Hair Hair Hair - Another question

FLwarrior

SpecialK ~ I am really glad for you they were not to worried about guns at the pre-season game!  You made me LOL!  I have one of the "halo" wigs as well as my regular wig and a beach hat with hair sewn in. I wonder when I will be walking on the beach and my hat fly off to expose my halo-hair...knock on wood...so far that has not happened!

What a game!  Hope we do better next game. Hope you had fun anyway! 

FLwarrior

bdavis ~ When I am recovered from the surgery I am going to color my "little old man" hair and I hope I will feel much better like you do!  I am glad to hear that you feel better about your hair. I am like you and look forward to having my long hair back someday! 

YamahaMama

FLwarrior, I don't know if you saw my post from a few days ago, but I actually lost my "doo-rag" riding my motorcycle down the interstate; luckily the halo didn't go with it!  I took the halo off and put my arm through it, and continued home.  I'm sure it was weird...bald head, but two long braids coming from one armpit as I was flying down the interstate!  Is your hair growing back yet? 

dragonfly1

FLwarrior I'm with you-I'm almost 12 weeks PFC and I still can't quite go without the wig all the time. I have good coverage although super short. I've tried going topless on my weekends for the past two weeks because I figured it would be easier on days when I was around strangers. I still find that people stare and it's a bit uncomfortable. I also think that my issue is that I hate the attention-even if it's positive i.e. I just want to blend in and be normal. I know when I go topless at work everyone will be very nice but I just don't want to deal with all the comments if that makes sense. I guess I have to deal with it sooner or later but this is tough.

SpecialK

dragonfly - you are up early too!  I am with you on the wig deal - my DH says to go without but I am not there yet.  He has now started pulling my hair - he thinks it is funny.  It really isn't.  I too don't want to draw the attention - good or bad!

For my surgery on 7/20 I wasn't sure what to do about the hair - I ended up wearing a clean bandana under my surgery hat.  I was a little nervous they would make me take it off in pre-op.  My first visit to the physical therapist my wig ended up being on kind of sideways after all the turning over and laying down in various positions for the lymph massage.  I had to get it on straight before I went back out into the hospital!

FLwarrior - the game was still fun (kind of) but it was so hot I felt like I was melting until we got rained on the first time, then things cooled off a little.  My former boss has season tickets so she came over and sat with us by our pirate flag and we got caught up on all the work/kid/family news. 

dragonfly1

SpecialK Hi:) Yes, I work on Sundays so I'm always up early-I'm at the VA now getting ready  to do some inpatient work with veterans...

My DH says the same thing i.e. to just go for it. He's so accepting and doesn't realize that not everyone sees me the way he does:) I'm smiling about your sideways wig during PT. I noticed that some women wore hats to their radiation appt. every day but I wore my wig because I was going straight to work. I wouldn't even take the wig off once I got in the back (where only the techs would see me) so I invariably had a hard time getting my head positioned and always seemed to have my wig off kilter when I went back into the changing room:)  I was just happy I was allowed to wear it.

I've had such interesting experiences during this process. Once I was wearing a hat while waiting for a PET scan in a crowded waiting room. A woman was blatantly staring at me for the longest time. When the waiting room cleared out she walked over to me and quietly said, "I'm a survivor and I just wanted you to know that you'll be fine". I decided at that point that I should re-think the looks I get and just give people the benefit of the doubt. On the other hand, on a recent trial run going topless on a weekend, I had a woman staring at me and then she walked over and said "good for you, when my hair was growing back I couldn't even leave the house". Arghh! I know it was her issue but that's exactly what I mean by not wanting any attention and just wanting to blend in again...

christine47

Enjoying all the hair growing back stories, of what to wear, wig, hat, topless, etc.  I am almost 4 months PFC, and have good coverage, but super short 1/4-1/2 inch.  I still wear wig to work, I just don't want comments or questions from patients (I work in health care).  I have been wearing baseball caps (I have 5 Life is Good hats that I love) out with family, dinner, etc.  Friday night we went out with some friends to have dinner and listen to Jazz, it was a funky crowd, and I took off the hat.  No one gave me a second look.  Today we are going to brunch with the inlaws, think I better wear the hat.  When I had my surgery last month, they let me wear my hat to and in the OR.  I feel like I gain a little bit of confidence about the hair and more of a don't give a darn attitude.  I am hopeful that soon I will have enough hair to not look like a chemo patient.

