Hair Hair Hair - Another question

schatzi14

gemmie...what kind of chemo are you getting? I ask because when I was getting DD/AC, I had to have the neulasta shot within 24 hours of getting the AC. Just curious!

Momof2inME

I started using Latisse the day I started chemo. My eyelashes and eyebrows thinned. I am now 3 weeks PFC and so far I have not lost all eyelashes and eyebrows. I credit the Latisse.

Gemmie

Sorry, schatzi, I misspoke. It is day 1 after chemo--so I get the neulasta shot 24 hours later, like you. I am on 4 rounds T/C.

kjiberty, Yes I guess you do need a perscription, legally (I'm in Ohio) but it was so easy for me.  We have a place  locally here (just down the road from my cancer center as it happens) called Northcoast LAZER Cosmetics, LLC. They have 2-3 doctors on call and do cosmetic type things, no surgeries. All I did was walk in, tell them my situation, the girl walked to the back, got approval from the doc (he/she never even came out) and I bought the Latisse!

 Here is their website: you may be able to order it from them.

www.NORTHCOASTLASER.COM

I did enquire about a discount but they work through the Latisse Company and that wasn't possible. But they put me on a points plan where I will get discounts down the road if I continue purchasing. If you go through your MO you may get a better discount. I paid $120.00 for a two months supply, but they told me I could make that stretch out to 3 months by re-using the brushes a few times.

It's funny cause I really don't care about losing my head hair much at all. But please not the eyelashes and eyebrows!

Blessing for a good day to all. 

AEM47

Gemmie - I used it starting sometime around the 3rd treatment when it was apparent, lashes were thinning.  I wish I had started it earlier, because it seemed to make the top lashes slow down and actually stop dropping for a bit.  The bottom exited and the top got REALLY thin.  Now I'm 8 weeks PFC and still have about 10+ lashes on my left eye and about 5 on my right (fortunately, they are smack dab in the middle of the lid, so it appears that I still have lashes)  I've lost more after chemo than between the 3rd and 4th treatment. Over the last week..(so somewhere around the 7th week) there are a million lashes coming in - top and bottom.  I think in another week or so, they should be back to normal since the growth is extremely fast and very noticeable.   I used Rogaine from the beginning...before hair loss - also on eyebrows and they are completely back.  They thinned and turned a lighter color before coming back, but literally took about 3 days to have the complete brow come in...now they are just getting alittle longer.  I will most likely ditch the wig next week since I'm very close to being completely covered....of course, fingernails are a whole other story..lol

JoanQuilts

Does Rogaine help with faster growth post-chemo and is it safe to use? 

lago

I used Minoxidil before chemo (hair receding issue) but stopped during chemo. My once even asked me if I was still using. I told her no, it would be a waste of money. She said she was about to tell me the same thing. I started using it after chemo. I use the women's (Walgreens brand) only once a day. I found 2X a day is too much for me. I was starting to grow hair in places on my face that should be.

onvacation

AEM - what happened to your nails?  I just noticed this morning that the nails on my right hand are starting to pull back.  SE of T/C I'm told.  Nurse suggested I tape them.  No idea what kind of tape to use - any ideas?

JoanQuilts

Lago - did it help?

JoanQuilts

Lago - did it help?

lago

JoanQuilts I did get some hair growth when I first used it but didn't work 100%. Ironically my hair line is much much better than before chemo. If you do use it remember it can take 3-6 months to see it work. I think it took about 3 months for me.

onvacation  I got horrible nail lifting. Most recommend icing during taxotere (I assume that's the chemo your on which is known to cause this. There might be others too). For me the icing didn't work. I got a really bad case of it too. Every finger and toenail raises. Lost several. 18PFC and they still haven't recovered. I know some of my toenails won't. Not sure yet about the fingernails. Will get answer from the dermatologist tomorrow.

Gemmie

Thanks AEM47, I think I'll go for it and start the Latisse. Will you all know how it progresses. Another question, the Latisse directions say use on top lashes only, but evidently you use below as well? And it works there too?

 Onvacation and JoanQuilts yes one side effect is nail loss from the taxol family of drugs.  I learned on the chemo thread to ice  my toes and nails during cheme sessions.  Since I just started chemo, not sure if it'll work, but several women on the chemo thread say it does help.  If you're not yet done with chemo, might want to give it a try.

Whatashocker3

Ladies I did ice my nails and it didn't work for me. My fingernails use to look lovely without nail polish but now they look gross. I have to wear nail polish to cover my crappy nails. My toenails aren't a problem interesting enough?

onvacation

did anyone try taping your nails?

Sandyland

Nails: I took Juice Plus (beginning about 3 months before I was diagnosed) throughout chemo and I never had any nail problems.  I'm the only one I know who took Taxotere that didn't even have any discoloration or lifting.  I could be a total coincidence, but I doubt it.  My hair and nails were as healthy as they've ever been going in to chemo and I am wildly happy not to have had this SE.  It's about the only SE I didn't get, but hey...I'll take it! 

Private message me if you want more info on Juice Plus.  They are just pills I take everyday that effectively deliver fruit & vegetable benefits into your system.  

Best of luck to everyone!

SAN

lago

onvacation the way my podiatrist (the one my onc sent me to that deals with a lot of this) said that pressing on them is the worst thing you can do. It puts more trauma on the nail bed. What you should do is try not to press down or use your fingers. Granted for me that was impossible. Most of those 9,800+ posts here were keystroked when I was going through & recovering from treatment . Maybe once they stop hurting and oozing then you could tape them down but not so sure that would be something I would start with.

