Hair Hair Hair - Another question

Ok I'll weigh in on neropathy.

I got it in my hands about 2 months after my last chemo and it went away after my surgery to get my TEs which was 2 months after that.  So had it for 2 months. I did not take anything for it but I do take vitamins a multi, calcium +D, B complex, biotin, folic acid. Don't know why it went away after the surgery or if any of the vitamins helped but it's gone.

hey all!! want you to know i went "topless" this last week!!

and i absolutely love my short, spunky, punky hair!!

cute headbands and lots of gel/mousse to scrunch it with!!

I am totally over my own insecurity about having such short hair

i finally EMBRACED IT!! and i feel so much better now!!!

hello everybody! i dont really recognize any of you in this thread since november, but i just thought id share my hair growth right now to give some encouragmenet. I finished chemo in may 2010, and this is my hair straightened today (although it doesnt stay straight for long...). I also havent let anyone touch my hair with sisscors much to my moms dismay since i got my head shaved. I guess it would have been wise to get a haircut or two along the way so it didnt look for a mullet for six months. Anyways losing my hair was probably the most traumatizing thing, for me anyways. And i promised that when it came back that id wake up and thank god for it everyday... and trust me i do! So i guess what im trying to spit out is hang tough because it really does come back!! and once you get past that stage where your just trying to cover your head with hair... it just starts growing like a bad weed. so as someone who went thru it with the most anger, resentment, and embaressment possible... keep strong thinking of all of you all the time

Thanks, ladies, for the neuropathy solutions!  Since I'm officially PFC, will these still help?  Or, should I have been talking it all along?  I mentioned it at each visit, but the chemo nurses always asked if I were having trouble buttoning things, and when I said no, just let it go at that...  I have it very mildly, but it's definitely there, and it seemed to stick around a little longer after each treatment. 

Congrats to hdangelbaby for going topless!

Lago how many mg and how often do you take the acetyl-l?  Thanks.  I hope it helps with the post chemo neuropathy at least worth a try.  I am on gabapentin and that doesn't seem to be working too well...

Lago I agree. I am very grateful I only needed 4 treatments believe me. I think my body is still a bit immuno supressed even now. I got a weird rash on my finger all the doc could figure is fungus, maybe from the gym, I usually do classes did the treadmill and elliptical yesterday. who knows though.

Jancie - thanks for the clarification and I agree 100%!

hdangelbaby - congrats on going topless!  I can't wait to do the same!

I have had a setback, in that I lost quite a bit of hair over the last couple of days.  Not quite sure what caused the shedding, except that I am 3 weeks PFC today.  Must have been the last megadose of Taxotere.  The oddest thing is that all of the hair that fell out is my dark hair!  I seem to have kept all of the colorless fluff.  Oh well, my friend (a hair stylist) gave me a hair booster kit today.  It is made by Bosley and has shampoo, conditioner, a leave in treatment as well as a monoxodil treatment.  I am also taking vitamins and Biotin.  I will let you know if this stuff works.  It is supposed to be better than the Minoxidil for Women, as well as the new Redken system.

Jen1832,  sorry about your additional hair loss.  I lost remaining hair,  lashes, brows and arm hair post chemo at about three weeks, what a shock.  Good news its all growing back, I could shave my legs 2 x per day!  My head hair is slow, but filling in and dark with some gray at the sides.

sweetcorn, leg hair was my first sign of progress, I did need to shave a few times during chemo, good luck on that last treatment, such a wonderful feeling.

Anyone have any experience with Nair? I have a very deep armpit on the side of my axillary node disection and can not get a razor in there to shave, so frustrating!  I bought Nair, but have never used before, I am numb and don't want any skin problems (exchange surgery is next week).  Any suggestions??

I finished chemo last thursday and am wanting to start the Biotin. I hear really good things about this stuf my stepmom has been taking it for the thinning and says it has been working wonderfully.  I just dont know how much to take. I will be having 35 rad treatments soon too. Is anyone taking the Biotin and having radiation?  My hair dresser wants me to start with the Nioxin treatments now that the chemo is finished. I used it before I lost my hair, I was thinning in the front a little and it seemed to help.

I still have my eyebrows and the lashes got a little thin but still there. HeHe there is a little stubble on the legs. Cant wait to have to shave! Never thought I would EVER say that! lol

Hi Girls.

10 wk PFC yesterday. Finsihed rads today (33 total, incl 5 boost). Wanted to update on the hair progress. (I did color it myself at 8.5 wks, b/c otherwise it was *all* gray.

For comparison:
8.5 wk PFC:

slcst   Congrats on finishing rads, isnt it a great feeling?  Your hair looks great,  I notice the little swirl on the right side at the temple.  I have one on each side and now that its getting longer having a hard time getting it to go where I want it to.

slcst- great pictures! I am 5 wks out now & looking forward to enough coverage to go topless- even if it's a crew cut. I cannot tell if mine is gray or not.

I got Nioxin set #2 from Amazon a few days ago. I used it last night- hope it helps. Am on a multivitamn that does have biotin- maybe not enough. Where do you find that and how much is good to take if separate?

Lisa

slcst-  your hair looks awsome!!  I am same time post chemo, but lagging behind you on the growth by about 2 weeks.  The cowlick I had before in front and back look like they are coming back too. 

Lisa, I bought my biotin at Walgreens, bought the "extra strength", taking one a day.  I am with you, even a crew cut would be great.  Mine is mostly dark, very dark with some gray at the sides.

I don't know about using Latisse during chemo but I was offered Latisse at a dermatology appt. today.  I'm about 4 weeks PFC.

Does it work?  It's expensive stuff...

Mine have been gone for about 6 weeks.  I'm tired of looking like a mole.