SpecialK

christine47 - I def have the chemo look - nobody would have their hair like this on purpose (I hear ya, divine!) and I have a high forehead, so all I see is the big forehead and the "old man hair" - so I am keeping the wig on for now.  I am just more comfortable that way, don't care that much what others who see me think - but I envy those of you who are getting more comfortable going topless.

MamaV

At this rate ...  I will be lucky to go topless by Christmas - but oh boy is the hair growing back fast and furiously on my legs and nether region.  What that heck? Unfair!

bdavis

As i said, my wig and scarf came off for surgery and i left it off for my hospital stay... Figured no one knew me... Out of state, so no risk of seeing anyone... So once i was discharged, and still out of town, bit the bullet and went out in the city topless... New orleans in july, my prefernce... Then i went home, and at first i wore scarves and hats, but within a day or two decided i liked being topless, have full coverage, so my friends and family can see my hair... Been topless since... BUT... I work at a school, and have not been there, and won't be there until sept sometime... I know THAT will be hard to walk in with my boy-style "cut".... So hopefully it will grow to pixie by then. And then i have my 30th high school reunion at the end of sept... They all know my journey, but may wear the wig for that... All girls school, but just to make me feel more like me... Time will tell what i decide.

FLwarrior

YamahaMama ~ ROFL not at you, but with you!  Just the vision of the long braids flowing from under your arm pit! I must admit as I began to read your story I had a panic attack for you!  As I read on and saw that you made it home ok and then were able to laugh at the whole ordeal, I was relieved for you and laughed with you! (I love motorcycles and have riden since the age of 6.) Thanks for sharing and making me laugh! Your story is priceless!

jackifp

I'm with you on the not wanting the attention, believe me. As I said in an earlier post, I bit the bullet and took off my cap for our first staff day, but I didn't forget for a minute my old man bald head was out there in the open. Still, our high school only has 350 kids, and most know about me and cancer, since I was open about it - gone so much, the kids needed to know why - I've known them and their parents forever. Dress up week last semester, they skipped pajama day and did a pink day...ugh on the overkill of pink, but sweet gesture. And several of my boys shaved their heads with me - their idea. So...I'll be taking the cap off all day to show them it's growing back...I'm gonna be brave and bald. Guaranteed, tho, in town and at the store - cap on, baby, I can't take the looks.

nurseronda10

I am 6 months PFC today and my hair varies in length from 1" to 1 1/4".  Getting my first trim tomorrow just to even it out.  My daughter said it feels like "rabbit fur."  My hair prior to chemo was straight as a stick and coarse.  Now it is wavy on top and straighter on the sides with cow licks everywhere.  Still wearing the wig most days.  Go topless at home, but wear a baseball cap.  I have tried to style it with gel, but so far, very unmanageable. 

FLwarrior

MamaV~I have the hair growing fast and furious on my legs too!  I agree that is just not fair!  I still shaved my legs at least once a week all the way through chemo!  On the up side, I have not had to shave the pits yet. 

ToniB

I am 18 months PFC of ACT.  Prior to chemo I had very thick, long hair.  Since chemo my hair has been so short, fine, and thin that I've had a hairweave since May (it's been redone a couple of times).  I figured by now I'd have enough to go topless, so had the weave removed on Saturday.  I am absolutely devastated - my hair is so thin you can see my scalp in many places, still very short (only about 2" in some spots) and baby fine.  I am so embarassed that I don't want to leave my house. Anybody else have a similar experience? As it's been 18 months is this the best it's going to get?  I have a call into my oncologist but would love to hear from people who have been there.

Carrol2

ok does anyone have any ideas for tansition hairstyles as my hair grows. I will try to post a new pic soon. It's getting longish in the back and over my ears. so far I have been slicking it back with fructis sculpting cream over my ears. I don;t know if i should trim it or let it go. I want it back to my shoulder lenght hair. 

bdavis

Carrol.. Even under the best circumstances, transition is hard.. I remember When my hair was shorter and growing it out, i used headbands, thin bands... They hide that awkward stage...

lago

ToniB you need to discuss this with your oncologist and maybe consider seeing a dermatologist. It could be related to something else. I know on very rare occasions there are issues with Taxotere and hair but very rare and usually people have little to no hair including eyebrow issues. Many of the women here says it takes 18 months for their hair to return to normal. In your case your growth was slower so it just might be taking you a bit longer. My hair actually came in thicker but the hair shafts themselves are thinner and not as shiny but more wavy. I'm 7 months PFC.

