Hair Hair Hair - Another question

Pattysmiles

You need to check with your doctor on that one. I know mine said no black cohosh and a few others (I don't really use supplements except the standard vitamins) so it is best you ask your oncologist...

SyrMom

I'm starting my first IV chemo, taxol, a week from Monday.  How soon can I expect my hair to fall out?  Thanks ...

Annie54

Most likely 14 to 21 days after first infusion. Mine started at 21 days and never completly fell out -but I did lose most of it. 

carla53

Started coming out in clumps 12 days after my first chemo. Day 13 two of my daughters and two grandsons came by and we had a buzz party. Had a great day together. We made lemonade out of lemons.



Carla

Shasha10

Mine started 21 days. Just clumps. I called my sister and I had it buzzed off. Have your wig fitted before good luck

SyrMom

Thank you, thank you for all of your input.

Kat-ski

It has been 7 months since chemo stopped.  My hair has grown a whole inch! I have been taking biotin since then but no results.  This is the second time around for me.  I wear a baseball hat when I go out.  I am so frustrated about this hair growth.  My hair use to grow so much that I would have it trimmed every 8 weeks.  I have no bangs to speak of and I am so impatient.  The last time with this timeline I had hair growth of 4 inched with bangs.  ugh ugh  Any suggestions?

IamNancy

aspinner - my chemo stopped in April and I have about 3/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch - no bangs yet.. I think it just grows at its own speed.. it is frustrating but we can't make it grow any faster -I mostly wear  wig (to work) or a scarf (weekends) and I have gone out maybe twice with no head covering but feel like I get too many strange looks to feel comfortable.

DivineMrsM

Ladies, please take a photo of yourself at least once a month. I've shared the story before, but after chemo, I had taken several head shots of myself on days I thought I looked okay.  I forgot about the pictures.  Several months later, I swore my hair wasn't growing, although my husband would comment that he thought is was coming in nicely.  Well, right after Christmas, I uploaded photos from the camera to the computer, and sure enough, the pictures told the true story.  My hair really was growing, and the proof was right in front of me. So I started taking a head shot every few weeks on days I thought I looked nice, up to one year, then made a collage of them. 

It really boosted my morale to see the hair growth in the photos.  When you're looking at yourself in the mirror every day, you don't notice the changes. 

Shasha10

My hair always grew 1/2" a month before bc. I could tell from roots. Now it's still at 1/2-1" & I stopped chemo in June. I think that's it's filling out more. It's very thick. And filling out. But not long. I hoping the next next stage will be length.

Mely19

My hair feels like it is growing sooooo slow. I finished at end of January and I still don't have full scalp coverage. The back is growing ok but top and front is uber thin. I have had 3 trims but they were just evening things out. My hair dresser still thinks more hair is coming at the top. I hope she is right because it's depressing to see how thin my hair is. I never worried bout it during chemo cause I thought it would come back but it doesn't look like it is. Or at least not as thick as it use to be.

Pattysmiles

Mely19,I am a bit of the opposite. The top is coming in, the sides and back are still thin.

I am taking biotin only once a day, thinking of upping to twice a day.

I do recall that it was the top of my head that started falling out first....wonder if that has anything to do with re growth order?

Pat

IngridJ

I am 7 weeks out, trying Spectrum products.. Hope they're not too toxic...Like nioxon i think.. Think they've helped a bit...Very fine growth all over, but top is like yours Pattysmiles, coming in ok, sides, especially temples...mmmm not so much.. The back looks ok..I have a really high forehead so have always had a long fringe, except for a terrible 80's cut with a tiny short fringe and that wasn't good..

Is it safe to say I am obsessed..

Read where rubbing olive oil could help.. Lucky no one to complain when I go to bed smelling like an oily mess..just want hair... any hair...

Mely19

I took a small amount of biotin in the beginning then stopped when it seemed like hair was growing. Then it seemed like it slowed down so I restarted the biotin but in larger dosages. I think it helped because I don't see my scalp as much. I'm really glad to have what little hair I do have. Just wish I could stop re- introducing myself to people I already know because they can't seem to recognize me anymore with this short hair! I wore wigs throughout chemo so my look is too different for some people to process.

