Hair Hair Hair - Another question

MomMom

Hello all and thank you for the compliments - much appreciated.  Puffin, your hair is growing really fast.

It never occurred to me to not buy a wig.  When a friend in my book club first joined, I recall her looking so pretty and thought her blonde hair was beautiful.  I had no idea until much later that she was going through chemo (same chemo as me) and that it was a wig.   She had cancer 13 years ago and had such a wonderful attitude.  She was one of the first people I contacted when I was diagnosed and knew I'd be losing my hair.  Hers was an expensive natural hair wig, and I knew immediately that's where I wanted to get my wig - cost be damned.  The experienced stylist there took a brown wig and highlighted it with several colors to look almost identical to my hair before chemo.  Most people at my church never knew that I was going through bc treatment because my wig looks so close to the way my hair used to look.  I long for my old hair, but realize it will probably be two years before I get it back to the way it was (if ever).  Meanwhile, I'm glad to be getting back any hair and am trying to do the best I can with it.  The only thing good about it is that it certainly is maintenance free:-)!!

Another thing about this lovely friend from book club.  Her attitude was the greatest.  She (and another friend - 23 years out from bc) both had the same ACT I did, and both of them tolerated it very well.  They were my shining role models.  I never wanted to come to these threads until I was well in to my chemo, honestly because I didn't want to read of anyone else's bad experiences.  And when I did come to the threads and if someone was about to undergo chemo, fearful of the outcome, I told them of my positive experience.  I know everyone has a different story when it comes to chemo, and no one goes completely unscathed from it, but knowing of just one other person who did well is an amazing booster. 

Back to the hair...I got my hair buzz cut 2 weeks to the day from first chemo and it didn't fall out until about 10 days after that.  It was empowering to loose my hair on my own terms.  When I was bald, it was winter and cold in the house.  I never walked around in the house without a cotton cap on and slept in a very lightweight cotton sleep cap.  If I went out, I wore my wig.  I have two very cute cotton stylish caps that I wore to chemo treatments and the like - places where I felt comfortable going without the wig.  I exercised nearly every day during treatment, sweated profusely, and wore cotton "skull" caps to the gym.  Today on the elliptical I was so darn hot even with the fan blowing on me, and I ripped that sucker off.  Felt great!  My regular gym friends are SO supportive, I don't care if they see me without the hat.  However, I don't want others who have only seen me with the wig without it until I'm completely comfortable with my new hair.  It will be awhile before I'm there - maybe another month or two.  The difference is drastic. 

I've noticed that younger women feel more free to go without the wig or hat.  I met a late 40's woman who decided to go bald throughout her treatment.  She had very short hair when I met her, but I knew she had gone through chemo.  She told me later that every trip to the grocery store took longer because she would have about 5 people approaching her in the store and telling her they'd be praying for her.  Lol.  Needless to say, she's an awesome approachable person. 

Bottomline, everyone is different and should do whatever makes her feel most comfortable.  All that said, I cannot wait until I no longer have to wear the wig all the time.  It looks great, but I'm SO tired of wearing it, and the first thing I do when I come is take it off.

 

jbokland

MidLife- I decided to go bald and "bling" my head. It was such a hit and a confidence builder, not to mention all the wonderful conversations with total strangers about Cancer. I created my own designs and started Sassyhead.com. Here is a few shots, but check out my website! I will send anyone a free one, just PM me with your choice from my website and your address!

Gretta

Hi Girls,

everyone's hair looks like it's growing back beautifully, love all the pics.  I've got some queries, I'm only a month post taxol & have my hair coming back on the nap of my neck but what's on top is mega sparse & long.  My scalp feels really shiney can't feel any prickly bits coming thro as new growth.  Really scared it may never grow back properly.  I've noticed most of you look like you had it grow at the same rate all over your head.  Mine looks like male pattern baldness.  Would love to hear if anyone else has had this happen.

Thanks girls x

blueflowers

Hello to all,

I have triple negative, stage 1,0/3 bc.Just saw my oncologist -starting chemo on dec 17 - Taxotere and Cytoxan. Really nervous regarding all the side effects, but now the reality of loosing my hair has sunk in.

