Hair Hair Hair - Another question

Akitagirl

Homemom - You might be on to something!!! I was reading through this, as I have passed my 4th round of TCH and have 2 more to go...starting to really miss having hair. At any rate, I began losing my hair almost exactly 2 years ago. I used to have very thick, healthy hair and on my 40th birthday, started noticing it become very thin in the front and on the sides. Not a male-patterned baldness, just a frontal thinning. In fact, that is what started all of this in the first place, my hair thinning! I had started taking synthroid, thinking it was my thyroid...nope. Then I finally went to the dermatologist in early August. He found melanoma in-situ on my back, which scared me enough to remember my bi-annual mammogram, which then found the BC. I honestly believe that my hair thinning began with the early stage of my cancer. There is absolutely zero family history of male or female balding - in fact, my 72 year old dad still has a head full of hair. At any rate, I will let everyone know how the hair re-growth goes, but I do have hope! Thank you for sharing!

Akitagirl

Izzyfran

Wow, thanks for posting pictures. All your hair are growing so quickly. They all look great. You're all very brave. I still wear a wig since I'm not comfortable with having such short hair. I hope to be rid of the wig soon. I just need courage.

I'm 4 months post chemo and my hair has finally started to grow although not as fast as I would like. The strand doesn't feel as thick as my hair before BC, but maybe it's because it's still so short. I'm just thankful I finally have some hair.

nancybel

Noonrider the same thing has happened with me. Hair on legs and under arms and pubes came back normal but last month hardly growing at all. Also my lashes have thinned and gotten short. The gift of chemo that keeps giving I guess.

jbokland

my eyelashes are thinning...again! 8 months PFC. I really think it's because they were all 'born' at the same time and it's just their life cycle.

Mommato3

I'm now 12 weeks PFC but still on Herceptin. The sides aren't growing as fast as I'd like. What am I supposed to do with all these curls? It still feels soft and fluffy like a baby chick. 😀. Would putting product in my hair help with that? Help!!

Mommato3

I was told it could take a year for our lashes and eyebrows to finish cycling. I managed to hold onto most of my eyebrows all through Chemo. Two weeks after, they all fell out. My eyelashes have fallen out twice and still aren't very long. Pretty soon I'm going to forget how to apply mascara

Beachbum1023

Wow you all look great, short hair still counts! I hope you all feel good too. My hair started to come back after the second dense dose Taxol. Then I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes, but they are almost back. I can at least wear mascara these days. I hope to lose my wig by summer. Just depends on when I go back to chemo.

DaisyQ

Hi,

Mommato3: You hair looks great! I am 7 weeks PFC and nowhere close to where you are. Like you the sides of my hair seem to be slower than the top. I wonder if the continued Herceptin-only treatments slow everything down for us?

For the most part I have stopped wearing scarves and hats (unless it is really cold). As anxious as I am to have my hair grow back, I am having some fun going against the grain of what our culture's definition of a beautiful woman. The physical and emotional nightmare that cancer is, and the fact that I am here, whole, smiling, loving my kids and husband, living in the moment..that is beautiful. Showing my fuzzy head makes me feel powerful, present, strong, and incredibly beautiful. My 12 & 14 year olds love it too! It isn't for everyone, but it works for me.

CassieCat

I'm going out with just my fuzzy head too, unless it's so cold that I want a hat or scarf. I've had a few little kids that i know want to rub my head and have giggled at how soft my hair is right now. I teach high school and figure this is a chance to share a lesson to all of those impressionable young men and women. I have nothing to be ashamed of because my hair fell out. I'm still me, even when my hair's 1/4" long. They seem to be taking it right in stride, and some are already coming up with hair styles for me to try as it gets to various lengths. Love those kids.

DaisyQ

CassieCat: Now that is awesome. This is a lesson your students will never forget. And what an example for teenage girls who can be so focused on appearance. I so admire teachers..!

noonrider

I'm curious if any of you are on Arimidex and if you have had problems with hair loss while on it?

BPgas

I am on Taxol and have painful sores in the hair on the sides and back. I have a hard time falling asleep because of these. My hair started falling out a couple of weeks ago after 5/12. Anyone else have these sores or have any advice?

noonrider

BPgas, do you have any hair left? If you do, you might want to just shave the rest of it off. The hair follicles become very irritated and the weight of your hair, even very short hair, irritates them more. Some people have a very painful scalp, while others - like mine - doesn't get irritated at all from chemo. You might want to try something like aquaphore or Calendula cream. There are a couple different kinds in the baby section at Target and Walmart if you want it right away. Otherwise you can find it online if you can wait a couple of days.

Sjacobs146

Deen, I am 6 weeks since my last treatment, started to notice peach fuzz last week. I think that you'll be seeing something soon.

