Starting Chemo in July 2009

I wonder if Jamie Lee Curtis knows that we use her hair as an example to describe ours as it grows back?  My daughter told me recently that I remind her of someone on tv.  I said Jamie Lee Curtis - the lady in the Activia commercial.  She said, Yeah- that's it. 

I also have the translucent stuff on the very top, so I look bald in the top center, but there is hair there.  This picture was taken New Year's Day-last chemo 9-10-09. Joni2

Hello Triple J's. I hope you are all doing well.

Joni1 congratulations on finishing chemo! I bet it feels great. I hope rads goes well for you with few SE's.

Kathy so sorry that you had a second primary, but it's good that you didn't need chemo again. I certainly agree that once is enough.

Nikki I haven't shaved my armpit yet either. I do have a few hairs growing there, strangely enough I have more armpit hairs on my rads side. After surgery I used Nair hair remover on it but it irritated my skin and I am reluctant to use it again now. I'll have to do something though.

Joni2 I love your new picture! My hair is still very pale on the top and sticking up. Where it lies a bit flatter at the sides and back it looks darker. Can hardly wait until I have enough to think about styling it.

Joni1 - YEAH! Whoooot! Whoopee! NO MORE CHEMO!   I am so happy for you!!

Joni2 - Love the new pic...

Well done Joni1. I HOPE you are the last triple J to make it through - what a wonderful thought that we are all done!!

Jacee.....so happy you are finished...I remember that wonderful feeling! 

My hair is coming back but very dark and I was a blonde....I think . I told my twin brother the other day...I have colored highlighted etc.  so much I really don't know what colorI should be. ha!

Enjoy your day!

Balsie

Just checking in once in a while - usually I just read up and am so thankful and celebrate the people who are all done - Joni, Jacee and others!  This time I had to post b/c you all articulated the hair issues so well.  I'm going through some harder challenges (post-TE infection being treated and worrying about that) and I'm not yet back to work, so lately it's been the hair - both on my head and under arms.

I also have a Jamie Lee, but I have wavy, thick hair, so it's going every which way and looks weird, not nice and flat like hers.  Grew in brown with very minimal highlights of my old blond.  It takes 2-3 months before you really start to see growth progress, so don't lose hope those who just finished chemo. Has anyone looked into hair extensions or has anyone colored hair yet?  I'm not sure whether to just put the stocking cap on and do the wig for another couple months in public or what?  What is everyone else doing?  Also - the electric razor I had irritated my skin so I use a regular Bic Sensitive disposable and am just very careful - run it under hot water and use it only once.  Maybe this is tempting fate? 

O2B - I think you look great - I always think others look great without a wig, but just can't seem to think I look so good without - anyway I wanted to give you this other thread site for those who are in transition with the hair.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/746606?page=1#idx_24

Thanks for the link Kathy...I am soooo jealous of all the hair stories there...I am 3 1/2 months out and my hair is still so short...GI Jane look...I am on Herceptin until August so I am wondering if I will have to deal with slow growth until then...not enough for a trim yet

Nikki, Love the pics/ Mine is about the same length but thicker and of course grayer. Congrats on all that are finallyt done. It is a great feeling. i had my exchange and breast reduction last monday and feel good this week. Just all the stiches itch. I think my surgries are done.  What are your doctors saying to you when you go post chemo visits? I had tumor blood tests and that was about it. Put me on tamoxifin. Hugs Dianne

Michelle good for you starting a new job and going commando. You are looking great.

Nikki I love your slideshow, your hair looks so thick. I am 11 weeks PFC and mine is not as thick on top yet. I have a feeling it won't be long until I go topless though.

Dianne congratulations on being done with surgery. It will probably be about a year before I have my exchange, to give my skin a chance to recover from rads. It's good to hear that yours went well.

Gill I'm glad you are feeling good now you have finished treatment. 

I hope everyone else is doing well. Hugs. 

Happy New Year and congrats to all who hung in there and just finished or are finishing chemo!  We made it through 2009 and let's look forward to 2010 with hair!  Thank you, too, Lisa, for starting such a nice board.  It's so encouraging to come here - I just love reading about the hair discussions b/c it means we're getting on with life.  I got some information today at an upscale salon that I thought might be interesting to you:

- apparently you need 8 months to fully grow hair back for a real "style" with bangs down to your eyebrows

- At the Jamie Lee Curtis stage, it's too short for hair extensions

- There are wonderful human hair "clip ins" that are just beautiful and no one would ever know that you're wearing bangs clipped in.  (that's the good news - now for the bad).  They start at $995 (no, I didn't forget the decimal).

I'm about14 weeks past my last chemo, so they recommended possibly wearing the wig another month and at 20-24 weeks growth or so, coming in and they could pull my hair through the cap, highlight it blond and just shape it up to make it look like a trendy style.  I would have loved one of those clip ins, but I just can't justify spending $1,000 when I've been on FMLA and it would be so temporary.  Here's hoping and praying for a healthy 2010 for all of us. 

Hi Lisa i have dyed my hair also .......kinda cool i can get a couple uses out of one box. oh how nice it is to have some of my hair back, i am starting to feel more like myself. like im together again.