Hair Hair Hair - Another question

NCbeachgal

Seagrover-we're in the same boat it seems. So far my brows and lashes are hanging in there. A thinner version but still there. I'm hopeful they will stick around but understand they can go at any time, sometimes weeks after the final chemo.

I also get some crazy pain,twitches and itches from time to time. It's crazy how long this stuff sticks around. I drink so much water, I feel like Gunga Din the water boy. I was hoping all the water would flush it out sooner than later.

Any way, I am obsessed with my head. I forgot to mention that last night my dream was that one morning I work up with an ok head of reddish hair. I had serious gray roots but was ok with it since this gift appeared overnight. I can't believe I'm having hair dreams. I think I'll add an Ativan to my deep breathing exercises.

Hang in there seagrover!

Elizabeth1889

Lately my hair has reminded me of a cross between Mamie Eisenhower and Betty Boop. Still, any hair is good hair.

Carrol2

Elizabeth I was told once when my hiar was a bit shorter that I remnded that person of Betty Boop  no one else saw it. Plus my voice is kinda high pitch.

boop boop de doooooooo!

CHH

Bitch away NCBeacgirl - here is the place! I am 16 weeks PFC and ditched the week right before 12 week mark. You will get there! You will just know the day you are there and I doubt you will have any regrets. I don't. Some days if feels like a super sassy short cut, and some days it feels like it's just growing out after bald. But people adjust really quickly and I think are happy to see progress in our health improving-- or at least in moving away from chemotherapy.

Woman at the food store leaning in and sort of whispered to me on Friday "I've always watched to cut my hair that short-- how did you do it?" -- I just bit my tongue and said just cut it!!!! 

Sass up the earrings, turn up some collars and you'll be moving on!!

CharB22

Seagrover and NCbeachgal - After reading your posts, I don't feel so bad. I'm 1 week PFC and just want my hair back!! I even bought Nioxin yesterday at the salon in Walmart - just the scalp conditioner set me back $45, but I justified it because I haven't had a $55 haircut in 6 months! My bald head is just a bad reminder of what I've endured for the past 5 months. I want to forget chemo, but I can't because every time I walk past a mirror, I see Uncle Fester staring back and me. I've lost most of my eyebrows - funny story though - this morning my 11 yo DS decided to count how many eyebrows I have left - 10 on the right and 3 on the left. At least I still have upper eye lashes - only a couple of lower, but eyeliner works wonders. Maybe I should color my head.

Kelloggs

CharB22 - I haven't really lost my brows or eyelashes but they have become so light you can't see them anymore.  And the eyelashes can be seen with mascara on them but my eyeliner doesn't seem to want to stay on anymore.  I am 6 wks PFC and can't wait until I can ditch this wig!  It's almost 90 degrees today...in Ohio...in early May!!!!! UGH, it's gonna be a long summer

borntosurvive

What does the coconut oil help with? I have also seen people using olive oil?

Kelloggs

coconut oil is for the skin during and after radiation.  Rachelvk used the olive oil to prevent mouth issues during chemo.  I don't know what other uses it may have.

sewingnut

Kelly,

About the time the hair on my head took off my eyelashes and eyebrows disappeared. Actually wiped the eyelashes off one night in the shower. As soon as they fell out new little ones where right behind them.

Yvette10052011

i'm six weeks PFC & saw my dermatologist today. she asked why i don't dye my hair & ditch the Halo/hat combo. i didn't think i had enough hair but she said it was thick and growing fast.

driving back to work, i made an appointment with my colorist for next wednesday. showed a few ladies in the office, they all agree -> it's time!! hopefully my lashes will be back soon... i'm nervous & excited but so over wearing a wig!!

MamaV - how EXCITING!! congrats on the new bangs

Rockym

Anyone having a tough time shopping for clothes?  Long sexy brown hair gone, short layered 2 inch hair here.  I look way too different to myself and when I try on clothes everything looks wrong.  I'll keep trying, but it would be nice to try something on and like it and the new me look.

