Hair Hair Hair - Another question

_Ann_

Did anyone have a bunch of stubbles leftover from chemo?  I buzzed a few weeks into AC and still have some stubbles that never grew or fell out after the buzz (they don't come out with a gentle tug either).  Now I have a lot of hair coming back during Taxol but those stubbles are still there, not growing and not falling out.  I am wondering if they're just totally dead follicles now.  That would be a shame since there are quite a few of them!

Dianarose

NKB-I have had it trimmed a couple of tmes. It's hust nasty looking. I think I will just have to keep trimming for awhile. I hate to cut it. It's cold here in Maine. The flat iron is my next step.

kjiberty

Here is a pic taken a few weeks ago:

http://s1270.beta.photobucket.com/user/kjliberty1/media/IMG_0272.jpg.html

Nkb

Kjib! Your hair is so thick and a beautiful color.

I hope mine looks that thick at 5 months. That's only 5 weeks away, so I sort of doubt it.

What is your plan for eventual length?

bikenyc

Ok this is really annoying me for some reason.

Is anyone else watching Parenthood this season?  I was pretty impressed with how realistic they had been about Kristina's breast cancer (she's her2+).  But once they started putting her character through chemo, that seemed to be where it ends.  Of course they're having her puking all the time which seems to be shorthand for "I'm getting chemo" (even though I think a lot of us rarely get that nauseated anymore with the new anti-nausea meds).  

But the thing that's really strange to me is that they would go to all those lengths to be authentic, but don't seem to be making her lose her hair.  I think most of us would agree that's one of the most traumatic and defining parts of the treatment process. Seems weird they wouldn't show that.  Or do they think it's too sad and dark?  I really would love if something in popular cultural would acknowledge this as a part of the treatment process and not just what you see on dying women in Lifetime Movies.

Just venting...

Nat23

Ann...I had stubbles left over after my buzz that never fell out. I had a bunch of fuzz and some patchy stubbly areas but now my whole head is starting to even out



Bikenyc...I agree with u! Loosing hair is the most traumatic parts of treatment and is THE harshest side effect (at least for me). I had nose bleeds, bad body aches, face rash...all those things came and went but I'm still suffering without my hair!!! This side effect will last for at least a few years. It is fair to say they need to replace nausea with some major hair loss.

Megan2

The parenthood comment reminded me of the Sex in the City episode fro the season where Samantha had BC. She pulled of her wig at a big event during her speech. Her breast cancer was not presented as a dying woman, but a vibrant fighting woman undergoing treatment. And I liked how they treated the hair loss - they showed it as emotionally difficult for her. Can't see myself pulling off my wig in front of a crowd, but appreciate the acknowledgement in that episode of that aspect of BC. 

It is also really encouraging to see all the people here who are regrowing their hair so quickly. Mine is currently falling out - I'm two weeks post TC #1 and so its days are numbered (like tomorrow). My best friend is now 7 months past finishing TC and she still has only a thin layer of peach fuzz and so is still in her wig and I am hoping mine doesn't take that long...

DivineMrsM

kjiberty, your hair looks lusious!

kjiberty

nkb:  I had peachfuzz for about 5 weeks or so.  My avatar is 3 months PFC.  When it takes off, it takes off.  Seriously thinking about keeping it short.  Never had it this "style' before and I a kind of liking the ease of it.

Sandlake

kjib~ Your hair looks great, the color is perfect.  Is it coming in the same color as pre chemo?  I am trying to grow my hair to a short stacked bob, but I am loving this short hair so much!!  I think I will let it grow for the winter and see what happens  It's nice to know what we look like in short hair.

DivineMrsM

I'm almost 1 1/2 years pfc.  My hair has more volume and holds curl easily. I've had several slight trims in that time span, the last one was this June. Since then, I've decided to just let it grow...I've always trimmed my own hair when I wanted, and have kept my bangs trimmed and will cut a bit off the back ocassionally since it grows faster than the front.  Here's a comparison of me when I first started going topless, 2 months pfc in August, 2011, and me on Monday, November 26, 2012.  I love the recent photo of me which my son took. 

                       

_Ann_

Nat23, that's just what I have-- mix of fuzz and patchy stubbly areas.  Some of the fuzz is pale, some is dark, but I still look very much bald from a distance.  I'm glad to hear yours evened out.

susan73

Wow, you look great

susan73

I found a place called Mylash for Latisse in the UK - has anyone heard of them or used them? They are at www.mylash.org 

onvacation

Karen you have so much hair!  It is so pretty!  We are about the same time frame and you have tons more hair than me!  I am waiting for mine to TAKE OFF!  

Divine - great picture!

