using the Nioxin 8.  It's difficult to find in salons, but they can order it.  I know others are using different formulations.

Racy

slcst12

Thanks for the updated pics. Though I am also 10.5 weeks PFC, my hair growth remains about 2 weeks behind yours, like Christine47's.

As I am going on a beach holiday (Great Barrier Reef) in 3.5 weeks, it's good to have a guide from you as to how long my hair is likely to be, in which case I intend to wear a hat during the day.

lago

I have updated my hair growth series. I did get it cut on the sides and back a week ago. Take a look at the eyebrows. They thinned again. I do fill them in but you can tell they are not like the other photos. They were thicker on chemo! onc does say this is chemo related and not the Anastrozole. I sure hope she's right.  linky 

mammalou

You look good!  Thanks for sharing.

christine47

Lago, your hair looks great!!  Sorry to hear about the thinning brows.  My eyebrows are growing like crazy, I was never a plucker, but may need to very soon.  Little tiny new lashes are sprouting and looks like eye liner.  Wish the hair would grow faster.

Racy, looks like TAC slowed us down on the hair growth.  As long as I stay consistant in the growth I am not going to worry.  Sounds like a great vacation you have planned.  I loved wearing hats only on my recent trip, so easy!!

LisaGH

Lago- thanks for sharing the timeline w/ your hair. Giving me hope! I am 5 weeks out now and just have some furry type hair- mix of dark brown and grey- color just like b/f chemo. Looking forward to being able to go w/ wig or scarf. (Maybe in 7 more weeks??? WIshful thinking?)

YamahaMama

Wow, Lago!  Your hair is looking fantastic for 4 months out!!! 

I overheard my DH on the phone today telling someone I told him to "rub my head" last night...  Want to make sure he realizes I actually have HAIR growing there, since it's a little hard to see!

lago

Thanks mammalou & Christine.

4.29.2011 went topless (13 weeks). It was still pretty short but I pulled it off. Not everyone will be comfortable going out that short. Some really do wait till 5-6 month before going topless.

Survivorwoman

WOW!  Lago-- you look great and younger than before. Thanks for the update.

I am now  5 months out of chemo and still have to wear a wig. The last time I went to see the onc I was told that the clinical trial drug (Tykerb) is slowing down my hair growth. I can't do anything about it. I hope to have full hair by September. I hope.

moe0279

Hi Ladies, Just wanted to post some pics of  my hair 8 weeks out...Its summer vacation for me since im a teacher and I have not wore any hats or scarves for about 3-4 weeks...I get lots and lots of strange looks and stares but i just laugh....ok...cant remember how to post pics..can some one remind me

Fitz33

My new eyelashes are giving me trouble - some of them grow straight out rather than up. This causes the top and bottom lshes to hook into each other which is really bothering me a lot.   I've tried using mascara to train them but that doesn't work. I've tried a curling iron and that hasn't worked either.  Has this happened to anyone else and does anyone have any recommendations?  I'm getting desperate, rubbing my eyes all the time.  It's wonderful to have eyelashes back again so I hate to cut them.

timerdog

Hi All,

I see some friends here from the March- Chemo lounge, glad to recognize some names.

I had my last chemo May 17th, before chemo I had really beautiful long thick hair. I loved my hair and my rack which was also very nice. Well it is almost 2 months and I have very little growth and many totally bald areas. I am so disappointed! I was hoping to have some coverage by now. I always go topless. It is so hot and humid in Ontario then add the annoying hot flushes I can't stand anything on my head. I wear a cycling cap that has breathable holes in the top so I don't get sunburned when I go out for a walk.

SunnyCoconut

Fitz33 - Mine did that too, but I think it's one of those things you just have get thru.  It is kind of like growing your bangs out.  I wouldn't cut them becuase you will have to go thru it again.  Mine are back to normal now (last chemo 5/20/10).  By normal, I mean thick and long.  They grew back fairly quickly but just lately I noticed they are thick and long.  Use more mascara and plaster those stubborn ones to the others! 

Merilee

2 1/2 weeks post chemo and I am sprouting spars fuzz. I am using Nioxen. I hope it does not all fall out, I am ready to loose the scarves and hats.

Fitz33

Thanks SunnyCoconut.  It's reassuring to know someone else went through this.  I'm trying to not think about it when they blink together.  Maybe they just need to get longer.  I think some grew faster than other eyelashes.

I went topless for the first time!!!  It was so hot over the weekend that I felt sick from the sun and we went into a restaurant that on high a/c but my head was still so hot that I took off the scarf I was wearing.  I usually wear a wig but decided on a silk scarf for that day.  I don't know, maybe silk is hotter than other material because my head felt like it was on fire.  Anyway, I took off the scarf and no one in the restaurant fainted or stared although we were in an area that was a bit away.  I can't describe to you how good it felt!  I'm giving myself 6 more weeks and then I'm going topless thereafter.  If I have bald spots, so be it.

Carrol2

Lago looking good. The short hair is flattering on you. Also you look very well rested.