When will the hair start to grow after the first chemo ? Hopefully my chemo schedule will not have any glitches and my last chemo date is Feb 18,2015. And Feb 17th is my 20th marriage anniversary !!

My oncologist said my hair will start growing two weeks after my first chemo - is that right ??

Take care, and thanks for the support and advice.

MarieNJ

I was on taxol and herceptin for 12 weekly treatments. My hair started to really thin out about the 4th treatment. I had bald spots and wispy long ends. Before treatment, I had it cut in a very short pixie since I knew what was ahead of me. My oncol told me, by the 8-9 treatment, I will probably need to wear a wig if it bothers me. I sure did. My last treatment for taxol was Aug. 25th. So I am over 3 months post taxol. I started to notice my hair filling in the bald spots around a month post taxol-very slowly. After 2 months post taxol, I went to the hairdresser and had the wispy ends cut off. It looks much better. I use an organic shampoo which I bought at Wholefoods and noticed my hair is much softer. I used to dye my hair but decided to go natural - salt and pepper. Not dyeing it and the new shampoo is probably what makes my hair feel much better.

I'm not ready to go topless yet, but hoping to by Christmas. My husband measured it last weekend - it's 1 1/8" long. Oh well. I do have to tell you, the wig looks very much like the hair I used to have. It is going to be a shock for people to see me with this very short salt and pepper hair once the wig is off for good. Another - oh well.

I love the pictures that were posted You all look great! You all seem to be ahead of me. So I am looking forward to looking as good as you!

Hang in there - It does grow back!!!

Marie

lago

blueflowers Everyone is different and it really can depend on the type of chemo your on. My hair tends to grow quickly. I think mine even started before chemo ended. Even though your hair might start growing in 2 weeks PFC that doesn't mean you'll see all that much… but then again some people do. I went with out a wig 13 weeks PFC. you can see my photo transition here. Starts from right to left with dates at the bottom.

Bow1965

Thanks for the pictures all of you beautiful women, I love seeing the progress, styles and smiles!

Almost 4 months today and I have about maybe an inch - last night I formed it into a mohawk, it was lovely. Definitely growing and thickening more on top than the sides and it has a mind of it's own, sticking up all over with a bit of a "duck's ass" in the front. That's a popular style for pre-teen boys haha. I still wear my long bobbed wig for work, it's real hair and the same as my prior style so a lot of folks have no idea. It was given to me by the American Cancer Society - I don't know if I would have spent $1k on a wig last spring when I started and feel very blessed to have this one available to me. Thank you people who donate to make this possible!

Interesting note on hair growth for me - I was massaging coconut oil onto my head every night and got busy & quit for a couple of weeks - defiantly noticed a difference in growth. It might just be cyclic or the massaging or timing or whatever, but for all the bad rap coconut oil gets as the new wonder cure-all I thought I would give it some love

jbokland

6 months PFC. Waiting to see the MO for my check up. tEexcnage with Lat Flap tomorrow.

Puffin2014

blueflowers: I'm a little confused. You said you're starting taxotere and cytoxan on Dec. 17. That's what I was on too. Your hair will not start GROWING 2 weeks after your first chemo, that's when it'll be falling out.My last chemo was Sep 18, and I'm still not going out in public without either my wig or my scarves, although I did take my scarf off at our last yoga class because all the other ladies are cancer survivors too. I would expect you'll be wearing your wig for your 20th anniversary. Scroll back a few days to see a photo of how much hair I have at 2 months.

noonrider

Jbokland you look AWESOME!!!!!

Here's my hair progress. I'm 4 1/2 months PFC now. Anxious to see where I'll be at the 6 month mark! I think if you click on it you can see it bigger.

noonrider

blueflowers: I was on the same chemo treatment. I shaved my hair off in a pre-chemo party the weekend before I started treatment. My hair started falling out 14 days ON THE NOSE from my first chemo treatment. The first thing to fall out was my nose hair (very strange to be sneezing out hairs!) followed a couple days later by my pubic hair. By my second treatment at 21 days everything was gone on my head.

Around day 14 of my second treatment I noticed tiny chicken pin feathers. These will only fall out again so about day 14 of every treatment I shaved my head with a razor. If I left the stubble it would catch on fabrics and stuff (like my pillow) and it drove me crazy. It was more comfortable for me to be smooth than have sandpaper on my head. I wasn't one for wigs or hats. I just went bald all the time but that was easy in the summertime. Even now with a little bit of hair I want a hat on when outside because I freeze so easily.

