Hair Hair Hair - Another question

Love74

Crazyride...your hair looks so great! You can definitely pull off the pixie. Im at 15 weeks and have maybe 1/4"...but my leg and armpit hairs are growing like weeds...yay! Can't complain too much...at least I feel really good.

MissC

2 hours ago MissC wrote:

Hi Ladies - does anyone have any idea when hair loss may begin to occur? I am day 15 post first drip and not sure when to expect some change; anyone share please?? I have tried to preempt the inevitable by shaving to about an inch - none has 'fallen out' yet and Im not sure what to expect?

Thanks...

schatzi14

MissC....well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it should start to fall out by the second IV....what chemo are you taking?

bethcw

Hi ladies.

My new avatar is my new work ID picture that was taken this morning.  I am about 10 1/2 months PFC.  I've had 3 trims when it first started growing back and one "real" haircut.  I've always had long hair, so I am trying to use this time to experiment with some short styles that I would have never tried before.  It took me a while to remember how to style it again.  It was hard to switch from the "towel dry" hairstyle that someone else mentioned, but I am starting to get the hang of it.  Each stage has it's own challenges - lol.  Hang in there ladies it will be back before you know it!

Beth

jpmomof3

Miss C, it varies somewhat depending on which chemo, but mine stayed put until day 20 and then i got a few strands every time i ran my fingers through my hair.  I buzzzed it to about 1/8 inch that day.  about three days later it was snowing stubble.

allurbaddayswillend

melmcbee - I know it's been a few days but I saw your post about scalp discomfort. I have had that off and on too, especially when it was first falling out. There have been a few other times when I've had the same feeling but not quite as strong as 14 days after my first AC. I switched to using the same cleanser and lotion on my scalp that I use on my face. It has a little peppermint in it so it's kind of soothing but it also doesn't dry it too much which seemed to be part of my problem. I use Dr. Woods facial cleanser (not Dr. Bronner's, Dr. Woods) and California Baby Sensitive Everyday lotion. The cleanser and lotion combo also seems to help prevent peeling which I was getting a bit of on my scalp - nothing too intense but definitely some skin cells were coming off.

MissC

Snowing stubble - too funny I am on TC regime and am about 15 days post first drip..Dont know why I had it in myhead that it would be gone by now? So in leiu of this I too had buzzed and am just surprised to see nothng but new hair - weird.

Hmm...so confusing all this! I have noticed pubic hair falling out so perhaps it is the start?

schatzi14

MissC...yep and leg and underarm hair will go too. By the time it's all gone you will look like a 10 year old girl!   LOL

MissC

Dear lord...not pretty man! Gotta say - I love my Buffs so really dont mind the hair on my head going but having it go everywhere else is definately freaking me a bit. Like all said - its part of it and WILL come back - saving a fortune on waxing and hairdressing in the interim

Maddie57

Hi Ladies, I also had scalp discomfort. I read somewhere almond Oil is great for your scalp during chemo. I bought some, and it felt so much better a few hours later. It is worth a try.

schatzi14

MissC  This is true....sometimes I have to remind myself to shave my legs and underarms....it sure didn't used to be that way. Sometimes when I was having a bad day, I looked and felt more like an old man instead of a young girl....this too shall pass! But not to be a downer, some gals work thru the whole thing with few SEs. I wish that for you

Actually many of the gals are far more worried about their lashes and brows. I am 7 months PFC and I still don't have full brows. There is always pencil!

Rockym

I'm coming up to 10 months PFC and hair is doing just fine.  I only lost my brows and lashes once around 8 weeks PFC, so I consider myself lucky there.  Everything else on my body seems to grow slower.  I'm still bummed about the hair down south.  I feel like my 80 year old mom with her thinner wisps.  I don't like the look, but better thin there then other places.  Maybe it's the chemopause and minimal estrogen now.  Oh well.

onvacation

Beth, your hair looks wonderful!  Can't wait to have bangs!

shore1

Hi everyone, hope you're all having fast growth. I ditched wig last week at 31 weeks pfc. Im officially in "the headband" phase and have bought lots of cute ones to get me thru. My favorite product so far, after trying many and spending a small fortune, is a got-to-b styling gel in a little round orange container. I have about 3 1/2 inches in most places and its growing fast. I was nervous last week each time id see people for the first time but am feeling better and less self conscious every day.

rn4babies

Rockym.......I am now 8 weeks PFC and my hair is growing like a weed but I have sparse eyebrows and eyelashes that just fell out in the past week. Did you lose yours completely? How long did it take for them to look normal again? Are they as thick as they were before? This bothers me more than my head hair now. I was so excited about it's growth and now the brows and lashes are gone!

Rockym

m4babies, mine never went away completely.  I was able to use pencil to fill the brows and then I would say about 3 weeks later they were there again.  I hated it too.  I felt like some strange cartoon character.  My brows are the same as before, but since it was a "do-over" I was able to better style the shape.

