Hair Hair Hair - Another question

lago

I have been taking biotin since 2005. Never stopped when I was on chemo. My onc was fine with that.

RhodyMMM

I also started Biotin while I was still getting the Taxol, MO said it was fine since it's a supplement. I take 5,000 mcg, that seems to be the standard recommended dose. Not sure if it is helping, but I think the bases of my nails are starting to look more like normal. My hair is finally starting to fill in, but don't know if the biotin is making a difference or if it's just because I am now 4 months post-Red Devil (aka Adriamycin). I also try to make sure I get plenty of protein in my diet as I have had a low total protein level and low hemoglobin since I started chemo at Labor Day.

_Ann_

I have a question about eyebrows-- has anyone actually gotten theirs back completely?  If so, are you pre or post-menopausal?  Mine are so much thinner.  I have been thinking of using minoxidil but I keep hoping they're just slow to regrow.  I'm 15 months PFC at this point.

BlueFox

My eyebrows and eyelashes came back really quickly - one week I didn't have any and the next they were there.

The only thing I'm still missing is forearm arm and armpit hair

lago

Mine came back great but then the Anastrozole thinned them. I fill them in. Not terrible though.

MinusTwo

I never lost my eyebrows totally.  They got VERY thin but came back right away - dark instead of salt & pepper.  I'm well past menopause & ER/PR negative so hormones are few to none.

KBeee

My eyebrows thinned and do not seem to be filling in anytime soon.  My mom's did the same thing, so maybe I inherited eyebrows that don't want to grow back after chemo.  The good thing is that she always has mentioned it, and I have never noticed it on her...so I assume its teh same with me.  I notice it, but no one else really does. 

 

If anyone whas any tipe of managing this awful chemocurl, I'm all ears.  I hate it!  As a matter of fact, my current hair makes me look like I AM all ears...and all forehead.  Uuuuugh; part of me wants to shave it off and start all over, but it probably would not do any good.  I am going to try and get it relaxed as soon as my hair person thinks it's long enough to do so.  And if one more person tells me, "wow, you hair looks just like you son's" I am going to scream!

_Ann_

KBeee, I couldn't take the tight chemo curls either-- I just kept trimming it short until the curl started to relax.  I still shudder seeing the pictures of that period but thankfully it only lasted a few months.  Products made it less puffy but still very curly.  I love long curly hair but short grey curls, no thanks.

Sunshower

hi ladies...I'm new to this thread. I had my last TC infusion today and am ready to move on with my life. I already can't stand the wigs and scarves and an anxious to get my hair back. I'm also a little worried about taxotere induced permanent hair loss. I just ordered a couple of bottles of biotin, but was hoping I could get some more suggestion on getting the best results on getting my to regrow...

MsPharoah

Sunshower, congratulations on finishing chemo!  This is the beginning of feeling better.  Please don't worry about permanent hair loss.  Yes, it happens, but it is rare.  I finished chemo (6 cycles of TC)  7/23/13 and I wore my wig until January, 2014.  What I did was start rocking the pixie hairdo evenings and weekends, still wearing my wig to work.  Then around the first of February, I went pixie to work.  I have had 2 trims since December and have a scheduled trim every 6 weeks to maintain shape and to get to the hairstyle I want.   Yes, it will take a while for your hair to grow.  I took 5000 units of Biotin every day.  I'm not sure if it helped, but it didn't hurt me at all.  Good luck to you.  Growing hair is the easy part of the treatment, hon.

MsP

lago

Sunshower I had 6tx of Taxotere. I assumed my hair wouldn't come back after I found out (after tx1) that this was an issue. I tend to get the less common stuff... but no problem. Here's my hair growth transition linky

BlueFox

I had FEC-T where the T is Taxotare, and my hair grew back steadily once the chemo was finished.  I took pictures of the regrowth plus my "experiments" in colouring the chemo white fuzz.  If you are interested see: 

http://iameclectica.blogspot.co.uk/p/chemo-hair-re...