Also mine ended up hurting a lot at one point. 

I think the real reason the ice didn't work for me is you really have to keep them cold. I don't think just sticking them in a bag of frozen peas is going to do it. If you read what the gals go through with the frozen caps to save their hair you'll see that they have several caps for one session. They do make special mitts and booties for this that are used in Europe and I think Canada.

onvacation

Thanks Lago - the taping sounded weird to me.  Just another fun thing us BC'ers deal with!  

Too late to even try icing for me, I only have 1 more treatment.   

lago

onvacation my fingernails started after TX3 and I had a total of 6. My toes started sooner. Yours will probably get worse before they get better but not as bad as what I got. I'm sure they will recover. Just try not to bang them, hit them. Avoid the trauma.

Myleftboob

I iced during Taxotere and have any lifting with my nails on either my fingers or toes.  I do have a horizontal ridge mind you for each TX. and half way down the nail is lighter than the top! My nails were never the greatest.  I was a nail biter until my 20's but once I stopped I just kept them sport length.

AEM47

Onvacation - my nails were beautiful throughout chemo...felt painfull after a couple of the treatments, but stayed looking healthy, pink, etc.   they were always super strong.   About 4 weeks PFC, they started to hurt a bit again and now at 8 weeks the they are lifted about half way up the nail...looks like they are growing good - but yellow and thick from about half way.  My pinky and ring fingers seem to be the best and are still looking good, but the middle fingers are the worst.  I take the polish off every few days, and yesterday cut and filed them to where the fingertips will hit anything first, not the nails.  I also buffed the tops to try to thin them a bit, since the part that lifted seems thicker and more rounded.  I also soak them in hydrogen peroxide each day..just in case there is anything brewing and I'm seriously vigilent about washing my hands after doing anything.  I'm hoping that they just simply grow out. but it was very uncomfortable...as well as scary untill I really cut them back...not to mention GROSS without polish.  I will definitely have to be hyper-vigilent with them till they grow out or I could see losing some of them  - chemo...the gift that keeps giving.

AEM47

Gemmie - I did use Latisse on the bottom also - but I used a magnifying mirror and only swiped the bottom with the excess from each application....so just not as heavy as the top.

onvacation

AEM - yes very true statement about chemo!  Just when I thought I was going to get through it with out too many side effects! Really must be cummulative!  I am the queen of denial!  LOL

lmlola59

Hi all just jumping on here after reading for a while since I am just 6 weeks PFC have not had much to contribute but sucking up any pointers from all of you.

Have to address the Latisse question.I had been using the generic form ( no prescription mail order) Bimatoprost Ophthalmic Solution Careprost about 2 yrs before BC and was at the maintenance stage of 3 X a week  working down to 2X.Once diagnosed I started using it daily again and also on my brows.I have only thus far lost small amount inner corner  on the top lashes of right eye and left eye thinned on the outside of top and lower lashes.But the ones that remained are really long so no one would notice.I also stopped using mascara unless I was going somewhere special to baby them some,as I thought it may dry them and add extra stress.Seems the side that the Chemo was given has lost the most. Brows thinned some but hanging in enough that I can still hide it pretty easily .I see that some of you kept most till later after more weeks PFC so I am holding my breath.

Also on the nails I did ice and fingers and toes and they look great.Only thing is I didn't do the toes first round and the big toe got some vertical ridges so I then started to ice that never progressed.So I think that it is worth trying 

 I can't tell you how many times I have headed for the store and put the Monoxidil in my cart but end up putting it back before I walk out.I keep thinking I just need to give it a chance and see that by time it would start to work I will probably see enough anyways.Everything else seems to be returning back to normal so this should to.But like you I can't stop looking every time I am near a mirror.Definitely starting but some is dark and some is light ,well I guess white so it's there but can't see unless close up.

Again thanks for all the great tips 

mt4ever

I am throwing this out there as another option to the many we have seen on lashes/brows.  I love my MK and was excited when I saw this! 

I just wanted to let you ladies know that Mary Kay has come out with a Lash & Brow Building Serum.  I just got mine to be a guinea pig and will let you know how it works.  The price is $38 so a lot better than the prescription.  The statistics say: 80% said it helped reduce lash loss, 77% reduced lash brittleness and breakage, and 76% said look of thin, sparse lashes was improved. 

Kelloggs

Sandy - I can join you in the group who had no nail issues.  I always had beautiful strong nails and they were not changed in any way, no ridges, discoloration or lifting.  I did NOT ice during Taxotere.  I guess it's a crap shoot for this SE like the rest of them!

onvacation

Kelloggs - I think it is a crap shoot!  I am blessed that my SE weren't worse, so really can't complain too much, just some days you want to say COME ON!  ENOUGH!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day - off to get my shot and head to work. 

Kelloggs

I want to say that EVERY DAY! lol  I have 3 more boosts and I am done with radiation and my dented, chargrilled boob can start full recovery.  I plan to put my head out in the sunshine this weekend, sprinkle on some pool water and see if it grows!

schatzi14

I took Taxol and my fingernails were OK but one big toenail is loose on one side and they all have ridges...I am grateful!

Whatashocker3

So does anyone know of a safe brow enhancer that is not sold by prescription? I haven't had brows since Feb!!!

lago

Getting nail lifting is a more rare SE. The icing might have worked but it is possible you might not of had the issue even if you didn't ice. I truly believe you need to ice your hands and feet and keep them really cold for it to work.

mt4ever please keep us posted on the MK product.

schatzi14

I didn't ice at all...