I think I was left with just a few lashes on the top and none on the bottom.  I used pencil to line the top and bottom and it looked like I had them.  Again, one morning I woke up and the bottoms were back.  The top came back soon after.  I took a close up pic of my face before chemo and I compared it with the pics I took the past few months.  It does look like everything is the same again.

kjiberty

Beth:  YOur hair looks great.

Still can't get the pic to post.  Keep getting errors. 

Ossa

.....

11 months PFC 

MissC

YIKES - seems a lot of you ladies has brow / lash lost post last treatment? Ugh...just when ya think its over - lol...not easy all this nonsense. I am 16 days post TX one and still no hair loss - waiting for the big reveal but seems perhaps it may never happen.

Thanks for all the information - great bunch on this forum

Racy

Carrol2, you look amazing!

Racy

Hi ladies, just checking in to see how everyone is going on the hair journey. It's not easy.



I finished chemo in April 2011 and my hair started growing back in June. By December, the side bits had just reached the bottom of my ears and growth was wavy. I got my hair straightened and extensions put in which I am still wearing. My 'fringe' or bangs as I think you say has reached the bottom of my nose and at the back hair touches the nape of my neck. I have not had any cuts.



Waiting for hair to grow back has been worse than losing it as it takes so long.



I hope I never have to do chemo again but if I did I think I would use cold caps.



I never felt like myself until I got extensions put in.



No one knew I had chemo so that's why I had the extensions etc to disguise my situation.

CAYH

That's great to hear you only lost your brows & lashes the one time, Rockym!

Racy - fringe to the bottom of your nose sounds...like wow - Good on you! 

kjiberty - can you check the size/resolution of your avatar pic?  In the Help section it says "please do not exceed 125 x 300 pixels and/or 35kb".

Seagrover

Haven't been on here in a while.  Found myself obsessing about my hair while on here.

Very happy to say - I HAVE HAIR - don't know how to post a pic or I would.  Last chemo was April 19th.  So I have dark, short, curly - looks like I meant to do it hair!  Started going "topless" sometime in mid-June.  It will come back!  I have been using Nioxin, taking Biosil and Niacin as well.  I get so many complements on my hair - even from complete strangers.  I used to be blonde and hair long and pulled up in a clip.  My biggest problem has been looking in the mirror and wondering "who is that." So. I am accepting what people say - I like your dark hair better, it makes your eyes pop, really cute cut (ha),  - one thing for sure, it certainly is easy!

Going for a followup appt tomorrow with onc.  Can only say it does make me a bit uncomfortable to think I still have to do this because CANCER SUCKS!!! 

Nkb

Well doing rads has given me less time to obsess about hair growth! Am 4 weeks PFC and I have 2 upper lashes left on each side, no lower lashes, some scraggles of eyebrows, some are two- tone white and dark.

On my head I have one inch of mostly white sparce on top, thicker but, not normal thickness on sides and back (fluffy stuff) and I can see one micron long new hairs poking out in between.



Racy, I agree, if I had to do chemo again, I would strongly consider cold caps, they are quite pricy and require an assistant, but, maybe price will come down. This time I wanted chemo to get to all the places where cancer could make a comeback ( the scalp) and I heard such mixed reviews of the cold caps. I'll have to talk with my hair dresser about extensions when the time comes. I heard they were hard on your newborn hair- but, sounds like they worked well for you!

NCbeachgal

Seagrover-your post describes my hair journey to a T! Blonde before, pulled up or back most time, now brown and wavy. I've been called chic mostly and it makes my eyes pop. How funny, I bet we could be twins!

Rockym

I used to be able to go out without makeup and just a bit of lipstick with my long locks.  Now I definitely have to wear some eye makeup and mascara and the lips seem to not matter.  Funny how much hair can change the whole look.  Nothing to hide behind anymore.

ang7894

Well just got my call my MUGA scan I guess is fine it is 51% is that OK? I had heard on here if it was 50% or lower they would stop my herceptin so I guess I just made it .

ang7894

 I'm 19 weeks out I can't believe how much I took my hair for granted NEVER NO MORE gosh I really miss my hair I hate to look in a mirror.. I tried to be the glass is full but that is just not me I am running on empty lately I just want to look like the old me almost a year ago

CAYH

Had a hard time stuffing little ends under my wig today - still wearing it out in most public places.  Did those of you who wore your wigs for 4+ months PFC, wear a wig cap under?  It sure doesn't feel as secure with thickening hair - no more grip on the bare skin, I guess...

This was taken this morn, exactly 18 weeks PFC now.  Sticking it out a bit longer before I decide if I will keep the gray - turned 56 a few days ago & it does tend to make me feel older...Trying to convince myself I can still be trendy with a short short style, but I still need some wisps for softness. I think I am going to get my nape neatened up next week - it's getting kinda sloppy now - yeehaw! 

 

Love74

Racy...how long was your hair when you got extensions? What kind did you get?