Gayle56

bikenyc  - I was wondering the same thing but I think maybe the hair issue will be coming.  I think the puking was a bit much also, there are plenty of drugs for that

Nat23

Thank u I'm very excited about it! I'm also VERY excited because I just finished my last chemo today!!!!! Whoooo hoooo! Now I can officially be in this group

mommaof4

bcbarbie10

Tina,



I so love what you said I photograbbed your post to read again for later! I am now where you were last christmas. Couldnt wait for this to become a "distant memory". Ill hold on to that, many other ladies are saying that too, and it shall be so for me and the rest. Thanks!

Ossa

momma.... great picture.. looks like we have about the same amount of hair.. I also have only had one good trim.. Keep delaying the next one.. I am 13 months PFC.. Love that you can enjoy Christmas again this year

Carrol2

I loved the way Sex in the City handled breast cancer. It showed how emotional it all is and that how the female spirit cannot be kept down. I see so many celebrities talking about their breast cancer but they always leave out the visual parts like losing a breast or hair loss. It's hard for me to look at someone who had a lumpectomy and radiation and think they had a tough time when I had a bmx and chemo. During my chemo I shared my experiences with other women on BCO and I saw how they did not let this stop their lives. I saw many of them work full time, missing only minimal days for treatment, only giving in to feeling sick toward the end, and then bouncing right back. I am proud of the way I handled all of this. I look at as a huge accomplishment to have survived this, like climbing the tallest mountain. 

Your hair and lashes and brows will come back. This is all temporary. Use this time of not having to style your hair to focus on all the other wonderful beautiful parts of you.

Kelloggs

Well said Carrol!  I really thought Sex and the City did a good job with the topic, too. If only more people got to see it in that way maybe there wouldn't be this stigma about having chemo and looking horrible going hand in hand.  You are absolutely right, hair will come back!  I am 8 months PFC actually loving my new short hair, thinking I might keep it short!

Lauren423

Tina - great pic and thanks for the encouragement.

Nat23 - congrats!

All - I'd like to take a little POLL.  I am exactly 8 weeks PFC and I am beginning to feel like it will be very soon when I will begin to go topless in public...but I am not quite there yet.  

How many weeks PFC did you:

1) Go topless in public?

2) Get your first haircut?

I am looking forward to both of these things!

schatzi14

Lauren...1) 12 weeks

             2) not yet but soon....9 months...have been trying to get it all one length for the first time in my life...it's not working...too fine so it's time for a haircut!  Maybe a colour too.

Kelloggs

Lauren   1.) around 10 weeks

             2.) I am now 8 months PFC (around 32 weeks give or take) and I've had 2 trims, 1 cut for style and color with highlights!  Mine came back pretty grey and I decided 46 is too young to be that grey!  It now looks like it is short on purpose and I actually love it most days!

Rose_d

Lauren:

1) 14 weeks

2) No haircut for me yet.  I'm at almost 19 weeks now. I think most people who don't know would assume at this point I cut my hair like this on purpose, although to me it still feels very short.

I did have it colored many weeks ago (about 7 weeks ago) but it almost needs it again. Coloring it the first time made a big difference, it had come in some awful ashy color (not normal grey but nowhere near my normal color)

You're getting close!

Rose

rn4babies

Lauren:  1) 14 weeks

     2) No hair cut yet. I've been coloring since the first day topless, though.  My hair looks like I got it cut short on purpose, too. I get many compliments on it and alot of people that don't know what I've been through think I just got it cut this way.

lago

Lauren (nice name) I went topless at 13 weeks… had my hair colored and trimmed up the next morning. I cut/color my hair every 3 weeks. I wear my bangs a bit longer now (cover eyebrow) but the rest is still short. Actually have it buzzed on the sides and back.

here's the linky in case you haven't seen this.

MizMarie

I ditched my wig at 18 weeks.  Looking back now, I see that my hair was REALLY short and but for the ladies on this forum, I would never have found the courage to do it. 

I have yet to get a haircut - I've thought about calling for an appointment many times, but I just can't bring myself to do it.  I keep setting deadlines for myself and letting them pass.  However, I am in desperate need of having it shaped and thinned.  My hair is very, very thick and very, very curly, and the length is such now that my head is starting to look like a frizzy mushroom.

Nkb

Still wearing a wig I'm 15 weeks PFC- getting it colored when I am 17 weeks PFC and will decide after that. It's long and thick in back, thick and short on top and thin and long on sides and salt and pepper, although more pepper coming lately.

Will have a sl trim at 17 weeks as well.

A bit cold for little hair. Super short bangs seem to give away the not on purpose feel of it.