Beachbum1023

Hi BPgas, I had Taxol but my hair was already gone from the AC. But it did start to grow back for me after the first Taxol infusion. I did lose my eyebrows and eyelashes on Taxol, but they are growing back nice and thick. Sorry I can't really say much else, since I am not too sure if it was the AC or the Taxol. But I would ask the MO or your chemo nurses.

tobyholic

noonrider......I've been on Arimidex since September. I have joint aches and pains, and recently i started having numbness and tingling in my hands. I'm not sure if its from the Arimidex or a late side effect of the Taxol

BPgas

Hi noonrider and Beachbum 1023 for the scalp tips. I do still have some hair and I have a rash on my shoulders and back, scalp soreness but I also have these sores. I will try aquaphore and Calendula cream for the sores. They really hurt and keep me up at night. I have been using some cortisone cream which helps. I will confess to using cortisone and ask MO or nurses what they make of it and see if there is something I can do.

Best to all

noonrider

BosumBlues, I am not able to take Tamoxifen because of genetic markers for strokes. Its still a slight risk on Arimidex but not quite as high. I'm not menopausal yet so having my oophorectomy on the 26th (was supposed to be two weeks ago but I got sick so had to cancel) then two weeks later starting the Arimidex.

I had female pattern baldness before chemo and have been THRILLED with the fact my hair came back so incredibly thick. The only reason I didn't want to take the Arimidex was the potential for hair loss. SO not happy about that.

HomeMom

I still am not allowed to color - so more wig action for me! People tell me I have that Jamie Lee Curtis look going and I just look prematurely gray. I just think I look old! I have my first mammogram since dx on the 26th of March - just booked it. I can't believe it's been a year already.

Lisaj514

congrats homemom on 1 yr and going natural. Jamie lee Curtis look is awesome. Her name and look has been brought up so many times on this thread. I'm staying gray and no more coloring for me. My hair is a pretty gray people say, more salt than pepper but also say I think I look old. Put some gel in it and get a cool spunky look. Many of us have pulled it off with a great new look. The first mamo (on non cancer side for you?) is nerve wracking for sur

BPgas

Update: I can continue to use cortisone, which really seems to help. With the rash elsewhere... I wish I had a tub of cortisone to roll in.

HomeMom

Lisa. Funny thing, I'm watching that show New Girl and Jamie Lee Curtis is on the show playing her mom! I guess I've been wearing wigs that make me look younger then my actual age, so the gray really looks old to me. The mammo is on the non cancer side and I'm just a little nervous. Feeling pretty confident about it. I do know that if there is anything it will be an easier road then the one I just went down. I just had three chest scans, a mammo , an US and an MRI in the last 12 months!

windgirl

hi ladies, why is it that any hair that grows looks like it's stuck to my head with no volume?? I have the newborn look and can't seem to shake it almost 11 weeks PFC. When will I get some volume?

CassieCat

windgirl, mine's sticking straight up and I was just wondering how long it will have to get before it starts to lie flat again! lol.

Beachbum1023

Hi BPgas, I hope you feel better today, that sounds aggravating at best. I had dose dense Taxol but never had that happen. I just had everything else! How are your feet/toenails and cuticles? I had skin peeling on the bottoms of my feet and around the toenails. And my skin is super dry, and dry cuticles. I found some wonderful products at Sally Beauty. I use Foot Therapy (small yellow box) to soak my feet and ankles. I love that stuff, it feels great! And I also get my cuticle oil there. I use new files every time I do my nails since I am concerned about any germs etc. But they also have the wig supplies too. I have a real hair wig, so it takes a little more to keep her pretty. But I love it, and it is relaxing in a weird way to sit and do "my hair". They also have the wig caps and silky pillowcases too. I was so fortunate to have a great assistant when I was there, she too has to wear wigs. So very helpful. Maybe a silky cap and pillowcase would be helpful to you so you could be comfortable. I hope you get some answers so you can feel better. Its so hard to sleep when you can't be comfortable.

sherryh16

I have given up all hope of my hair returning to anywhere near what it was pre-chemo.  I am 2 years+ past last chemo and have been on arimidex 2+ years.  My hair was shoulder length, straight, colored and while thin I had a full head of it prior to chemo.  My hair never grew back.  I have the visible scalp of an 80 year old man.  While my hair length is back to pre-chemo, I cannot go without a hair piece as the crown of my head is very thin and in some places bald.  I have been using rogaine and taking biotin and using nioxin shampoos the entire time to no avail.  I feel I am wasting my money.  All you ladies who have a full head growth of hair are fortunate, I am envious.  My lack of hair is depressing.

windgirl

Cassie that's funny )

MinusTwo

I'm not ER/PR positive so I didn't internalize the data, but maybe I read somewhere on these boards that Arimidex can cause hair growth to slow?

dltnhm

Sherry -

I am so very sorry.

CassieCat

Sherry, I'm sorry to hear that.