LakeGirl2

Shasa10, your hair sounds a lot like mine. I finished chemo in early May. It's super short, no bangs, but I ditched my wig about 2 weeks ago, after I got my hair colored. My wig was great, tho. Strangers complimented me on my "hair" then. People who don't know about my bc think I just got a radically short haircut. A couple of people have said, "most people get their hair cut that short at the beginning of summer." If I am getting strange looks, I am not noticing them. And a darling friend of my oldest son (7th grader) who didn't know about my bc told me very earnestly that my hair looked really, really great. I wanted to hug that litle girl so hard. She made my day.

Spookiesmom

I was thinking about trying Bioten. Sure could use some help. Picked up a bottle and read the ingredients. Soy lethicin? Was listed. I put it back, soy isn't for me. What is that stuff?

SyrMom

I'm told soy lecithin is not a big deal (?) but rather soy oil, soy milk, soy flour etc. to stay away from. 

shoppygirl

Hi

Is Bioten a shampoo? I finished

8 weeks ago and am still pretty hairless. What about Nioxen? Is that for hair growth as well?

Spookiesmom

Bioten is a pill. I think I'm not going to try it. Nioxen is like Rogaine?

shoppygirl

Thanks I think I will try it too. Do you know where you can buy it?

IngridJ

Hi Shoppygirl,

I am in Australia, but have been trying the Spectral products. There is one; DNCN, a liquid, and a spray that you put on at night. The girl in the hairdressing salon where I got them, rang their consultant here to make sure they were ok to use post bc. They said they were.. I am not quite 8 weeks out, have a fine but definite covering pretty much all over my head that seems to be thickening up.. Think the spectral is helping..

I was going to try nioxin but saw this range so...Think it is pretty similar but has a slightly different compound.

Good luck with yours.. I know the feeling, so want more hair....

Oh and I am taking biotin at recommendations from several on this thread..

shoppygirl

Thanks Ingrid! I need to do something!!

MsPharoah

Hello ladies,

Last chemo was 7/23, so I guess I am 6 weeks PFC.  My hair is growing and I have about 1/2 inch now and it is really full and what I call fuzzy!  I normally grow about 1/2 inch every 6 weeks....so that's about right.  I hope I keep up that pace.  By new year's I will have 2 inches.  I am expecting it to be slow going.

I saw the post regarding eyebrows and wanted to recommend a product from Billion Dollar Brows www.billiondollarbrows.com   Their Univeral Brow Pencil and Brow Buddy is awesome.   I lost my eyebrows during chemo and a friend sent me one of their kits and I absolutely love their products.  Everyone said my brows looked so natural and I am NOT good with makeup.  They also have a product called Brow Boost which I am using and I definitely see eyebrow growth.

Hugs,

Sandra

shoppygirl

Sorry one more question. Is Bioten safe to take with Tamoxafin?

Thanks

IngridJ

Wow Ms Phoroah,

You are lucky.. Wish mine was fuzzy and full. I look like a man with a very very short cut to try to hide his very receding temples...

Still have wig, sick of her, great though she's been but don't dare go topless yet.

Shoppygirl,

You are welcome..

Good luck and roll on better (any) hair days ahead for us all..

IngridJ

Shoppygirl- re biotin..

Not sure, I don't see why there would be an issue with the tamox though..It's vit b I think..

Pattysmiles

I am taking a few vitamins on tamoxifen, with the approval of my MO.

Biotin, vitamin D, vitamin b12...I have also added vitamin C (feeling a cold coming on)...

I was told nothing like black cohosh (sp?) or other remedies for hot flashes without first consulting with her. (Obviously that type of remedy must mess with estrogen)



Not all MO are the same so you might want to check with her.



Pat

Really

I am so frustrated! First of all my doctor NEVER told me my hair would fall out (I was so blind sided. I didn't know that all chemo causes hair loss). Now, 15 weeks after last TCH, I still have no hair regrowth. Has anyone else's hair taken so long to start growing? My Onclogy staff just believe I should've happy to have a great prognosis.

Shasha10

Really. Everyone is different. I'm putting argon oil on my head and added biotin supplements. My hair started to come back after 8 weeks. Just fuzz. Try some supplements. See if it helps. I also take vit d b12 good luck

kjiberty

HI gals.  My last chemo was 15 months ago today and just got my 10th haircut.  Not going to count anymore.  Keeping it short because I love it!  It's still curly, especially in the back.  People ask me if it's natural curl, and now I say yes.  I am okay with that.  I know it will eventually go away, but the curl is fun for now.  If I hadn't had it cut, I am sure my hair would be below my shoulders.