Oh well.

Srall67

I wear tops with interesting neck lines.  The attention is taken away from my hair and draws the eye to my face. Don't know if it works, but at least I feel better. 

BarbRocks

My hair was about an inch past my shoulders... it fell out, grew back and now it is never more than two inches long.  With all of the blow drying and hot ironing, I worked on my hair an hour and fifteen minutes a day... add up all those hours and I was wasting 19 days a year on my hair.  Now it is wash, comb and done!  Not only easy, but I look younger.

Momine

Rocky, I started wearing colorful scarves. It somehow fills the space that used to be taken up by the mane.

Carrol2

Rocky it is tough to suddenly look so different. Especially as the seasons cheange and you put those summer clothes on the first time with short hair. I found i liked lots of jewelry and heavy makeup, anythng to look more feminine. I also like the lower necklines or more vnecks. I struggle all the time even though my hiar has grown back very nicely since its been over a year PFC for me. I still look in the mirror and wonder who that is staring back at me. But most of the time I like what I see even though it's differnt. Mostly I struggle because I gained a lot of weight so my guy protrudes past my boobs now. I think when they were DD instead of D i did not notice my gut as much. SO I am working on the weight loss, down 5 pounds 25 to go.

Justina

I am 17 weeks PFC and my hair is 1 1/2 inches at best.  I had it dyed from the black/gray/white tie dye look to my pre-cancer dark brown.  It is starting to waive a little.  Ditched the headwear about a month ago - was harder to do that than shave my head last August.  Was getting used to it, then today I went to get gas and the attendant said, "What can I do for you, sir?"  I nearly burst into tears.  I HATE IT!  It is so unfair to have gone through surgery, chemo and radiation and now have hair, eyelashes and brows that are so short.  I am sorry I am venting here.  I felt like I could get through the day until that guy made the comment this morning. 

Seagrover

After looking in the 10x mirror again this morning, I am seeing tiny microscopic white fuzz on my face.  Not really where I want to be growing hair though!  Did notice where I had shaved for my bathing suit that is starting to show a bit of progress where it was slick as glass before.  Now that is a part I wish would never come back but I guess I'll take what I can get!

I have started with a Nioxin product on my head - can't remember the name but you put it on your head 1 to 2 minutes a day - don't know if it has helped yet.  In addition to that, I am taking something I got from GNC which the guy said was better than biotin or biosil.  It is 3 bottles, take the pills for a month - supposed to help with nails, too, although I've never had a prob with nails - I just want hair - dammit!!! 

LuvRVing

I'm watching The View and they are showing some adorable pixie cuts.  One lady just let them cut off two feet of her hair and her pixie just rocks!  It probably took 15 years off her look! 

I just dried my hair straight for a change, and my DH told me he likes it better curly.  Alrighty then, I'm sticking to the no muss, no fuss naturally curly hair.  But I did manage to see that my bangs, if I pull them straight, definitely make it to my eyebrows.  If I stick with the curly look, I guess it doesn't matter all that much.  I'm just over 7 months PFC, and yeah, I'm very lucky that my hair grows really fast. 

(((Justina)))  you poor thing! Get yourself some big rockin' girlie earrings and don't leave home without them! 

Janet_M

Rockym - Ditto on the clothes shopping! My entire wardrobe was built around the brown bob that I had for about 20 years. Colours, neckline, texture...everything. Now my hair is short and gray like my grandpa. Thick sweaters feel too big and I feel like a pinhead. The brown tones that I loved are washing my out, and high collars are not flattering. I do not feel like myself at all

I usually wear a little cap now - so everything has to go with that.  So I plucked out all the mauves, grays, and stripes from my wardorbe - and stuck the rest at the back of the closet. I have the luxury of wearing casual clothes to my new part-time job, so it's not too challenging, but like everything else chemo related - extremely inconvenient. 

