Hair Hair Hair - Another question

Anonymous

My last chemo was June 13. I had enough hair throughout the 12 weekly doses to get by and toward the end wore a baseball cap and never lost eyelashes or eyebrows. Two weeks after chemo up to four weeks, I started shedding hair again and lost my eyebrows and lashes. They were already growing in however and grew in literally in a week (at least the eyebrows). Eyelashes were also quick and seem thicker.

Hair is another story. It is 13 weeks, and I have a covering, but that is about it. Top is about an inch but really not filled in well in spots, or so light it doesn't look filled in. Back and sides seem thicker, but are laying very flat to my head. I tried to spike it all with no luck.

Then, I had the brilliant idea I would try a semi-permanent color rinse that washes out in 6-10 washes. Bought a blonde color and promptly turned the top of my head yellow. My husband gets a good laugh out of it. And it is taking much longer than 6-10 washes to go away! I'll be waiting until the end of October for my hair dresser now!

I am also on Herceptin and thought that might slow things down, but I had hoped I would have a couple inches and be able to go without the wig. Hate the thought I might be wearing for another year! I'm not done with Herceptin until next March.

I take biotin, multi, and b12 to help with hair growth. I've also tried Nioxin shampoo and scalp treatment. Not sure I think it does much. Ran across some kind of Hemp creme at the dollar store today that you put on your head and it is supposed to help your hair grow. Forgot to check for methylparabens...I am sure they will probably be there. Smells great!

survivor11

HI ladies, haven't been on here in awhile, getting ready for exchange surgery so have been stalking those threads.

Happy to report that my hair has taken off-no pun intended. Having to shave my legs and underarms again cause of stray long hairs. Head is covered with more and more peach fuzz everyday. Alot of it is light/gray (I suppose) but underneath stubble is dark as before chemo. My only concern is that it feels so thin and I had extra extra thick hair before. Does it start out feeling thin even if it will be thicker later-not long enough yet for me to tell. Find it so funny that every morning I wake up to look in the mirror like it's x-mas morning.

Betsy-your hair looked great in the pic a few pages back. I know, I too want my long hair back-it was past my shoulders when dx, but honestly you do look cute as hell in the short hair.

robo47-Welcome even though we are the club that nobody wanted to join. I know your tired of hearing it, but you'll be here talking about your hair growth before you know it.

KiwiMum

Wow Lago - you could have been a Kiwi too!

Michelle - a race? You are on.  It will be fascinating to compare growth.  Yay for your last chemo!

lago

survivor11 I too had thick hair before chemo. I feel my hair shafts were a little thinner than before but my hair is thicker (even my hair dresser said my hair is thicker ). I'm keeping it short for now but  I do feel in time the old hair will come back. It's just going to take a while.

fluffqueen01 I have read some folks complaining that Herceptin will slow hair growth. I just had my last Herceptin 2.5 weeks ago. I sure hope my hair doesn't grow any faster. I feel I'm getting it cut every 4 weeks now as it is. Now my neighbor (we have all the same doctors and treatments except she got rads) finds her hair is growing very slowly. Could be from Herceptin. She is also over 10 years older than me so that could be it too.

She really wants to stop wearing her wig and have hair like mine. I explain that there are many women on that their hair just comes in slower… but it does come back. I think my challenges are my nails(toes & fingers), eyebrows and eyelashes. I have a feeling that could take 2 years and in the case of my toe nails some will always be messed up. Not a big deal. I'm not a foot model.

bcisnofun

survivor11 - when was your last chemo?

bdavis

Dawn... my pre-chemo hair was super thick and my new hair is super thick... I finished chemo in May and in June also wondered whether I'd get my thick hair back... By July I had full coverage, but not thick... but August it was thickening up and now almost October, very thick... It is a process and takes time. Until I have 4-5 inches (curly or not) I will feel like it is on its way to normal but not there yet... Thanks for the compliment btw... we all have self perception issues I think, and I know myself with lots of long hair... I have in my life had shortish hair (not this short), so if I can get to that length, then I will feel like I am just growing out a short cut... been there done that.

survivor11

bcisnofun-last chemo was Aug 8th. It seems like forever but my hair really does seem to be taking off quickly although I find it funny that I kept my eyelashes thru chemo and just lost all on the right lower lid this week. I was like WTH, little bastards just couldn't hang on.

bcisnofun

I've heard of eyebrows/eyelashes falling out 6 weeks PFC.  Doesn't seem right!  I'm a couple of weeks behind you survivor11 and I still just have stubble.  Anxiously awaiting!

lago

Speaking of eyelashes You can get these at Sephora.