Carrol2

yes my avatar is pretty recent

Sunshower

Lago and Bluefox- thanks for the sharing your photo links. I look forward to sharing my progress soon. I'm open to anymore tips. I heard coconut oil was good

jojo2373

For issues with chemo curl, once you have enough use the mini flatiron!  It can help so much in trying to achieve a style.  The first 9 months of growth is "chemo" hair (per my MO) so any attempts to cut it away won't work.  I really noticed a difference in the texture of my hair after that point.  I am 16 mos pfc and have my "old" hair back now.  

Septmom

JoJo is there a particular brand of mini flat iron that you used? I am no where near needing a mini flat iron yet as I just have fuzz growth. It is half an inch in some areas. I really hope my hair eventually comes back to it's original texture. I had really long straight hair before that was so easy to manage. I hardly ever used a blow dryer and would just air dry it. I don't even own a flat iron. Now I will have to learn to use hair gadgets and hair products 

JoJo your hair looks amazing! 

jojo2373

Septmom, we all went to beauty supply stores and got one.  They are 20.00 or less, no need to spend alot as before you know it a regular one will do!

MaryFox

I've been hoping for curls but now it's just fuzz.  My hair has always been very fine and limp so I've been hoping for something different with new growth.  My eyebrows are coming back slowly but they're coming in gray and they've always been very dark. Bummer.

Septmom

Here is my hair fuzz growth - I took this a few days ago. I have more growth on the sides compared to the back. I do see more growth every week. I noticed fuzz growth around 3 wks ago. It's more grey than I thought it would be. I ordered 5mg biotin today. I will start taking it soon. I have taxol #11 tomorrow. Hope to finish on time. Good luck ladies!

lago

septmom I dyed my fuzz (professionally) 12-13 weeks PFC. It made a huge difference

Septmom

Thanks Lago - I hope I have enough hair growth in 12 weeks to get it colored. I am hoping the biotin I will start taking soon will help. Also I am hoping that the hair growth will be faster once I stop taxol. 

warrior70

Hey Septmom!  One more Taxol!  YAY!!!!!!!

The fuzz is looking good; you're about where I was with 1 week of Taxol to go.  Keep on trucking!

Septmom

Thanks Warrior70! I have bent thinking of you. I bet your hair looks great!. Hope your fatigue is less now that radiation is over.

My WBC are on the lower side this week. But not low enough for shots. I didn't get neupogen this week or last. I have a feeling I will need shots next week for the last week. I am praying I stay on track and get done next week. 

MaryFox

Grrrr!  I'm at an awkward stage.  My gray fuzz makes me look like a little old man.  I'm not!  I'm a little old lady!  Maybe I'll slather it with gel.

Lisaj514

maryfox- congrats on ANY hair, but I get the gray stuff, used to color mine before to hide it, now we can't for a while. When did you finish chemo?

MaryFox

Lisaj:  finished chemo Feb 28.  Fuzz began to grow at end of January.  Seems weird to complain about hair, but it is awkward just now.  Like everything else, I keep reminding myself that this is temporary.

PamelaC47

I'm almost four months PFC and my oncologist said it was fine to color my hair.  I have about an inch or so all over, very short but I wouldn't mind going without the wig if it was my normal color instead of grey.  But will coloring it damage the new hair?  Any advice on a very gentle non permanent hair color?

Ashira

I love Henna, made by Lush. I discovered it when I developed an allergy to hair dye a few years back. The downside to it is that you can't color over it if you don't like the color,  but if your hair is short, it could be a good time to experiment. If you don't like it, just let it go.  Of course you are limited in your color selection, but you may like to have a look. 

lago

PamelaC I had my hair dyed professionally 13 weeks PFC... the day after I went topless. The color took differently (bit too red) so my hair dressed did it again just to darken it up a bit. Best thing I did. Did not damage the hair at all.

Septmom

I finished taxol yesterday (12 weekly doses) This is my hair fuzz growth at the end of my taxol. Hope that it starts growing faster now that I am done with taxol and I will now start taking Biotin.