Also this could be related to hormone therapy… Are you taking an AI? Some women have hair thinning on AI. 

ToniB

lago,

Thanks for your reply.  I am not on any hormone therapy - the side effects were awful so I stopped taking it months ago and was only on it for a short time.  My eyebrows have not grown back.  The hair on the rest of my body has grown back, though definitely not as much as I had before.  I can't tell you how devastated I am.  We go through so much and then to have to deal with this is just too much.

Toni

MamaV

ToniB I just want to tell you I'm sorry for your situation.  I have been hairless for 8 months - it's finally starting to come back, but I would feel the same way as you.  For me, the hairlessness has been the worst part of all of this!  It's such a blow to our feminity.  I wish I could give you a big hug and cry with you.  You are in my prayers.

Vicky

Anonymous

The hair I lost while on Halaven is definitely growing back and it is VERY DARK!  The hair that did not fall out is totally white so I am not sure what sort of a look this is going to turn out to be. Whatever, I am happy to be rid of the pink scalp that was showing.   I went to get it cut really short last week thinking it would make for more even growth, but the gal who does my hair instead just sort of trimmed it and shaped it and said to wait and see what happens.  She did cut off the long sideburns and wispy stuff on my neck because I asked her to.  I trust her since she has done chemo herself and seems to know what is best for my hair.  My eyebrows seemed to start growing back just as soon as I noticed they were gone and I did not lose eyelashes this time. 

christine47

ToniB,

Sorry to hear about your hair situation, talk with your onc or see a dermatologist.  I have read that hair weaves can thin the hair as the weight is pulling on the hair shaft?  I only have 1/2-1 inch of thin straight hair 3 1/2 months PFC, so many look like they are ahead of me, we are all so different.  I have found hair loss to be the most devistating part of the BC experience.  When I first started to go out with the wig, I need to be medicated!  I hope you find something out that can help.

K-Lo

I missed all the thread. May I ask, has anyone had two-tone hair? It looks like I have white hair with dark roots.

ToniB

Christine 47,

The hair weave did not cause the problems I am having - I got the hair weave BECAUSE of the problems that I'm having.

Toni

marjie

Carrol2 - I know from growing my hair out long from a short hairstyle (before cancer ofcourse) that you just have to grit your teeth and do the best you can as it grows through those akward stages.  The hardest part is growing it out from around your ears and most of the time, you will be tucking it behind them until it gets long enough.  Experimenting with product and cute hairbands help!  Keep trimming the back until the sides catch up....then from there to shoulder length it won't take long.

I really like the hair in your avatar pic, but I know you had long hair before and it suits you too.

saralmom

Hi everyone!  Haven't checked this thread in a while!  Hope you are all well!

Carrol - I am in a weird in between place too.  My hair is now too long to look like a pixie, and too short to be something else!  I have my stylist cut the neck area very short sort of like a wedge and I'm letting the rest grow.  I wear a headband every day now and I let my hair air dry curly.  I was trying to straighten it for months, and this summer it was a losing battle.  While I am still totally frustrated by my curls and length, tons of people keep telling my hair is sooooo cute (yeah right).  Anyhow, I like to keep the neck area short while the rest grows to catch up b/c it was starting to look like a mullet.  When I get some more length, I'm going to try with the straightener again ..  I'll try to post a pic...

 

MamaV

Saralmom - love it!!!!!!!!!

Kay_G

Oh Sara mom. You look absolutely beautiful! If I were you, I think I'd keep my hair exactly like that.

lago

Saramom I don't really think it matters how you wear your hair. You're just a pretty lady.

Racy

Carrol2, I also had straight, shoulder length hair for about the last 20 years. This is an opportunity for me to 'start from scratch' and try a shorter style and natural colour as it grows. If I don't like it I will allow it to keep growing and change colour until I find a look I like.



I look at shorter, layered styles on TV and in pictures in newspapers and magazines that are fashionable at the moment and that I think might suit me. I think blunter cut layers are 'in'. This is better than looking at styles that may not be in fashion. This is an opportunity to make a style statement and have fun trying something new, even if you later decide to go back to your old look.