So do you think I should go peacock or deer in headlights? Yes my lashes brows fell out at 5 weeks.

ksmatthews

My lashes and brows fell out 7 weeks pfc, but they are growing back in so fast!  Think I will pass on the fake ones Lago!  lol

mammalou

My hair is so curly that it stands straight up on the top.  I'm 5 months PFC and it's about an inch long.  I'm afraid I'll be wearing a wig for 6 more months.  Very frustrating.

KSteve

Lago - saw those eyelashes in an email from sephora and just cracked up! Not sure if I could keep a straight face if I saw someone wearing them! Just finished losing my lashes for the third time (finished chemo 12/30/10). Getting a little sick of it at this point. At least this time I had lots of short ones back by the time the last of the long ones fell out. So I really enjoyed the eyelash chuckle!

Kathy

lago

KSteve my eyelashes are falling out again too. I'm right behind you. I finished 1.18.2011. I still have a few but very sparse. Kinda spider like… and spider lashes are in this fall.

ksmatthews

How do I post a pic?  I tried the copy and paste thing and that didnt work.

survivor11

So why are everyones eye lashes falling out so far PFC?

bcisnofun-trust me last week I didn't have much to talk about, then bam it was just there. That's how everyone says it happens.

EmmaC

I just looked at pics of me from 20 days ago, there is such a difference! funny how that makes you feel better. I will try, I swear, to post them tomorrow. my friend said my hair felt like a little soft chickadee.

sweetbean

ksmatthews (and everyone else),

here is an article on the study re: methylparabens and Tamoxifen.  

http://www.consumercal.org/article.php?id=1765 

i'm sure my onc would give me the all clear to use Nioxin, but I don't agree with her on everything. She also told me to "eat whatever I want," and I know that isn't good advice. 

FLwarrior

Thanks for the link to the article.  I have read the same thing in several other places, so there must be something to it.  I spend lots of time reading labels trying to stay away from the things that might do me more harm.  It is a hassle, but worth the effort.

lago

From what I have read the reason why your eyelashes/brows fall out after chemo is simple. The hair did stop growing on chemo but just didn't fall out. Now 5-6 weeks after chemo the new hair that is growing is long enough to start  pushing the old hairs out. Remember hair starts growing before you can see it sprout. That's why it seems to come back quickly after it falls out. Hope that makes sense.

bdavis

I never lost my lashes, but lost my brows mid chemo... so what should I expect in the future since they seem to be on a cycle??

SharonMH

Hi  Just a question . I am 18 months PFC. My hair is doing pretty. But my eyelashes have come back but they growing sideways. Can't even curl them yet. Has that happened  to anybody? SharonH

hdangelbaby

i swear it was wayyy more traumatic when i lost my eyebrows and eyelashes than it was losing my hair on my head!!!  when they all fell out, it lasted about 3 weeks, then they started growing again. i think my eyelashes are thicker and longer than they were before!

lago

hdangelbaby I was more worried about my eyebrows than my hair from the start. I bought stuff for my eyebrows before my surgery. I didn't go wig looking till after my first chemo.

SharonMH I know someone who had  terrible trouble with her eyelashes. Some were growing down into her eye. I think she actually had to get some of them removed. Make sure you mention this to you onc.

Kay_G

I agree the eyelashes and eyebrows were more tramatic than the hair for me too.  I lost them about 5 weeks after AC. Your theory (or whoever's theory that you posted) makes sense Lago.  I can feel them coming in, but can't really see them.  I tried putting mascara on them, but I guess they are still just too short.  Also very light colored, so can't really see them without mascara.  It's been 13 weeks and counting without any eyelashes or brows to speak of.  .......sigh.......

summergirl1

I have a question for you ladies , hope u dont mind, but I am almost at round 3 of 6 TC TX's and after day 15 I shaved my hair down to a 1 and then it gradually started falling out and although I look bald I now have light coloured baby hair all over my head , its not shiny like I thought it would be , I just dont understand that if my hair feel out how I now have baby hair ?, anyone have this Im just curious , dont understand it at all LOL 

survivor11

lago-good explanation.

summergirl1-had the same thing,but don't know why.

Tip I got from makeup artist friend. When you've lost your lashes, extend a daarker than your normal eyeliner in towards your nose more. Then just in the inner corner of the eye, dab some white or whitish eye shadow on the upper and bottom lids, just in the corner. It gives the illusion of a wide open eye which distracts from the fact that you have no lashes. Tried it and it worked for me, just sharing to see if this helps anyone.

EmmaC

I needed a towel to dry my hair today! Felt weird.

bcisnofun

emmac - I'm jealous.  I still wrap a towel around my bald head because for a minute when I look in a mirror, I can imagine that there's hair under there! 

Dana25

Survivor11-thanks for the tip!!

bdavis

summergirl...i also had 6tx of TC and after the third one, my hair grew some... and then grew just a little over the next 3 tx... was very white and fine.. and then when I was done, it did indeed start to come in... white at first and then my hair color... had a trim at about 10 weeks to neaten it up.