Hair Hair Hair - Another question

rainnyc

I wore my glasses (as opposed to contacts) through chemo and the aftermath, figuring that would give the world some distance from my lack of lashes and my penciled-in brows.

ShetlandPony

I am afraid to try mascara for fear it will pull out my eyelashes. I am ten months past taxol and my brows and lashes are thinner because of menopause and letrozole, so I would like to have the option of mascara. Has anyone had problems or success with it?

IamNancy

GwennyMD, Chloesmom, MinusTwo - I also am still having foot trouble... thought at this point it was just me and my feet! Closed shoes hurt my toes - I wear wides to try and help but then the heel of the shoe is too loose, some of my toes have turned into hammertoes - never had them before - my big toenails are thick and weird... and my 2nd and 3rd toes on my right foot form a V - crazy! the foot doctor said my plate ruptured and they can't repair it .. I have orthotics but still have pain.. I was just looking for a foot massager but there are so many kinds I couldn't decide what to buy - was lookin mid-priced as some of them are so expensive. Chemo's gifts <sigh>

Chloesmom

lashes are 1/2 of what they were before so skipping the mascara. Just use a light charcoal pencil as eyeliner and it gives my eyes some color

ShetlandPony

So do you mean you also are afraid the mascara will damage the lashes you have, Chloesmom? I am still using eyeliner, as I started doing during chemo, but I haven't found one I like. The waterproof ones look too severe, and the crayon ones rub off. And they hurt to apply sometimes.

BBwithBC45

IamNancy, I mentioned your foot problems to my husband, a podiatrist. He doesn't have enough details from your description, but he thinks you might benefit from getting a second opinion. They might not be able to fix your flexor plate (if this is what you are referring to)but there are other ways to stabilize the foot and relieve your issues. Good luck.

IamNancy

BBwithBC45 - thank you... I was wondering about going to a different dr... now I think I will.

Beatmon

What about hair extensions post chemo? I know some women have gotten them. How long does your hair have to be and how much is the initial cost

BBwithBC45

IamNancy, my husband says that when you go for a second opinion, make sure you see a podiatrist board certified in foot surgery.

Chloesmom

Thelashes are wimpy and I'm don't think mascara will do much for them

HazelFrances

so I had my 4th AC 13 days ago, expect to have taxol tomorrow. My question is I still have very very very sparse amount of hair (think gollum) but it has grown longer. Should I buzz it to give an even start to new growth, or just leave it

Chloesmom

HazelFrances. What makes you feel best? Mine grew in slowly and looked like that once it started to grow, but was bald before. I couldn't stand it as it looked like weeds to me. It may come back differently too so just do what feels good.

octogirl

HazelFrances, I am still bald on top 3 weeks PFC, but I do have hair that matches your description around my ears and nape of my neck. It is dark and as far as I can tell is similar to what I had before (hard to tell when it is so sparse though). I never did shave or buzz, just couldn't bring myself to do it, and am not inclined to do so now....it makes me feel better to have little bits sticking out from under my hats and scarves. I'd probably feel differently if I were wearing a wig. I agree with Cloesmom: not sure it makes a difference in the long run, so do whatever feels good to you.

Sloan15

I'm 10 weeks PFC. When I started to see my scalp get dark, I cut all my stragglers to about 1/2 inch. Now, the hair is growing in, and it grows in cycles. So, some are now 1", some 1/2 ", some 1/8" and I can see some new dark spots where hairs will start coming in. Since the top is the last to grow in, keeping different lengths means it looks like I have more than I really do. I wouldn't want toooooo much difference between the stragglers and the new growth, though, as it would look too stringy. Good luck. (By the way, once you get to 8-10 weeks out, you really start to notice the growth).

ShetlandPony

I found it really helped to get regular mini-trims from my hairdresser. It made my feel like I had a chic uber-short cut rather than post-chemo stragglers. It doesn't grow in evenly so the mini-trims help. Eventually the white chemo hairs were trimmed off.

Chloesmom

Got tired of the poodle chemo curlslook over the ears. Said chop it off on the sides and back. This is what we got.