You can see my picture above that shows my progression after my last treatment. I did shave it again on day 14 after my last treatment just to get rid of the last bits of odd hairs that had started growing it. Now, 4 1/2 months out, it is all nice and even.

Gretta

Thanks so much for posting the pics girls.  You all look fabulous, hope mine starts the transition soon.  Did anyone have it grow in patchy.  My scalp is still really shiney, not much growing on top at all.

IamNancy

jbokland - wow...look at all your hair=awesome!

Puffin2014

Gretta: mine is patchy too, the front on top is pretty sparse and short

Gretta

Thanks Puffin,  I finished 4th November so maybe I'm expecting too much too soon.  Thanks for letting me know, it's really appreciated xx

Gretta

Have another question, how long PFC before lashes & eyebrows start to grow post taxol?

Dixie1

Gretta all of my lashes and eyebrows fell out AFTER I finished chemo. Good news is that it only took a few weeks for them to come back.

Gretta

Thanks Dixie,  I'm a month post chemo & I've actually had more drop out.  Now there's nothing left at all.   I did have 6 months of chemo all up.

Lisaj514

Short and gray...I do t know. Trying to embrace it but sometimes I feel like an old lady. I get lots of compliments though. Below is how I wore it before BC, (6 wks before dx) last sept 2013

anotherNYCGirl

Lisa, - You look great and are encouraging! There's hope for my hair !

noonrider

Mine is salt and pepper. I can't imagine coloring it and having to be a slave to my hair to keep my roots covered. My salt and pepper is kind of growing on me now.

Lisa, I love your current style! You've been trimmed well so your sides are catching up with the top a bit. It looks like it was styled now, vs just us growing out your bald head. I truly do like it!

My hair has a tiny bit of wave to it when I first come out of the shower, but once its dry it is back to stick straight. The top drives me crazy because it is just..so…weird!

Gretta

Hey Lisa, thanks so much for posting your pics, you look great by the way.  I'm feeling like you did....Will I ever have hair again.  Encouraging with time yours grew back, hope mine does too.

Thanks once again, makes me feel a bit better & that I have a life worth looking forward to.

Janetanned

Lisa - I really like the grey 'you'.  Your face doesn't look aged and hair style is really cute. I think you are one of those women who can really rock grey hair!  It still looks thick and healthy (not old).  Although, the brown 'you' is nice too.

IamNancy

Lisa - I think you look so good with the short hair.. and as it grows maybe it will change color more.. or you could dye it.. my hair came in so black I was surprised.. but after a year I colored it -had it highlighted.. everyone liked the black color but I feel more like myself with the highlights and lighter color.. you look good either way but the brown hair makes your eyes stand out more..

my pictures are 1 yr apart -12/2013 -12/2014... I always wore my hair short

DeeC

Here I am at Thanksgiving, 21 weeks post Taxol. I have had two trims to keep it tidy. I had white hair before. The top is very wavy. I wonder what it will do as it gets longer.

On the wig question, I bought a wig and used it when I left the house. I did not think I looked good with my wispy hair. When my hair grew to cover my scalp, no pink showing, I stopped wearing it. I felt self-conscious at first. Now I am enjoying my 'new' hair.

This to shall pass...and it did!

Dee

jbokland

Dee, you and I have the same hair!!

BlueFox

In case anyone finds it useful, I got my husband to take photos of my hair regrowth and hair colouring experiments over serveral months. These can be seen here: http://iameclectica.blogspot.co.uk/p/chemo-hair-re...

I had a few chemo curls in the first 6 months or so, but now it seems back to normal. The only hair I'm still missing is forearm air and armpit hair, not much to complain about...

MomMom

I think all you ladies look so lovely!  When my hair is long enough to really color it, I will do so.  Miss my old hair, but happy to have any!

Puffin2014

Here's my weekly update photos, last chemo was Sep 18. Not at all my usual color, miss my old color, don't plan to dye it - too much to keep it up every month.

Gretta

Thank you so much for posting all your pics Girls, you all look fabulous.  Your pics are giving me hope that mine will return too.