Best look so far? Boat neck srtiped long sleeve T-shirt with good jeans.  And lipstick. I feel very French, but as I avoid looking in mirror, I may just be kidding myself.

dragonfly1

I know this is off the subject of hair but I thought I'd post it here since it has to do with our appearance post-treatment. I had my port removed on April 9th so of course I have a red incision/scar and it always seems to be right along the collar of my shirt where you can see it. I've been very self-conscious about it and annoyed that I have to avoid wearing certain things.

So I stopped by Ulta today and found the solution to the problem. They gave me a product called Dermablend (also used to cover tattoos). I bought the "cover cream" in my skin tone along with a clear "setting powder". It says it will last for up to 12 hours and is waterproof. It's a bit pricy but there's enough that I won't have to buy it again for a year (it was approx $30 for each). Thought this may help someone else who wants to cover a scar...Here's a photo after applying it:

Rt Lumpectomy/SNB 1/7/2011 TCHx6 (2/15-5/31/11), Herceptin x 1 year (done 1/18/12), Rads 28+5 (finished 8/8/11) BRCA 1/2 Neg, Now on Tamoxifen, My "jump for joy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jUmLkbhHZE
Diagnosis: 11/29/2010, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2+

MamaV

First, before you get all excited.  Look at my picture directly on the left.  That is me before chemo.  I will NOT be happy until my hair is long like that again!

However, I will take what I can get since I have no choice .

 Ok, so here are my bangs ... at 10 months PFC

and the back (I encourage the curls at the bottom to avoid the mullet)

So you can see the progression.  This is me with my 15 year old son 5 weeks ago (9 months PFC) - not much bangs to brag about then ...

And just 3 months ago at 7 months PFC

And OMG at 5 months PFC when I went topless for the first time ... looking back I can't believe I felt good about that little hair on me!  UG!

 

THERE IS HOPE LADIES!

LuvRVing

Great progression pictures, MamaV!!!   Your son is very handsome and has a great smile!

I caved last week and got about 1 1/2" cut off my back because it was so much longer than the front and top.  Color next Wednesday, then I'll post new pictures. 

MamaV

Thanks Michelle!  I'm holding out to see if I can make a pony tail - hope, hope, hope!

LuvRVing

This grandma is past the pony-tail stage   But I'll be happy to get some long layers on top and to have the feel of some hair when next fall rolls around.  In the meantime, my hair is pretty close to my usual "summer do."

Carrol2

mamav you look great. You'll be back to that pre chemo length in no time.

stjude10

Justina...what a dumbass! So sorry that happened to you. My hair is super short and really thin,, but screw it, goin topless from now on. I went earring shopping today. They seem to make me feel better.

MamaV...lookin' good! Thanks for the progression pics. I'm 3 months out and no way will I match you at 5 months.

dragonfly...thanks for the tip. Can't see your scar at all. I got my port out about same time as you and my scar is still quite visible.

borntosurvive

I have been ditching my wig and just wearing a ball cap.  I feel "half topless".  I am only a month out of chemo and have a head full of white fuzz.  At least it's growing and not falling out anymore. 

Bonseye

decided with the heat and all that today was the day---I went topless!!  if felt so empowering to just say--whatever and leave the scarf and wig home.  i hate having grey hair but at this point...I have hair and don't want to wear head gear anymore.  Time to turn the corner and live feeling comfortable! 

JoanQuilts

I have realized that I will never feel well and whole again until I have hair on my head.  Sorry to be so superficial - but it's a real downer for me.

linnyhopp

Hi to All!  This is my first post on this board.  I am 7 weeks past chemo (TCH) as of today and my hair is not growing.  There is a bit of fuzz in the back like a 5 o'clock shadow, but the front is just about the same as it was during chemo.  I am doing Herceptin and radiation so I guess that could slow things down.  I am getting nervous and very impatient!  You probably all know that I am thinking I am one of those rare people who won't get my hair back.  Do you think that since there is some growth in back I will eventually look like me again someday?  Linda