IamNancy

BBwithBC45,

yes, I will look for that...thanks again

Sloan15

Chloesmom - Looks great! My hair is only 1/4 inch long, but when it grows out, I don't want it to all be the same length with chemo curls, either! Good idea for cutting off the chemo curls over the ears! Before I lost my hair, I cut it into a 1" pixie. Because I had such curly hair, I used Crew pomade to smooth it. A young person who didn't know I had cancer liked my hair and said it looked "modern-chic". Haha. I don't have any options now; it just sticks up all over the place.

DeeRatz

Sloan-You are ahead of me by a few weeks. Are you able to go without a wig yet? Is your hair thick enough to rock a short hair cut? I am so ready to rock the Sinead O'Connor look. Sick of wearing my wig or hat. People just stare when you wear just a hat. So ready to have hair again.

So why is it that people say to you, "it's just hair"? I have had many people ask me about how things are going. When I mention that I feel pretty good, but waiting for my hair to grow back.....they make that comment. Yes I know it is just hair, but when you have none it is a pretty big deal. It is the one visible thing that reminds me of what I have gone thru. It reminds me of the poison that was pumped through my veins.

Trvler

Dee: God, I know. I said that same thing to a woman at my workout class about wishing my hair would come in faster and she started to give me the It's just hair speech. Ugh. I can't too mad at her because she has lymphedema and wears a sleeve and gauntlet so something has happened to her in the past. She wears a jacket with a pink ribbon so I am not sure. If she did have BC, she obviously has no interest in sharing.

ThePrincess

Yeah, the "it's just hair" statement only comes from people that aren't losing their hair - should they be bald, they'd be feeling the exact same way. NO DOUBT

Trvler

I would bet a whopping percentage of BC people feel the same way about hair after finishing treatment. It's so obvious because it is one of the last things that you can see from the experience that you can actually get back. Your breasts aren't going to ever be the same but your hair might.

CatsRus

Weirdly I can deal with my scars, but I don't think I'll stop feeling like a cancer patient until my hair is back

Chloesmom

maybe the lady with lymph edema had grads and not chemo. My hair was just so so before BC. Not my best feature. I've been looking at it coming in kind of like a science project. Catch myself looking in the mirror or playing with it more than ever before.

I'm more concerned with the 12 lbs lettozole has added to my belly and butt, but hair is still a big deal as it tells the world what happened

mysunshine48

I am a little more than four months PFT and still have to wear a wig. My hair is growing, but not enough thst I feel comfortable. It is like announcing that I had BC. Not that I am embarrassed by it, just self conscious, I guess. I have a great wig and am getting used to it. I do not wear anything at home. My hair is coming in straight and is about an inch in most places. I am feeling great so just trying to be patient and happy the surgeries and chemo are in my past. Hi Cats! Are you having reconstruction?

CatsRus

Hi Mysunshine, still wearing my wigs too when I'm out. Yes, recon is going ahead late January, I don't have the exact date yet. I'm having a PMX of my left breast and expanders placed. Wish I'd had the option to do it back in March, but oh well...

Beatmon

I've already told my husband I'm not going to take another big chemo that makes me lose my hair. I had nice wigs......but.....It was just too much. I look like uncle Fester. I have been finished with taxotere since end of December 2014 and still very thin in front. I am one of those that suffer with leg cramps, twitching and more as the H&P continue. One good week out of three isn't worth it to be hairless also again at 63!

Trvler

Mysunshine: I am the same. My hair is between 1-2 inches, depending on where it is and I am not going wigless except at home. I might start doing it at Jazzercise. I wear a hat there anyway so everyone knows. I was waiting until I got it colored and covered the grey which I just did this week. Just not ready yet. I can't wait to be wigless.

DeeRatz

If I had an inch of hair I would be going wigless. As soon as I can't see scalp I will be rocking the short hair. Yesterday at Costco there was a lady in her 60's with just a little more hair than me and she was rocking it. Then there was a lady at Walmart had a shiny bald head rocking that as well. Wish I was that brave. Hopefully a month from now I will be too. It gets longer every day and is filling in nicely.

Trvler

If I were rocking my 1-2 inches, I would go wigless. But remember when you were a kid and you a baby doll whose hair someone had cut all off and she had all those funny cowlicks? That's me. I don't rock short hair. lol